News

Tuesday November 18, 2014 ‘“ Winnipeg MB ‘“ Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Steve Ashton provided those in attendance at Friday evening’s Manitoba Trucking Association Annual Fall Awards Dinner a sneak peak of today’s announcement.  Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has signed a Western Memorandum of Understanding on Rocky Mountain Doubles (RMDs) and is ready to proceed with implementation.

What this means to industry is that RMDs can now travel on established routes at a maximum length of 41 m on multi-lane highways, and 32.5m on two lane highways.  Of special note in Manitoba is that this now includes the full length of Highway 16 through to the Saskatchewan border.

Opening up Highway 16 to the Saskatchewan border will allow carriers to haul RMD combinations from Winnipeg directly through to Northern Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Not only will this afford the trucking industry, and the customers they service, increased operational and cost efficiencies, it also provides a great opportunity to reduce Green House Gas emissions.

‘œWe have been in communication with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Motor Carrier Permits staff and they have confirmed they are ready today to issue permits for RMDs based on the specifications of the new MOU” states Terry Shaw, Executive Director of the MTA.  ‘œWe appreciate the department’s attention to this important item, and we also would like to thank Minister Ashton for joining us to deliver this message in person”.

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