Using intelligent transportation systems to adapt to potential climate change impacts on seasonal truck weight limits

Freight transportation by truck is at the foundation of the economy of the prairie region of Canada. The trucking mode is controlled by a myriad of regulations limiting vehicle weights and dimensions. One important aspect of truck weight regulation in the prairie region concerns their seasonal nature. This seasonal feature is designed to reduce truck loads during thawing periods (using spring weight restrictions) and increase them during freeze-up periods (using winter weight premiums). By limiting loads, spring restrictions help protect pavements when they are in their weakest state. By relaxing load limits on the other hand, winter premiums improve trucking efficiency during those periods when pavements are particularly strong due to their frozen state. Both the spring and winter components of these regulations are matters that can be impacted by climate change, with potentially important subsequent effects on transportation efficiency in the prairie region. In recent years advanced technologies have provided opportunities to effect rationalization and harmonization of seasonal weight limits in the prairie region-with much greater sensitivity to climatic conditions, and changes in those conditions. This paper outlines how and what technologies are being adopted to allow for adaptation and more aggressive real-time knowledge-based harmonization and rationalization of seasonal weight limits in a world of changing climatic conditions.