A'Weigh We Go's John Anderson Completes Contract with Canadian Government

Weight safety advocate John Anderson, founder of A'Weigh We Go, told RV News that he recently completed a contract with Transport Canada that included weighing coaches to determine compliance with new Canadian regulations.

The contract developed as a result of a new regulation that became effective April 1, 1999. Starting then, the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) requires that manufacturers of RVs disclose specified information on the compliance label. Road Safety Bulletin ASF-0 15 outlines the regulations amending the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations - "Vehicle Overloading."

According to Anderson, Transport Canada Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate monitors the industry's self-certification with the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act and its regulations to ensure compliance. To carry out this mandate, the Importation and Audit Inspection Division retained the services of A'Weigh We Go to audit a sample of RVs for compliance with the new regulation.

During the period August 16 through September 1, 1999, an audit team consisting of Pierre Tremblay, Regulation Enforcement Officer, Transport Canada, and John Anderson, president, A'Weigh We Go, visited 28 RV dealers and one manufacturer in the Province of Ontario, weighing and inspecting 59 motorhomes.

Canada regulations now require:

(a) alterers, intermediate, and final stage manufacturers to respect the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) determined by the original manufacturer.

(b) the manufacturers of multipurpose passenger vehicles or buses manufactured from cutaway chassis, motorhomes and recreational trailers, to state their cargo carrying capacity and designated seating capacity as required on the compliance label or on a separate label.

(c) for motorhomes and recreational trailers, that the above label specify the mass of the fresh water, hot water and waste tanks, when full, and state the cargo carrying capacity of the vehicle as determined with the fuel, propane, fresh water and hot water tanks full, the designated number of seating positions occupied with a 70 Kilogram person, and the waste water tanks empty.

(d) that the number of seat belts installed in a motorhome be no less than the number of sleeping positions.

Summary of Discovered Discrepancies

Of the 59 motorhomes weighed, only 55 are used for calculations due to multiple weighings of some units. Of the 55, two were not required to be equipped with the new label, but were used for label error calculations. Of the 53 required to be equipped with the new label, 42 were so equipped.

Label Errors

Of the 55 motorhomes weighed that were used for calculations, the following label errors were noted;

Of the 55 motorhomes weighed that were used for calculations, the following exceeded one or more limitations; Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAVM), or a tire rating based on the inflation pressure indicated on the label.

NOTES:

1. Tire Inflation Pressure:

Of the 22 discrepant units, 14 had label errors. The other 8 had inadequate pressure indicated on the compliance label for the measured load, or the tire was incapable of carrying the measured load at maximum pressure.

2. Cargo Carrying Capacity:

Units are categorized as discrepant when calculated cargo carrying capacity varied more than 10 percent from amount indicated on label. "Overstated" indicates that calculated capacity was less than indicated on label, "Understated" indicates that calculated capacity was greater than stated on label. Units that were missing label were not included in this calculation, which is based on 44 units. 10 percent criteria allows for fuel & propane gauge errors, conversion factors, scale reading and scale calibration. Scale calibration tolerance is +/- 1 percent of applied load or 50 pounds, whichever is greater.

Capacities of tanks (fuel, water, waste) used in analysis were taken from manufacturers brochures, or as stated by the dealer, and not verified during weighing. All units were weighed with fill fresh water. Fuel and propane calculations were based on gauge indication, except when tank was full. Designated seating positions were ballasted with 150 lbs. (70 kg.) of lead weight. Several units were weighed more than once, varying either fuel load or seating position ballast, or both. Only one weighing report from multiple weighing is included in the discrepancy statistics, thus 55 used for calculations of 59 weighed.

RVN