July 24, 2024
Manitoba Government Implements Pre-Clearance Program for Heavy Commercial Trucks
As part of its ongoing work to promote safe, sustainable operations on the provincial highway network, the Manitoba government is implementing an electronic pre-clearance program for heavy commercial trucks, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced today.
“Safety on Manitoba’s roadways is a priority for our government,” said Naylor. “Implementing a pre-clearance program allows regulators to focus enforcement resources where they are needed, while also promoting a more efficient transportation sector, helping keep goods moving and supporting Manitoba businesses.”
Electronic pre-clearance programs allow heavy commercial trucks to bypass inspection stations under managed conditions. The criteria used to determine whether a truck receives pre-clearance and is permitted to bypass an inspection station can include:
- the driver, truck and carrier have the required credentials;
- the truck complies with legal weight limits and does not have any visually apparent vehicle or cargo securement defects; or
- the carrier has a safe operating record and meets performance thresholds.
Being able to remotely monitor trucks for exceeding weight limits or having safety defects improves road safety, noted the minister. Additionally, because trucks are screened while travelling at highway speed, the program saves driver time and fuel, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
“It’s encouraging to see scale pre-clearance come to Manitoba,” said Mike Ludwick, CEO of Bison Transport. “At Bison Transport, we make safety a top priority and empower our people to put safety first. That’s why we support this effort to help freight move more safely and more quickly in our province, giving more time for enforcement to spend time where it is needed.”
Manitoba’s electronic pre-clearance program will be implemented in partnership with Drivewyze Inc. Other provinces using the mobile device-based app include Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador to provide pre-clearance services at over 900 sites across Canada and the United States.
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