Hello, HEAT members! It is 2026, and with the amount of snow we’ve received in the past month everyone is busy. But before you hit the road today, let’s talk about two things to keep you safe during operations.
Bill 38
The government made some new rules to keep everyone safer while you work.
Starting on January 1, 2026, there are new laws for people driving near your snow clearing equipment. Here is what you need to know:
- Stay Back: Drivers now must stay back at least 30 metres on city streets and roads where the speed limit is 80 km/h or less.
- Give Extra Room: On the big highways where people go faster than 80 km/h, drivers have to stay at least 100 metres behind the plows. That is about the length of a whole football field!
- No Passing: If the driver cannot see clearly or if passing might get in the way of the plow, they are not allowed to pass at all.
- Watch for Blue Lights: These rules apply whenever a snow vehicle has its blue or blue and amber lights flashing.
- Important Note: Winter maintenance vehicles must have the blue light flashing while working! Make sure you are seen and protected by Bill 38.
These changes are great news for us. They mean fewer “close calls” and a safer day at work for every driver in snow clearing equipment. If a driver breaks these rules, they could even get a $298 fine. Know we are out there with our eyes open – your safety is important to us – but like all traffic enforcement it is important to remember that officers need to see the violation or have clear video evidence showing the offending vehicle and its license plate so we can investigate the incident and press charges.
Keep doing a great job out there. Be patient with cars and remember that these new laws are here to help us all get home safe every night.
Let’s Bust Some Brake Myths!
Sometimes, we hear “old-school” advice that isn’t actually true. These myths can get you in big trouble during an inspection. Let’s look at three big ones that could put you out of service.
Myth #1: The “Six-Pack” Fix
You might have heard that if your brakes feel loose, you should just stomp on them hard six times. People think this “resets” the automatic adjusters. This is false.
Most modern brakes don’t care how hard you press the pedal; they only care about the space between the brake shoe and the drum. If the adjuster is broken, stomping won’t fix it. If it’s working, it already adjusted itself! Don’t rely on “magic stomps” – rely on a real inspection.
Myth #2: “I Can Feel It in the Pedal”
A lot of drivers think they will know their brakes are bad because the truck will “feel” different. The truth is you only use a tiny bit of your braking power during normal driving.
You won’t notice a problem until you have to stop suddenly or when an inspector tests them at full power. By then, it’s too late. You can’t feel a bad brake through the pedal until it’s already dangerous.
Myth #3: The Perfect 90-Degree Angle
Some folks say the brake rod and the slack adjuster must make a perfect “L” shape (a 90-degree angle). While that looks nice in a textbook, every truck is built a little differently. You don’t need a perfect angle for the brakes to work. What you do need is the right “stroke” distance. If that rod moves too far, you’re in trouble—no matter what the angle looks like.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
When a brake problem occurs the driver usually takes the blame as they were the last one with a responsibility to notice the issue. But safety is a team sport! Maintenance shops and fleet owners need to work with drivers to make sure the equipment is ready.
The Best Test:
To really know if your brakes are safe during your pre-trip, do a proper check:
- Get your air pressure to 90–100 psi.
- Turn the engine off.
- Release the parking brakes.
- Press the brake pedal down hard and check how far the pushrods move.
Stay safe out there!
Paul
Do you have a question that you think all of our members want clarification on? Send it in, and get answers from, Manitoba Motor Carrier Enforcement (MMCE). Answering your questions will be Sgt. Paul Laporte, the Industry Outreach Officer for MMCE, who has a 27 year background in public safety education and enforcement. Email your questions to office@heatmb.ca
