Truckers working on battery-related projects along Autoroute 30 in Quebec have been facing a rise in incidents caused by granular materials, such as gravel, falling from their trucks.
Last October, the medias reported, “The number of motorists affected by granular materials being projected from moving trucks or from the road is countless,” describing it as an epidemic of shattered windshields.
Despite the use of tarps and covers to secure loads, accidents still occur, especially with loose materials like stones. To tackle this issue and reduce frustration among other road users, companies like Nemaska Lithium and Ultium Cam have implemented cleaning stations at the exits of their sites.
These stations allow truckers to drive over metal rollers that shake the trucks, dislodging stones and dust from the tires. This solution, designed by Air Liquide and developed by Excavations Tourigny, aims to reduce debris left on the road while minimizing environmental impact. Alain Tourigny, president of Excavations Tourigny, explains that this system lessens the need for mechanical road sweeping, thus reducing the environmental footprint.
Additionally, Nemaska Lithium has introduced a manual sweeping system where a worker cleans trucks at site exits and ensures that protective tarps are properly secured. Vincent Perron, Director of Environmental Affairs at Nemaska Lithium, notes that these measures help truckers prevent hazardous material from being projected onto the road, thereby improving safety for all.
The Becancour Industrial and Port Park Corporation, which faced this issue due to increased traffic from the construction of a large battery factory, welcomes the benefits of these measures. Donald Olivier, CEO of SPIPB, highlights that these installations have contributed to safer roads and represent a model for other regional companies, particularly in managing debris and transportation risks.
With these initiatives in place, there is hope that motorist frustration over debris from trucks will decrease, fostering better coexistence between truckers and road users.
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