Exciting news from the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA)! They’ve been spotlighting some pesky trade barriers that have been bogging down our supply chains across provinces. Remember those chats initiated by the government back in March and the CTA’s report last October? They were all about figuring out these trade and mobility headaches.
Lak Shoan from the CTA shared that if the upcoming 2024 budget could throw some financial muscle behind new infrastructure projects or beef up current provincial and territorial programs, we’d see a beefier, more resilient Canadian supply chain. That’s something we can all get behind!
So, what’s on the Wishlist? Here are the big ones:
Winter Road Maintenance: We all know the drill. Snow hits, and it’s like every province has its own playbook for clearing roads. The NFFI is pushing for a country-wide standard so that our drivers aren’t left out in the cold (literally) when crossing borders.
More Rest Stops: A classic issue. Our drivers need more spots to pull over and rest. It’s about safety and comfort, and it’s high time it got the attention it deserves.
Highway 185: This one’s a game-changer. Imagine a four-lane highway stretching from Halifax to Toronto. Safer, faster journeys are what we’re talking about, especially on what’s known to be one of the trickiest highways out there.
LCV (Long Combination Vehicle) Rules: For our friends in the Western provinces, it’s about making sure everyone’s on the same page regarding training, permits, and all that jazz for operating LCVs. Less red tape, more road-covered!
Bigger Loads, Less Hassle: For those heavy hauls, like cranes and wind turbine blades, the NFFI wants to streamline the whole process. This means less waiting around and more doing, which is good news for big projects.
Keeping Tabs on Trucking Companies: A central spot for all the need-to-knows about safety and compliance for trucking companies? Yes, please. It’s about fairness and safety for everyone on the road.
Unified Safety Oversight: Safety first, always. This is all for making sure every trucking company in Canada, no matter where they’re based, is playing by the same safety rules.
Navigating Spring Weight Restrictions: When spring hits, so does a mishmash of weight restrictions. It’s a logistical headache that the national freight forwarding wants to soothe for smoother interprovincial journeys.
Better Cell Service: In our line of work, staying connected is non-negotiable. Expanding cell service access means we can keep tabs on our loads, routes, and each other, no matter where we are.
That’s the rundown! These updates could really make a difference in how smoothly and safely we get things from Point A to Point B. Here’s hoping the budget delivers. Stay tuned for more updates!
