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Designated Dumping Area for Truckers

Res #: 21-23A
Number: 21
Year: 2023
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment

WHEREAS truckers hauling commodities are stopping to clean out and dump trailers along roadways which can cause
the unwanted spread of weed and commodity seeds.

WHEREAS trucks hauling fertilizer that are cleaned out on roadways can cause contamination of waterways.

WHEREAS grain dumped on roads attracts wildlife which can lead to more vehicle collisions.

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to require all grain handling facilities to have a specific
area designated where trucks can be cleaned out after unloading.

Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment

June 20, 2023

Truckers with hopper bottom trailers occasionally travel rough roads  after  dumping to loosen granular material, such as grain or fertilizer, from their trailers before releasing the material. We recognize that this problem can be difficult to police since it often occurs on vacant roads, away from scrutiny.

The ministry of Agriculture regulates The Weed Control Act which provides rural weed inspectors the authority to prohibit the movement of any material or machine that may be contaminated with prohibited or noxious weeds.

It is an offence under this legislation to deposit prohibited or noxious weeds where they might grow or spread.

There are vibrators available in either mountable form or handheld form to vibrate the trailer to dislodge material in the truck and facilitate cleanout. Rural municipalities could work with the elevator they believe is the source of the problem to implement the handheld vibrators at their facility.

Another strategy municipalities may wish to consider is creating a cleanout area on a vacant piece of land where these vehicles can dump material. These areas can be monitored for the emergence and eradication of problem weeds.

The Honourable Dana Skoropad – Minister of Environment, Government of Saskatchewan