The Transportation Partnership Program:

1. Enhances Truck Safety by controlling routes, speeds, vehicle configurations and driver qualifications.
2. Supports Economic development in Saskatchewan by allowing the use of larger, more efficient vehicles with higher payloads.
3. Promotes use of efficient, road friendly vehicles.
4. Minimizes impact on road infrastructure by encouraging use of pavement friendly technologies and practices.
5. Ensures taxpayers do not subsidize costs associated with the impact of program trucks on the highway infrastructure by charging partners for any incremental road damage and redirecting those funds back to infrastructure improvements and/or maintenance.
6. Generates additional funds for infrastructure improvements and safety and research initiatives.

Vehicle weights and dimensions in Saskatchewan are limited by regulation to ensure the safety of the traveling public and to allow the efficient transportation of goods within and through the province.

Transportation Partnership Programs allow shippers or receivers in Saskatchewan to increase productivity through reduced transportation costs by using vehicles which safely exceed current regulated weights and/or dimensions. In exchange for this privilege, partners pay for any incremental damage to provincial infrastructure and share transportation savings with a special fund used to improve safety of trucking in the province through infrastructure improvement and research.

Trucking Partnership Agreements (TPA)

A Trucking Partnership Agreement (TPA) is an agreement between the department and a shipper (origin) or receiver (destination) to allow the movement of goods by trucks that:

a) carry divisible loads, and
b) exceed regulated weights and/or dimensions, and
c) make multiple trips,
d) on defined routes.

Trucking Partnership Programs (TPP) are industry specific; there are specific criteria and conditions for partnership agreements based on the industry involved. Bulk Haul Programs facilitate the movement of bulk commodities such as fuel and gravel, Timber Programs allow the forestry industry to benefit from increased weights and dimensions, Over-dimensional Programs facilitate the movement of loads that exceed regulated heights, lengths or widths. A special subprograms for Over-dimensional hauls has been implemented to facilitate Container Transfers. Value Added Agricultural Partnership programs allow the agricultural industry to access primary weights on secondary weight highways, and Energy Efficient Motor Vehicle (EEMV) programs allow the use of long combination vehicles for freight movement. Tri-drive tractor-trailer units are also currently permitted under the TPP.

The Trucking Policy and Programs staff also analyze unique vehicle configurations and loadings to ensure the vehicles are able to operate safely on the highway system. A number of recent studies on vehicle dynamics, road impacts and innovative vehicles have been completed for the department and are available for information.

Trucking Program staff would be happy to answer any questions and to assist your company in achieving transportation efficiencies. Please contact Bill Cooke, Director, Trucking Programs at 306-787-5526 for further information.