The Manitoba government has launched an electronic pre-clearance program for heavy commercial trucks to enhance safety and efficiency on the province’s highways, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced today.
“Safety on Manitoba’s roadways is a priority for our government,” said Naylor. “Implementing a pre-clearance program allows regulators to focus enforcement resources where they are needed, while also promoting a more efficient transportation sector, helping keep goods moving and supporting Manitoba businesses.”
The new program allows qualifying trucks to bypass inspection stations under managed conditions. Criteria for pre-clearance include the driver, truck, and carrier having the necessary credentials, compliance with legal weight limits, no visible vehicle or cargo defects, and a safe operating record.
Naylor emphasized that remote monitoring of trucks for weight compliance and safety defects will improve road safety. The program also aims to save drivers time and fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mike Ludwick, CEO of Bison Transport, expressed support for the initiative. “It’s encouraging to see scale pre-clearance come to Manitoba,” Ludwick said. “At Bison Transport, we make safety a top priority and empower our people to put safety first. That’s why we support this effort to help freight move more safely and more quickly in our province, giving more time for enforcement to spend time where it is needed.”
The program, implemented in partnership with Drivewyze Inc., is part of a broader adoption of mobile device-based pre-clearance services used in Alberta, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador. These services are available at over 900 sites across Canada and the United States.
