Staying on the road
For commercial truck drivers, time is money. New technology on Highway 104 at Auld’s Cove means most trucks headed toward Cape Breton no longer have to spend time at the scale house. The new Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) system measures commercial vehicle weights while they are traveling. It also senses the number of axles and the speed - collecting the same information as the scale house.
An electronic sign as they approach the scale house tells commercial vehicle drivers if they can bypass the scale. The system flags trucks that are close to or over their weight limit, as well as choosing random vehicles for an in-depth inspection, maintaining the same level of protection as when all vehicles had to stop.
From January to May 2007, only 2.8% (13,361) of passing commercial vehicles had to report to the scale house. In addition to saving truckers time and money, the change improves road safety and benefits the environment since few trucks are idling in a line up. This is the first WIM system in place in the province and an evaluation plan, including a survey of truckers, is planned.
