1. New Generation Wide Based Single Tires by Kim Durdle, P. Eng
New Generation Wide Based Single Tires by Kim Durdle, P. Eng. Director, Transport Engineering and Marta Juhasz, P. Eng. Director, Pavement Engineering Alberta Transportation

2. Overview Transport Engineering Traffic Safety Act Municipal Authority
History of Wide Based Tires in Canada
Alberta Pilot
Infrastructure Impacts
Current State

3. Core Responsibility
Transport Engineering is responsible for managing ALL aspects that impact the weights and dimensions of commercial vehicles and loads that move on Alberta highways

4. Why?
Ensure that trucking remains viable as it is the main mode of transportation for people and goods in the province; we are always faced with balancing safety, economics and environmental impacts
Ensure that both regulated vehicles that can travel on all highways as well as vehicles outside the regulated limits that we permit with conditions and in some cases on specific routes are dynamically stable, and that the risks to the travelling public, pavement and bridges associated with moving these vehicles are minimized

5. How?
Manage
Commercial Vehicle Dimension and Weight Regulation
Road Ban program
TRAVIS
Winter Weight Program
Development of the High Load Corridor
All these areas are managed in an effort to maximize payloads and minimize risk to public and infrastructure safety

6. Business Area Overview
Size and configurations of CVs in this country are constantly evolving and are driven by industry
We work very closely with our provincial counterparts to ensure harmonization as the lack of such impedes trade and competitiveness
We represent Alberta on the National Task Force on Commercial Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Committee and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement
We work very closely with the newly formed national Engineering Research and Support Committee.

7. Why do we issue permits?
The Commercial Vehicle Dimension and Weight Regulation specifies maximum weights, dimensions, and configurations for commercial vehicles
Section 62 of the Traffic Safety Act allows for permits to be issued to non-conforming vehicles and loads as not all loads can be reduced to meet regulated limits
Section 62 allows the Director to attach any term or conditions to the permit to minimize impact to the travelling public and the infrastructure

8. Regulated Limits Provincial Highway Local Road
4 tires/axle tires/axle
Single axle kg kg or 10kg/mm kg
Tandem axle ,000kg ,600kg ,000kg
Tridem axle ,000/24,000kg ,000kg ,000kg
Max Gross Vehicle ,500kg ,500kg
Weight

9. Example: TAC Permit issued under section 62 of the Traffic Safety Act
The Traffic Safety Act and Regulations apply to ALL highways in Alberta
Section 13 of the Traffic Safety Act gives the Council of a Municipality the authority to restrict weights and designate truck routes on a highway under its direction, control and management through bylaws that are not inconsistent with the Act
TAC Permit is required to increase the tridem axle weight to 21,000/24,000kg and /or increase the GVW to 63,500kg on a local road
Municipal approval is required

10. New Generation Wide Based Single Tires
WBST were introduced in North America in 2000
Some of the noted benefits from industry include
Low profile
Lighter than duals
Less rolling resistance
Better vehicle handling and stability
Similar tread wear as duals in most operations
Larger footprint than previous “Super Singles”

11. History
In 2008 the provinces supported an amendment to the National MOU to increase weight on the NGWBST:
Use of Wide Base Single Tires: For axles fitted with two single
tires, each of which has a width of 445mm or greater, the
weight limits were increased to 7700 kg for Single Axles and
15,400 kg for Tandem Axle Groups.
Analysis indicated that these weights were considered to be equivalent to the same axle groups equipped with dual tires
Annual fleet exemption permits are available through the Central Permit Office

12. History ( Continued )
Further Cost/Benefit analysis in the east resulted in Ontario removing the weight penalty in 2008
In 2009 similar analysis in Quebec resulted in the province committing to dropping a permit system introduced in 2007 and allowing full dual weights by regulation
Industry requested the other provinces follow Ontario’s and Quebec’s lead
Status: BC is considering a pilot
SK is conducting a pilot
Manitoba allows full weights on certain highways only
Atlantic Canada still reviewing

13. Alberta Pilot
In 2016 the AMTA and Alberta Transportation conducted an on highway pilot using 455mm WBST on vehicles operated by Westcan and Rosenau Transport
Complimented 2011 SAE testing by Westcan and Michelin that showed ~ 8% decrease in fuel consumption
The purpose of 2016 pilot was to measure “real world” fuel efficiency
The pilot results showed a significant decrease in fuel consumption ( close to 10% ) when compared with the same configuration equipped with duals
Translates to ~4 cents/km in fuel savings

14. Infrastructure impacts
In 2016 the Department in conjunction with our Saskatchewan counterparts co-authored a discussion paper for the Transportation Association of Canada paper titled Impact of WBST on Canadian Flexible Pavements
Analysis in paper was based on most recent FHWA work (445 mm tires)
Paper also provided a partial literature review (mostly 455 mm tires)

15. Pavements

16. Pavements

17. Bridges
Alberta Transportation did a high level desk top bridge assessment

18. Infrastructure impacts - Summary
Pavements:
More impact to paved roads (and hence gravel roads)
Bridges:
More impacts to bridges
Impacts estimated at 2 cents/km/truck
Infrastructure impacts mitigated by low uptake
At 10% truck uptake, impacts estimated at $9 M annually for Alberta Transportation

19. In Conclusion….
Alberta Transportation believes allowing these tires to operate at full weights will result in significant environmental benefits that out weigh the potential impacts to the infrastructure….an important component of the Alberta Government Climate Leadership Plan
Therefore… effective July 1, 2017…Alberta Transportation allows 455mm NGWBST to operate under permit ( 15 dollar annual fleet ) at loads equivalent to that allowed on duals
There will not be a regulatory change but the permit does require municipal approval for travel on local roads…similar to the TAC permit

20. Conclusion ( Continued )
The Department encourages municipalities to join us in this move to demonstrate climate leadership

21. Thank You