LCV’s, Still Some Controversy!

There I go again being the devil’s advocate with my ideas. A study requested by the Canadian Trucking Alliance and Energy Mines Resources Canada shows the advantages about letting LCV (Long Combination Vehicles) and how they could reduce the GHG, the fuel needed to move the same tonnage of freight. The study, which is available on the web site of the CTA (www.cantruck.com), also shows that LCV’s are safer on the road then regular single trailer trucks. There are many forms of LCV

• Turnpike Doubles that are of two long trailers (48’)
• Rocky Mountain Doubles that are one long trailer (48’) and one short (28’)
• Triples that are of three short trailers (28’)

The points that I don’t understand in the study, maybe because I’m a driver not a scientist, is the data for the comparison that have been taken. Currently in Quebec, LCV are allowed only in the corridors of Rivière du Loup/Montreal on the south shore and Quebec/Montreal on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence. They are not allowed in the winter months. Considering the slippery roads of winter that would change the accident numbers, the data on safety is not quite accurate.

Another point to look at. The CTA would like to see these LCV’s run in the Halifax/Windsor corridor. Whoever has driven in the Maritime Provinces knows that this is not the flattest place. It’s almost 40% of thT road is in hills between the two furthest points. The data was taken on the actual corridors of Quebec and in the Prairies where most LCV’s are Rocky Mountain Doubles.

Another pilot project is going on in New-Brunswick for LCV’s. The route between Saint John and Dieppe is used there to measure the impact. Again that road is much flatter then the Fredericton/Edmundston on the Trans-Canada where most LCV’s will be running.

A study of the California DOT made in 1984 shows different results then the one requested by the CTA and EMR. That study also considers the infrastructures that are not adapted to these types of trucks such as rest areas, weigh station, shoulders and ramps. The state of California also has many grades. The speed was also measured and compared to regular single trailer trucks.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/trucksize/lcv-op-test.pdf

I’m no scientist, only a driver, but looking at the deterioration of the road network in Quebec, I really don’t know how it could support the extra stress of LCV’s all year round. The ones in favour of them will say that they are not as heavy per axel compared to a 5 axel single trailer truck rolling on the American road network but, to move the weigh, there is more torque put on the wheels and this will cause more wear and tear on upgrades and ramps. Simple physics will explain. If you put a carpet on a wood floor and you try to push a 25Kg load with your feet on the carpet, this one will be slipping under you. Now try it again with a 50Kg load. It will definitely slip and the load won’t move. Under an LCV, there is the same amount of drive wheels then under a single trailer truck. They just have to work harder to move the load.

There are some advantages for the carriers using LCV’s

• Reduction of fuel costs to move the same freight
• Helps with the driver shortage

There are also some advantages for the governments

• GHG reductions

There are also some disadvantages for the governments

• Accelerated road deterioration
• Less revenues from registrations
• Less revenues from fuel taxes
• Less revenues from income taxes on drivers
• More unemployment

However, even with all the studies available for now, the highway network of Quebec and Ontario is not ready for LCV’s. Autoroute 85 has only 15 of the 100Km required, there is no belt way around Montreal, route 2 in New-Brunswick has some two lanes stretches and the 407 is not completed around the GTA.

Well look at that! One company operating the 407 is also one of the companies retained for the extension of Autoroute 30 in Quebec. Funny coincidence!

Jean Catudal

Too Many Topics on Hold!

I am not on vacation yet, I am waiting after replies from some offices of our nice government of Quebec. The Commission des Transport and the SAAQ are having a ping-pong game with the demands I made for some informations.

You know I don't like to give you informations I can not verify first. So, I'm waiting and I'm rolling the roads of North America.

If you come across me, call me and if I don't reply on 19, try the 12!
If you are passing me, make me a sign to take the mike!

Happy trails!

Welcome to the Aussies!

Will it be the Australian flag, the Quebec flag or a sleeping pill maker’s flag that will float on the new bridge of Autoroute 25?

The lease operator of the bridge is the same that operates the Chicago Skyway, the Indiana, Toll Road the 407ETR and is running up for Autoroute 30 on the south shore of Montreal. This bank puts to sleep the governments with lump sums of money in exchange of all the revenues from the tolls. Puts in non competition conditions in the leases to take out of our pockets as much as possible for the use of the roadway. Remember that a private company must pay dividends to the stock holders before pleasing the users.

I don’t usually hold these kinds of socialist comments. I am the first one aiming to make profits out of my small business, but to serve on a silver platter an infrastructure to a foreign entity, NO WAY!!!

We are not talking about the management of a building on a public ground it is a roadway we are talking about. When the construction will be over with, the local contractors paid, where will the profits go? There will be no income tax paid on the salaries of the toll collectors, they use electronic tolling. A picture of your plate is all that is needed. After they will ask the SAAQ to hold the renewal of your plates if you don’t pay the tolls like they did in Ontario. I’d like to remind you that the government of Ontario has tried in court to keep the tolls low on the 407 and never succeeded.

With all the involved Ministers, the Mayor of Laval and many of the elected officials of the area, we got served our first PPP roadway this Saturday morning. As a former citizen of Laval, I wanted that bridge and I had even signed the petition for it but, when I observe the way this company acts elsewhere, it leaves me with questions.

Jean Catudal

Truck Stop 500!

This is not a list of the best 500 truck stops, it is in the spirit of NASCAR that I gave the title this twist. Being a dog owner, I often park on the side or the back of parking lots. My little Coffette is fussy and takes care of her business on grassy patches instead of blacktop.

Walking around my furry friend, I hear, before I see, a truck here and there passing gears in high revolution and gears are passed, 1^st,2^nd,3^rd,4^th,5^th, the rpm very high and if I judge by my truck, it’s in the 22 to 25 mph that truck is rolling in the aisles of the lot. Frustration from the last call to dispatch, a message on the satellite, waking up late, or any other reason to put the hammer down.

We can almost hear: ”Gentlemen, start you engines!” but, the engine was already idling for long hours and the excess of oil in the cylinders is burning blue in the stack. It happened that another truck stop stressed driver comes along the end of a row and in the path of the first one that is rolling out. We all heard of fender benders, I was even a victim of one in early December (see pictures at the end). How many times in an angled parking lot, we can barely see on the right side what is coming up and all of a sudden, the stressed driver pulls up.

In the debate on speed limiters, should we ask to also put a device as found in IRL and Formula 1 in the pits that limits the speed and turns off the engine brake. I was forgetting these stressed drivers often don’t turn it off. I like them with straight pipes too…

I know, I am a little bit sarcastic but, please, have some considerations for the other ones. Going out of the parking lot a little bit slower may only take a few seconds more in you day of work and may avoid you a fender bender that will hold you up for way longer

Jean Catudal