SASKATCHEWAN NEWS

Sask., Alta. agree to reduce barriers
Truckers may soon find the road between Saskatchewan and Alberta a little smoother thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two provinces to reduce regulatory barriers.

STA member Steve Balzer, CEO of Trans-All Group of Companies, called the move significant: “It’s exciting. In my mind, it’s the foundation of a very strong future.”

At the MOU’s signing with Alberta Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette, Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said, “Previously, you could routinely have a driver that does cross-border hauling stopped on one side of the border, then stopped on the other side of the border by compliance officers looking for the exact same thing. They’re doing their job, but it would make more sense for us to be working together so that driver is dealing with one compliance officer.” He went on to day that differing requirements in each province add unnecessary costs to trucking – and the consumer.

The MOU provides a framework for addressing special permits, weights and dimensions, cooperative enforcement, safety regulations and other issues.

Reiter added that he has been in discussions with Manitoba’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Ron Lemieux regarding a similar MOU with that province.

(Source: Regina Leader-Post, October 7, 2009)