Alberta has increased GVW for tridems and B-trains

Motor carriers are now allowed to carry more weight on certain specialized trailer combinations in Alberta.

In an effort to further harmonize Canadian weights and dimensions, Alberta Transportation has increased the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of medium spread tridems and B-trains.

The allowances will increase from 23,000 kg to 24,000 kg per tridem axle, with a spread between 3.0 and 3.6 metres. Meanwhile, the GVW for B-trains increases from 62,500 kg to 63,500 kg, bringing Alberta’s regulations in
synch with those of British Columbia, much to the delight of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA).

“We’ve been dealing with the government about this for some time,” says AMTA general manager Al Smythe.

“There are two reasons we wanted this. One, it maximizes our efficiency, and two, B.C.’s at 63,500 kg already so if we were travelling to or from B.C. we had to load to 62,500 kg or when we were in Alberta we’d be illegal.”

The regulations now allow the same weight loads on narrow tridems as are currently permitted on wide spread axles, reducing the demand for the wide spread axles, which cause more infrastructure damage.

The changes, which apply only to primary and secondary highways, came into effect Apr. 1.