Dump truck drivers in British Columbia will be required to have an in-cab warning device to alert them to a raised bed starting this weekend.
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will require all dump trucks with a box that can be raised over 4.15 meters to be equipped with a system to warn the truck driver that the dump box is in the raised position.
Dump truck drivers caught operating without the in-cab warning system after June 1 are subject to a $598 fine.
The in-cab warning device requirement applies to any commercial dump truck operating in B.C., including those entering the province from other areas.
“Commercial vehicle infrastructure crashes cause damage, block the movement of people and goods, and create safety risks for everyone on the road. The overwhelming majority of truck drivers are responsible, but the trucking industry has called for tougher action on the small number of irresponsible operators that have caused these crashes,” B.C. officials said.
The in-cab warning devices are just the last step that the B.C. government has taken in response to an uptick in costly commercial vehicle bridge strikes. Officials implemented new overheight vehicle regulations and increased fines in late 2023. In April 2024, a commercial vehicle speed limiter mandate went into effect to try to curb infrastructure strikes.