Prices are rising and it’s hitting the trucking industry hard. Diesel fuel is costing more, and that’s an expense that can’t be cut. Tires are costing more, and every truck needs its rubber, even if it’s retreads. Of course, the trucking industry is nothing if not cost-aware, and one of the ways that many are arguing is an efficient way to fight rising prices is to have each truck carry more cargo. Less trucks on the road, overall.
In Canada, they are ready for test runs of the latest attempt to get the most bang from a big rig buck.
Starting soon in Canada’s Saskatchewan province, certain roadways have been okayed for HUGE trucks to roll on. These are dominoed fifty-three (53) foot tractor trailer trucks. Imagine a tractor trailer truck. Imagine adding on an extra trailer on its end. Now, add another one. Two big, long trailers being pulled by the single truck engine.
They are around TWO HUNDRED FEET LONG.
They can carry over 200,000 pounds of cargo.
Technically, these are called “triple LCVs” (“longer combination vehicles“) and Canada’s powers that be have okayed them to run between two cities, Regina and Saskatoon, in a route that extends 160 miles each way. This is just the testing phase — if these long snakes do okay on that 160 mile route, expect them to be approved to run on certain roadways throughout Canada.
And it won’t be long before these 200 feet long big rigs are rolling in the United States once Canada’s done all the guinea pig work. Trucking companies will argue efficiency, and safety concerns like AAA will have a big fight on their hands. Because big rigs are dangerous enough now, just think of the crashes that can happen with a 200,000 pound monster colliding with a standard size sedan(s).
