TRUCKS REGULATIONS * Canada & USA

* Canada - Phase 4 of VW&D reform details in the books

Toronto,ONT,CAN -Today's Trucking -14 Dec 2010: -- Simplification of weight tables, significant grandfathering for existing vehicles and flexibility for carriers to spec wide single tires all included in the latest phase of Ontario's weights and dimensions reforms, says the Ontario Trucking Association...  The first three phases of the amendments between 2001 and 2006 covered tri-axle trailers, dump semi trailers and multi axle units and b-trains...  Phase 4 comes into effect in 2011 and covers all other trailers. Including flat deck straight trucks with fork lifts attached, cement mixers, and dump trucks pulling trailers...  Meanwhile, a reminder that grandfathering of phase 2, non-SPIF dump semi-trailers ends on Dec. 31, 2010...   As of January 1, 4,500 kg will be subtracted from GVW of a single end dump semi-trailer or open-top hopper for non-SPIF equipment...  Complete details of the changes outlined in phase 4, the official amending regulation 457/10, can be found by clicking here...  (Photo from dgraytrucking: heavy loaded truck in Canada)

* USA - Brake makers welcome copper-cutting laws

Elyria,OH,USA -Today's Trucking -15 Dec 2010:  --  State laws in California and Washington requiring a reduction of the amount of copper allowed in brake friction materials beginning in 2021 is being applauded by truck component manufacturers...  Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake says the laws protect waterways from the runoff of toxic copper brake dust... The California law mandates that brakes contain no more than 5 percent copper beginning in 2021. By 2025, the limit will be reduced to 0.5 percent. Washington’s law is similar, with a 5 percent limit by 2021, and the establishment of an advisory committee to assess the feasibility of lowering the limit to 0.5 percent in subsequent years... Bendix says it is working to reduce the copper content in the small percentage of its disc brake solutions that would not be compliant to the future 2021 regulation. Disc brakes are semi-metallic and pose a greater compliance challenge for all manufacturers, the company says... (Photo from crossley-regis.org: The Layout of Shoes and Springs in the Regis Bendix brakes)