Canada’s Ministers of Transportation and Highway Safety has approved full-length aerodynamic devices for the rear of trailers. The decision to amend the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Memorandum of Understanding on Interprovincial Weights and Dimensions (MOU) means ATDynamics’ TrailerTail devices can now be used in all Canadian provinces, the company said.
The MOU serves to harmonize vehicle weight and dimension regulations within the Canadian Provinces to facilitate and support cross-provincial and territorial transportation of goods as well as the unencumbered transit of heavy-duty tractor-trailers crossing Canadian borders, ATDynamics explained.
“After considerable research on the effectiveness and safety of rear-mounted aerodynamic devices, in December 2013 Transport Canada revised regulations to facilitate the use of larger aerodynamic devices on the rear of trucks and trailers,” said the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat. “This amendment will harmonize regulations in Canada with those in the United States and support the trucking industry in improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.”
Each province now needs to issue permits or defer enforcement in the short term until legislation is changed to align with the Federal allowance for full length TrailerTail devices. The Province of Ontario began a deferred enforcement policy for the longer TrailerTails on Aug. 11, 2014.
“ATDynamics has spent the last 8 years optimizing, testing and refining TrailerTail technology, resulting in unmatched efficiency, durability, low cost and ease of operation,” said Andrew Smith, CEO and founder of ATDynamics. “We are proud to have worked with the Canadian Trucking Association, government leadership, NGO’s and the most fuel efficient fleets in the industry to catalyze regulatory change across Canada.”
TrailerTail 4x4 and Trident models are currently verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program as Advanced Trailer End Fairings, each delivering over 5% fuel savings as stand-alone devices, the company said.
