Enabling fast and accurate regulatory compliance for hours of service and commercial motor vehicle safety inspections in Ontario (CVOR) and Canada (NSC)
Links to Regulations and other helpful information
In Canada, regulations governing commercial vehicles, drivers and motor carriers are based on the Canadian National Safety Code (NSC) standards. The NSC is a code of minimum performance standards, applying to all persons responsible for the safe operation of commercial vehicles.
The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) is an incorporated body that coordinates matters dealing with the administration, regulation and control of motor vehicle transportation and highway safety. Membership includes representation from provincial and territorial governments as well as the federal government of Canada.
CVSA - Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is a nonprofit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives. The Alliance aims to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities and believes that collaboration between government and industry improves road safety and saves lives.
- Standard 9 - Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service
- Standard 13 - Trip Inspection
ReadyChek is located in Waterloo, Ontario. And as such, most of our customers are currently doing business within Ontario. We do support all English speaking provinces (we do not yet have French for Quebec) and links specific to each province will be added as well. The National Safety Code mentioned above is the basis for all provincial regulations.
Ontario
***See Changes as of Jan 1, 2024 via amendments captured in O. Reg. 163/23
Ministry of Transportation (MTO) - Commercial Vehicles
- find information on CVOR services, requirements for special permits, etc
Important Note: See below text from the Highway Traffic Act - 107 (6)
Driver to carry inspection schedule, reports
(6) At all times while in control of a commercial motor vehicle on a highway, the driver of the vehicle shall have in his or her possession the daily inspection schedule for the commercial motor vehicle and for any vehicle drawn by the commercial motor vehicle and the completed daily inspection reports and under-vehicle inspection reports, if applicable, for the commercial motor vehicle and drawn vehicle. 2005, c. 26, Sched. A, s. 16.
The ReadyChek app contains all parts of Schedule 1, 2 or 5 as needed as part of the inspection and shown in the "Report" buttons for each part. However, in the case of the phone/app being inaccessible, it is a good idea to keep a printed copy of the schedule in the console, and have a paper inspection sheet(s) if needed as a backup until the access to the phone/app is restored. (See support page for pdf of Schedule 1 or 2, and also pdfs of blank inspection sheets that can be printed to put into a folder in trucks as paper backups.) If you still have remaining books, you may also keep one of those in each vehicle as a backup. For schedule 5, please have a paper backup on hand until we can prepare pdf pages as backup.
Other Provinces
Other Provinces/Territories are still being reviewed.
News
ELDs (ReadyChek is NOT an ELD, but we want you to know if you need one)
In 2019, Transport Canada announced that commercial motor vehicle drivers who cross provincial/territorial borders must use certified electronic logging devices (ELDs) to record their hours of service. To give the industry, provinces and territories time to get ready, industry was advised that the federal regulations would not be enforced until January 1, 2023.
As of June 12, 2022, Ontario requires certain truck drivers who operate within the province to use certified ELDs.
As of January 1, 2023, you will face penalties if you do not meet provincial ELD requirements when operating in Ontario. This applies to vehicles with licence plates from Ontario or any other jurisdiction.
Ontario will require certain bus drivers who operate within the province to use ELDs starting on July 1, 2023.
In most cases, if you were not required to complete a daily log prior to June 12, 2022, you are not required to use an ELD.
To learn who is required to have ELDs, any exemptions, penalties for not meeting regulations and the official list of certified ELDs, see the following: https://www.ontario.ca/page/electronic-logging-devices-commercial-motor-vehicles
Tow Trucks (New Ontario regulations starting Jan 1, 2024)
Jan 1, 2024
Aside from the clarifications of tow vehicles made in the HTA regulation 419/15, there are also new regulations now in effect for the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021, S.O. 2021, c. 26, Sched. 3.
The following two regulations of that Act should be reviewed by tow operators (while not all part of compliance addressed by ReadyChek, we are notifying customers to read and be familiar with changes to their regulations).
- O. Reg. 167/23: GENERAL (link)
- O. Reg. 162/23: CHARGES FOR TOWING AND VEHICLE STORAGE SERVICES (link)
2023 News
In Jan 2023, several exemptions under the CVOR program were removed and tow operators are required to:
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Undergo an annual vehicle inspection regardless of the weight of the tow truck
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Perform daily vehicle inspections regardless of the weight of the tow truck (commonly known as a “pre-trip” or “circle-check”)
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Be responsible for their drivers including record keeping and ensuring that they are trained, qualified and adhering to regulations
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Keep additional records including maintenance records and staff oversight
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Meet additional tow truck and road safety requirements
Note: Hours of Service exemptions remain in place for the towing industry. (See HOS Exemptions in the Commercial Vehicle Operator's Safety Manual)
New equipment requirements under the Highway Traffic Act are also in effect. As of January 1, 2023, tow trucks/drivers must (See the new section from Reg 587 linked in regulations above):
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Be equipped with lamps capable of producing intermittent flashes of amber lights to be used when stopped on a highway for the purpose of towing, transporting or providing roadside assistance services to a motor vehicle
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Carry two warning lights (i.e., flares); ensure visibility when stopped on the highway for the purpose of towing, transporting or providing roadside assistance services to a motor vehicle
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When outside the vehicle, drivers and a person assisting the driver must wear a safety vest that meets the requirements for Class 2 or 3 in Standard Z96-15 (R2020), entitled “High-visibility safety apparel,” published by the Canadian Standards Association
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Ensure all equipment, components and devices used to tow the motor vehicle are in good working order and do not exceed weight limits
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Secure the vehicles to a dolly, cradle or other similar device.”
TSSEA - Some administrative provisions of the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) were approved to come into force on July 1, 2022, while some substantive sections of TSSEA were approved to come into force on July 1, 2023. A new TSSEA regulation, Ontario Reg. 417/22 (General), was also approved to come into effect on July 1, 2023.