Blue Light (Tow Truck) Alberta Permit Information

HEAR YE HEAR YE! – Blue Lights Start Tonight! (Permit Information Below)

Blue Lights on Tow Trucks

Well it’s here blue light Tow Truck, the moment many have been waiting for.  Recently, we posted about the Pilot Project. We shared how we plan to operate under assumed rules. This is because we have not received any document.  It’s D-Day. The pilot starts tonight at midnight. The Government of Alberta sent a bulletin to enforcement agencies. They also issued a Registrar’s Exemption.  We couldn’t be happier to have some guidance and provide some level of measure for the Towing Industry.

Our compliance team spent a few hours this morning reviewing the documents. They also spoke with the Alberta Central Permits office to confirm the information.  Feel free to contact them for other permit needs, but everything else you need should be provided below.  We will continue to communicate and relay information so throughout this pilot for both the public and industry reference.

What you need to know as a member of the public.

Tow Trucks will be running Amber OR Amber/Blue lights on roadways in Alberta for the next year.  You are required to slow to 60 km/h when passing them on a roadway.  We would ask you pass us as if we are a family member, the slower the speed the better. “Slow Down Move Over”

As a ‘Tower’:

There are rules from the Government of Alberta we must follow.

These rules let us operate under the “exemption” for the blue light pilot in Alberta.  Those requirements/conditions are:

  1. They can only be used by a tow truck or support vehicle. The vehicle must be stopped on the highway. They must be used to help a person repair, start, or move their vehicle.
  2. You must have Amber AND Blue lights working in Tandem.
  3. Blue lights cannot be used alone
  4. Lights must be complaint with SAE Standards
  5. Lights must be mounted on the roof and controlled from inside the cab
  6. You must have an indicator showing the lights are on when activated in the cab

It’s pretty clear and straight forward.  We commend the Alberta Government for making this clear for everyone involved and addressing earlier concerns.

Tow Truck AMA Blue Lights

Where do I get my Permit?

You do not need to spend any money.  You are effectively covered by the exemption as long as you meet the conditions listed on the Exemption.  However, we recommend printing and keeping a copy of the exemption in each vehicle.
This applies to vehicles operating with blue lights.  It is a good practice to keep a copy of the exemption ready, in case you need to reference it.

You can find the ‘Permit’ on the Alberta Government Website or for ease of use, here is a direct link.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGISTRAR’S EXEMPTION – Blue Lights Tow Truck

If you are interested, a copy of the bulletins sent out to the various police agencies can be found HERE as well.

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This Post Has One Comment

  1. John June 30, 2022

    This is clearly an important step in the safety of people within the industry and a boost for public safety at recovery/tow scenes. This pilot project is hopefully a step toward legislation protecting Driver/Operators and the general public, placing emphasis on the personnel who carry out these often dangerous tasks as what is effectively support to the emergency services. Very pleased this has happened.

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