SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR TRAILER COUPLINGS

1. In this Regulation, “fifth wheel assembly” means a coupling device having its lower-half mounted on the rear portion of a vehicle frame or the frame of a trailer converter dolly and its upper-half fastened to the underside of the forward portion of a semi-trailer for the purpose of supporting and towing the semi-trailer; (“sellette d’attelage”) “full trailer” means a vehicle that is towed by another vehicle and is so designed and used that the whole of its weight and load is carried on its own axles and includes a combination consisting of a semi-trailer and a trailer converter dolly; (“remorque autoporteuse”) “semi-trailer” means a vehicle that is towed by another vehicle and is so designed and used that a substantial part of its weight and load rests on or is carried by the other vehicle or a trailer converter dolly through a fifth wheel assembly; (“semi-remorque”) “tow bar” means a towing structure that is connected to the chassis frame of the forward axle of a full trailer and which includes an eye or equivalent device for the purpose of coupling with a trailer hitch; (“barre d’attelage”) “trailer converter dolly” means a device consisting of one or more axles, a fifth wheel lower-half and a tow bar used to convert a semi-trailer into a full trailer; (“avant-train à sellette”) “trailer hitch” means a coupling device mounted on the rear of a truck tractor or trailer to which a tow bar may be attached for the purpose of towing a full trailer. (“fourche d’attelage”) R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 1. 2. Where a truck tractor and one or more trailers are operated in combination, the coupling devices connecting the truck tractor and trailer or trailers shall be designed, constructed and installed and the truck tractor, trailer or trailers shall be designed and constructed so that when they are operated in combination in a straight line on a level, smooth, paved surface, the path of the trailer or trailers does not swing or deviate more than 76 millimetres to either side of the path or the truck tractor. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 2. 3. (1) The lower-half of a fifth wheel assembly on a truck tractor, trailer or trailer converter dolly shall be attached to the frame of the truck tractor, trailer or trailer converter dolly with a mounting that, (a) has, (i) brackets, mounting plates or angles, and (ii) bolts or equivalent devices, which together will withstand a force, applied at the coupling point of the fifth wheel assembly, equivalent to the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed without residual deformation to the mounting parts; (b) is installed so that the frame of the truck tractor, trailer or converter dolly does not crack or become deformed; and (c) is installed so as to prevent shifting of the lower-half of the fifth wheel assembly on the frame to which it is attached. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 3 (1). (2) Where the upper-half of a fifth wheel assembly is attached to a semi-trailer it shall be attached to the underside of the semi-trailer so as to prevent, (a) warping or cracking of the upper-half of the fifth wheel assembly or the underside of the semi-trailer; and (b) separation of the upper-half of the fifth wheel assembly from the semi-trailer. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 3 (2). (3) A fifth wheel assembly shall be equipped with a locking device that prevents separation of its upper-half from its lower-half. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 3 (3). (4) Where a fifth wheel assembly includes a manual release system, the fifth wheel assembly shall be equipped with a locking device or devices which applies automatically on the coupling of a semi-trailer to a truck tractor, trailer converter dolly or to another semi-trailer. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 3 (4). (5) The lower-half of a fifth wheel assembly on a truck tractor, trailer or trailer converter dolly shall be so mounted in relation to the axles of the truck tractor, trailer or trailer converter dolly that, (a) the load distribution does not unduly interfere with the steering, braking or maneuverability of the truck tractor, trailer or trailer converter dolly; and (b) the combination operates safely. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 3 (5). 4. (1) A full trailer shall be equipped with a tow bar that is of sufficient strength to withstand a force through its attachments equivalent to the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed, without residual deformation to the tow bar. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 4 (1). (2) Where a tow bar is used to tow a full trailer it shall be connected to the full trailer with an attachment that, (a) has a strength equal to or greater than that of the tow bar; (b) in the case of a hinged tow bar, has the minimum clearance necessary for adequate articulation; and (c) is attached in the manner for which it was designed. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 4 (2). (3) Where a truck tractor or trailer is equipped with a trailer hitch, the trailer hitch shall, (a) be of sufficient strength to withstand a force applied at the point to which the tow bar is connected, equivalent to the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed, without residual deformation to the trailer hitch; (b) provide the minimum clearance necessary for adequate articulation in its connection to the trailer being towed; and (c) be provided with a locking device to prevent accidental separation of the truck tractor or trailer from the trailer being towed. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 4 (3). (4) The attachment of a trailer hitch to the towing structure of a truck tractor or trailer shall have a strength that is equal to or greater than that of the trailer hitch. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 4 (4). (5) A towing structure to which a trailer hitch is attached, shall have a strength equal to or greater than that of the trailer hitch. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 4 (5). (6) The attachment of a towing structure to a truck tractor or trailer shall, (a) be reinforced or braced to prevent distortion of the frame of the truck tractor or trailer; and (b) have a strength equal to or greater than that of the trailer hitch. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 4 (6). 5. (1) A full trailer shall be coupled to the frame or an extension of the frame of a truck tractor or trailer with a safety connecting device that will prevent the full trailer from breaking loose in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 5 (1). (2) The safety connecting device referred to in subsection (1) shall, (a) not be attached to any part of a trailer hitch that would render the safety connecting device ineffective should the trailer hitch or its attachment to the towing structure fail; (b) have the minimum slack necessary for adequate articulation; (c) have an ultimate strength not less than the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed and where the safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other links, each chain, cable or other link and its attachments shall have an ultimate strength equal to the gross weight of the trailer or trailers being towed; (d) be connected in such a manner so as to prevent the tow bar from dropping to the ground, and to keep the swing of the full trailer within safe limits in the event the tow bar fails or becomes disconnected; (e) be equipped with a hook or hooks or other means of attachment that will not become disconnected accidentally; (f) where it is used in conjunction with a hinged tow bar and where the safety connecting device consists of two chains, two cables or two other links, be attached to the forward axle or chassis frame of the forward axle of the full trailer at two points as far apart as the configuration of the axle or frame permits and equidistant from the centreline of the full trailer; (g) where it is used in conjunction with a hinged tow bar and where the safety connecting device consists of a single chain or single cable, (i) have its ends attached to the forward axle or chassis frame of the forward axle of the full trailer at two points as far apart as the configuration of the axle or frame permits and equidistant from the centreline of the full trailer, (ii) lead along each side of the tow bar, and (iii) be formed into a bridle by using a thimble and twin-base clamps and include a single means of attachment; (h) where it is used in conjunction with a non-hinged tow bar, (i) consist of two chains, two cables or two other links attached to the tow bar at a single point on the centreline of the tow bar or at two points equidistant from the centreline of the tow bar such that the attachment is behind the eye of the tow bar, or (ii) consist of a single chain, cable or other link attached to the tow bar on the centreline of the tow bar at any point behind the eye of the tow bar; (i) where it consists of two chains, two cables or two other links attached at separate points, the separate points shall be equidistant from the centreline of the truck tractor or towing trailer; or (j) where it consists of two chains, two cables or two other links attached to the same point or where a bridle, single chain, single cable or other single link is used, be attached to a point on the centreline of the truck tractor or towing trailer. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 618, s. 5 (2).