The Alberta Forest Products Association and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation have launched a radio campaign aimed at reinforcing good driving behavours among Alberta motorists while drive around log hauling trucks.
This is the 15th year for this campaign to raise awareness among all motorists of log hauling activities and safe driving practices.
This year's radio spot, Dorks of Hazzard identifies hazardous and improper driving behaviour and seeks to remind Albertans that there are procedures and practices while sharing our highways with logging trucks.
Each year, more than 2200 logging trucks travel over 90 million kilometres in Alberta, with few incidents. A standard log haul truck is just over 30 metres long - the size of a semi-trailer truck - and carries approximately enough lumber to frame a 1200 square foot house.
Although hauling activities occur year round, the safety campaign runs during the winter log haul session because of the increased volume of trucks on the road. The forest products industry and our contractors reamin vigilant, recognizing that any incidents involving a log truck - no matter who is at fault - are unacceptable.
Motorists are reminded to share the road, excercise care and caution when approaching logging trucks, and give them more than average room to stop or turn.
All log haul trucks and operators are bound by the rgulations set out by Alberta Transportation in the Log Haul Regulation. The AFPA also distributes a log haul hazard assessement checklist for companies to help them enhance their safety performance. This checklist includes weight monitoring, speed montoring and control, signage, driver qualifications, truck and trailer maintenance and other safety factors.