Released on July 24, 2003
A new truck configuration that holds the promise of improved efficiency and less road damage is being tested in the Prince Albert and Hudson Bay areas."Road damage resulting from increased truck traffic is one challenge we face in building and maintaining our highways," Highways and Transportation Minister Mark Wartman said. "While the province has made record investments over the last several years to operate, preserve and improve our transportation infrastructure, innovation and partnerships also play an important role."
The project is a partnership between Weyerhaeuser and Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation.
Testing will be conducted over the next 12 months. It will assess the new truck configuration's ability to reduce wear and tear on the roads. During this time, innovations will be evaluated including the impact of reduced weight per axle on the road and central tire inflation, which allows the truck's operator to adjust tire pressure on the fly to accommodate changing road conditions.
In addition, because the new configuration is more stable and has a shorter stopping distance than the vehicles currently in use, it will enhance safety on our provincial highways.
"Since nearly 50 per cent of wood costs are for in-bound transportation, Weyerhaeuser looks very seriously at finding improvements to this component," Harvest Systems Co-ordinator for Weyerhaeuser's Saskatchewan Forestlands operations Dave Harman said. "The increased payload has an important economic impact as Weyerhaeuser continues to work to make its operations more efficient."
Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY), one of the world's largest integrated forest products companies, was incorporated in 1900. Additional information about Weyerhaeuser's businesses, products and practices is available at www.weyerhaeuser.com.
Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation has a variety of programs to manage truck haul on the provincial highway system and promote safety in the trucking industry. For more information about these programs, and other Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation activities, visit the web site at: www.highways.gov.sk.ca.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Brian Cook Highways and Transportation Regina Phone: (306)536-0049 |