Wide Load.
Ha ha very funny guys.
Im TJ, and welcome back to another episode of Gear up with Greggs.
I guess todays topic is gonna be load signs, which is completely irrelevant to my pants size!
Load signs help to keep your ducks in a row, so to speak, and ensure that any vehicle on
the road is travelling safely to its destination.
Road regulations mean these signs are needed when you're hauling a load thats bigger than the norm.
You might also need pilot cars, flashing lights, or have restrictions about what time of day you can travel.
These signs help keep our roads, and our drivers, safe.
Now, lets talk about different materials these signs are available in,
since each has its own merits, based on the situation.
The most popular material for signs is vinyl.
Vinyl signs have a lot to offer in terms of flexibility, affordability, and durability.
Its no wonder its such a common choice in everything from retail stores to the decorations
on your household walls!
Since load signs are outdoors in all sorts of weather, durability is a must.
Vinyl is weatherproof, resistant to tearing, and resistant to UV rays and fading.
For a sign that will really go the distance, and is easy to install, vinyl is a great option.
With supported vinyl washers at the 6 foot and 8 foot points to help prevent tearing,
these signs will display your message clearly, no matter the weather or conditions.
The wide load and oversized signs come with long load on the reverse side to meet your vehicles fluctuating needs.
We move up the ladder in terms of durability with these wooden signs.
These signs are made from half inch medium density overlaid, (or MDO) plywood.
This is a special plywood with a weather resistant coating that keeps the sign safe from water, weather, and wear.
With a high-quality vinyl finish atop a sturdy base, these wooden signs are sure to hold up to the test of time.
Finally, aluminum signs are the sturdiest of all.
With their durable, weather resistant build.
These are made from rustproof aluminum and have a premium grade, high quality vinyl finish
to give your sign the visibility it needs.
Both aluminum and wooden signs are best suited for more permanent, mounted options on a trailer.
They're rigid, sturdy, and will last much longer than the vinyl signs.
So when you want a sign thats going to stay, consider these hardier options!
Moving on, the literal leader of the pack is the pilot car sign.
The pilot car, or escort vehicle, is the car that travels in front of a truck hauling a load.
Sometimes, if your load is big enough, a second pilot car trailing behind the load is also required.
Like the big rigs, these pilot cars also need to have the proper signage to ensure that
others in traffic are aware of the potential hazard.
These signs are 72 by 14 inches and are illuminated, complete with wiring and four amber LED lamps.
The inserts are made from acrylic, and slide into place with ease.
And if you need any replacement parts, don't worry, we're one step ahead of you.
So, now we know all about the material the signs are made of, but when do we use them
and how do we know which ones to use?
According to Alberta road regulations, when a load exceeds legal dimension a permit is required,
and, depending on the dimensions, certain conditions must be followed.
These conditions include various rules like types of signs and pilot vehicles.
All these signs we've shown today will work in most of Canada, with some exceptions!
The yellow signs, like wide load and oversize, are not sufficient in Quebec.
Only the over dimensional or D signs are valid.
And in the United States? the opposite is true!
So be sure you know where your load is going before plastering your vehicle with signs.
Some smaller load widths, like 8 feet 7 inches, only require flags by day and warning lights by night,
but the bigger the trucks load, the more strict the requirements get.
Were talking having two pilot cars travelling with the truck, not travelling after
three pm on a day before a weekend or stat holiday, and no movement on Sundays or stat holidays.
Things can get as intense as notifying the RCMP!
And don't think that escort vehicles get off easy.
They have their own set of requirements, including warning devices, warning flags, reflective vests, and flashlights.
Whew!
Its a good thing that we carry all of that here at Greggs, so you only have to make one stop to gear up and roll out.
Now that you know how to label your load, please don't hesitate to call us if you have
any other questions.
Or you can visit our all Canadian website at greggdistributors.ca.
Again, Im TJ and thank you for watching another episode of Gear up with Greggs.