So as time passes we are exposed to more and more uses for mini trucks that separate them from ATV's, side-by-sides (Mules, Rhinos, etc...) and regular pickup trucks. In addition to the regular uses that include hunting, farming, golf-courses, etc... there are a few additional items that I think are front page worthy

Namely Calgary Parking Authorities PARKSmall program and how mini-trucks can help on minimal disturbance leases. Please follow the link to read more.

Calgary Parking Authority PARKSmall

I originally mentioned this on the Kei Trucks (Mini Trucks) page but figured it needed its own explanation. The Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) has this fancy new system called Park Plus. It is collection of systems designed to replace conventional parking meters and reduce costs associated with these old systems. In many areas of downtown Calgary the parking meters have been removed and a pay station has been installed on the corner. This pay station is similar to a pay station you would use at a private parking lot. They also allow you to register at parkplus.ca and pay from your cell phone. Enforcement comes from a vehicle outfitted with numerous cameras. This car drives down the street and uses optical character recognition to read license plates and figure out who is naughty and nice. The citation arrives via mail just like a photo radar ticket. You don't know you have one until it arrives in the mail.

Of course with no parking meters the length of the parked cars defines the number of parking spots on a street. CPA realized this and introduced their PARKSmall program allowing vehicles under 380 centimeters to receive a 25% discount on parking. So a block full of mini-trucks with each paying 25% less compared to a block full of pickup trucks will still net the CPA more money. There are a few annoyances with the system though; they will only let you register vehicles eligible for the program when no other vehicles exist on your account. A bit of an inconvenience if you alternate vehicles you drive downtown. I'm not sure of the reasoning and I can't find an explanation leaving me to believe it is for monetary gain, theirs not yours

Minimal Disturbance Leases

So if you aren't in the oil industry you might know or care about this. I'm not in the oil industry but I did grow up in a rural area where oil and gas surface leases doubled as weekend tailgate party destinations. Plus I have numerous friends in the industry. In short a minimal disturbance lease is like any other oil field lease, a small portion of land leased from either the government or landowner in order to place oil field equipment near oil & gas reserves, a pipeline, etc... These leases do come with additional conditions to minimize environmental impact like the spread of clubroot disease. These conditions can include things like service trucks having to be washed between entering/leaving leases or restricting access to vehicles that tear up the terrain. This is one reason you see oil field pickup trucks with quads in the back when it has rained. The operator would arrive at a lease road to find it to be either impassible in his pickup or it is a minimal disturbance lease in which he would have to unload his quad on the side of the road and travel to and from the lease site in the rain and mud. All this while trying to carry paper work, tools and whatever else is needed.

Not a very pleasant experience which I guess would explain why we have been contacted by numerous people in the oil industry looking to use these vehicles for transportation to and from minimal disturbance leases. As an added bonus since mini-trucks can be registered for road operation your company wouldn't need an ATV safety program. They would be classified as just another truck in your fleet.