e-4529 (Public safety)

Safety is Transport Canada’s top priority, including measures to strengthen commercial motor vehicle safety in Canada.  

Commercial vehicle safety is a shared responsibility among all levels of government, industry partners, and all road users. Under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, Transport Canada is responsible for certain operational matters relating to commercial busing and trucking activity, such as hours of service, safety ratings, and contract of carriage. Provinces and territories are responsible for driver training, licensing, vehicle registration, rules of the road, and enforcement, including the federal motor carrier rules, such as hours of service. 

In this context, Transport Canada works with the provinces and territories to advance a consistent, national approach to commercial motor vehicle safety through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators. This includes oversight and maintenance of the National Safety Code for Motor Carriers, which sets out several operational safety standards for commercial vehicles, including carrier and driver profiles, safety ratings, hours of service, and facility audits. The Code is the basis for federal and provincial/territorial rules and regulations governing the safe operation of commercial vehicles, drivers, and operators, with standards either adopted by reference into jurisdictional regulation or mirrored in provincial and territorial laws. 

National Safety Code Standards (https://www.ccmta.ca/en/national-safety-code) 

Standard 1??????? Single Driver Licence Concept 

Standard 2??????? Knowledge and Performance Tests (Drivers) 

Standard 3??????? Driver Examiner Training Program 

Standard 4??????? Driver Licencing Classification 

Standard 5??????? Self-Certification Standards and Procedures 

Standard 6??????? Determining Driver Fitness in Canada 

Standard 7??????? Carrier and Driver Profiles 

Standard 8??????? Short-Term Suspension 

Standard 9??????? Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service 

Standard 10????? Cargo Securement 

Standard 11????? Maintenance and Periodic Inspection 

Standard 12????? CVSA On-Road Inspection 

Standard 13????? Trip Inspection 

Standard 14????? Safety Rating 

Standard 15????? Facility Audits 

Standard 16????? Entry Level Training (Class 1) 

In February 2020, the federal/provincial/territorial Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety, including the Minister of Transport, approved a national standard for entry-level training for commercial vehicles drivers. This helps ensure that commercial vehicles drivers have the essential skills and knowledge to safely operate their vehicles in Canada. The standard represents an important milestone for road safety in Canada and is embedded in the National Safety Code—the basis for consistent provincial and territorial rules for commercial vehicles, drivers, and motor carriers.  

Consistent with roles and responsibilities between the federal and provincial/territorial governments, the implementation of standard 16 rests with each jurisdiction, including training, licensing frameworks, as well as the oversight and enforcement of this national standard.