Long Combination Vehicles Program

LCVs are a win-win-win. They are good for the economy, good for the environment and improve highway safety. They can move goods at a lower cost and with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than single-trailer trucks and, under carefully controlled conditions, more safely.

Once in fuller use on BC’s highways, LCVs could save shippers – and Consumers millions a year:

• Fuel consumption could be reduced by several million litres a year
• Greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by several thousand tonnes a year.

In addition, allowing LCVs will enable shippers to move goods more efficiently between BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan and eastern Canada.

Yes, LCVs require a set of equipment upgrades to make them among the safest tractor-trailers on BC highways.

Special equipment required for LCVs in BC includes;

Truck Tractor:

1. Must be manufactured and equipped in compliance with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act standards (CMVSS) for at the time of manufacture.
2. Engine Retarder or Driveline Retarder (hydraulic type) must be equipped and fully functional with minimum rated retardation horsepower capacity equal to or exceeding 75% of rated engine nameplate horsepower.
3. All truck trailers must feature a maximum gross weight to power ratio of 150 kg per one horsepower.
4. The power unit must be adequately geared and powered to be able to maintain speeds at posted speed limits on level ground.
5. Must be equipped with an anti-lock braking (ABS) system.
6. Must be equipped with:
   • an electronic log book recorder (elog), and
   • an onboard recording device or computer which measures the LCV’s speed and time

Trailers:

1. Must be manufactured and equipped in compliance with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act standards (CMVSS) at the date of manufacture.
2. All trailers exceeding 8.6m in length must be equipped with lateral amber lights visible on each side to cross traffic and those lights must be spaced at intervals of approximately one-third of the total overall length of the trailer combination.

LCVs will have specific and detailed operating restrictions that must be followed. The LCV permit outlines where and when participants may operate these vehicles.

LCVs:

1. Only consolidated small shipments may be hauled, excluding dangerous goods.
2. Drivers must load and couple vehicles to ensure the LCV combination, when ravelling in a straight line on level, smooth and paved surfaces, will follow the path of the towing vehicle without shifting, swerving, or swaying more than 10cm side to side from the path of the towing vehicle.
3. Drivers must carry their LCV Driver’s Certificate when operating an LCV.
4. Unless otherwise authorized in writing by MoT, the Permittee must ensure that LCV are only operated when the elog and onboard recording device are activated and functioning.
5. Headlights must be on at all times while operating the LCV.
6. Maximum speed shall be the lesser of 100 km/h or the posted speed limit.
7. Unless directed by an authorized MoT employee or a peace officer:
   
   1. LCVs may only be operated on routing described in form T-59A.
   2. LCVs may only use highway turn-a-rounds or park trailers on the highway under demonstrated emergency situations; and
   3. Any breakup or makeup of LCVs must be done off public roadways on private property.
   
   LCVs operating in the Peace District may use the former Pouce Coupe Inspection Station location as a turnaround (breaking up of the combination may be required).
8. LCV drivers must travel in the rightmost lane at all times, except to pass. Passing is allowed under the following conditions:
   1. Highways with two lanes in one direction: LCVs may only pass vehicles travelling less than 80km per hour, when onlevel ground.
   2. Highways with three lanes in one direction: LCVs may travel in the middle lane to pass slow moving vehicles.
   3. Highways in the Peace River District: LCVs may pass when it is safe to do so.
9. Drivers must avoid crossing opposing lanes of traffic unless absolutely necessary.
10. No convoying with another LCV is allowed within a distance of 1 km.
11. Except in urban areas, drivers must follow other commercial vehicles at a minimum distance of 500 metres.

No – in fact they are safer. LCVs have been on the road in Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec, and more than 20 American states for a number of decades. They have an excellent safety record, with fewer collisions reported than single-trailer trucks. LCVs also reduce the total number of trucks on the road, since each LCV carries as much freight as two single trailer trucks.

Adverse Weather:

1. LCVs must not operate during adverse weather, or when driving conditions impede the driver’s ability to operate in a safe manner or prevent the driver from driving with reasonable consideration for the safety of persons using the highway. This includes conditions where:
   1. Visibility is obscured to less than 300 m
   2. There is snow present on the highway which affects the traction of the LCV.
2. Vehicles must not be dispatched when adverse conditions are known to be present on the route. The Permittee is required to make a reasonable effort to determine the driving conditions on the route prior to each trip, and must be able to provide documentation of having done so upon request.
3. Drivers encountering adverse conditions must stop at the next safe location (or as directed by an authorized MoT employee or a peace officer) and wait for conditions to improve.