BGT Trucking Route and Operations

Approximately 240 miles each way and 90% on public highways.

The trucks will deliver rock from the Manh Choh mine near Tok to the Fort Knox mill north of Fairbanks. The route runs along the Alaska, Richardson and Steese highways. It passes through Tok, Delta Junction and Fox, but bypasses downtown Fairbanks.

Trucks are expected to operate 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

On average: 60 trips per day, 2.5 trips per hour

Impacts Vary By Region: Current traffic volumes vary from a low of 200-300 vehicles on the road per day between Tok and Delta Junction to more than 25,000 vehicles on the road per day near Fairbanks. Ore trucking will increase traffic by 5-20% along the route.

Traffic increase is <1% in Fairbanks, and typically 5-20% along the route.

Safety Management

Black Gold Transport is committed to implementing a best-in-class safety program including:

  • Fostering a strong safety culture through recruiting, training, ongoing coaching
  • Hiring and training experienced drivers
  • Meeting or exceeding all legal and regulatory requirements, including load and speed limits, as well as driver duty times
  • Scheduling and planning the route to keep drivers within safe and legal duty limits
  • Maintaining active communication between drivers and dispatch to alert road hazards and conditions
  • Implementing a comprehensive safety management system that includes real-time vehicle and driver monitoring, fatigue management, and camera systems
  • Utilizing new custom-built equipment
  • Covering loads to minimize dust
  • Driving to conditions, including slowing or stopping operations as required
  • Engaging with communities through continual stakeholder engagement and public feedback mechanisms

Purpose-Built Trucks And Trailers

New custom designed highway tractor and trailer equipment will be operated and maintained for this operation to maximize safety and efficiency. The trucks will operate within the legal limits set by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF). They are configured in a 95’ long B-Train configuration, which is safer than a typical 120’ A-Train combination. This combination offers:

  • Minimal off tracking
  • Not susceptible to yaw (rear trailer whiplash)
  • Our 16-axel B-Train has better breaking preformance compared to a standard A-Train configuration currently on the roads of Alaska despite being a heavier truck.
  • The 16-axle B-train’s number of braking axles is increased by 45% while its gross weight is increased by only 14% when compared to the standard A-Train. Additionally, the 16-axle B-trains are equipped with “all-disc brakes.” Using disc brakes alone can result in up to a 30% reduction in mean stopping distance.
  • The 16-axel B-train is easier on Alaska's roads, with 23% more tires on the gorund, resulting in a decrease in ground pressure compared to a standard 11-axle A-Train configuration.

Minimal Air Quality Impact

  • Independent modeling shows trucking will contribute less than 0.25% of PM2.5 emissions in Non-Attainment Area (NAA)
  • Trucks will use new, high-efficiency, low-emissions engines
  • Engines will meet latest EPA 2021 (Tier 4 comparable) emissions standards
  • Using engines meeting this standard reduces PM2.5 emissions by 90% compared to the prior standard
  • Will not impact the path back to PM2.5 attainment based on Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s State Implementation Plan (SIP)

Noise Levels Meet EPA Standard

  • New and most current systems help keep the trucks quiet
  • Our trucks will use two types of braking systems in tandem
  • Noise level will not exceed 80 dBA, which is the EPA required standard
  • Added components help to reduce noise emissions in addition to exhaust emissions
  • New exhaust components are now part of the emissions certification; illegal to tamper, modify or remove exhaust components
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