Major leap in safety oversight still needed
MTO continues to implement measures to tackle lawlessness in the trucking industry, which is growing pervasively throughout Ontario and across Canada.
Recent announcements increasing provincial enforcement of diesel emissions requirements, commercial vehicle speed limiters and distracted driving are welcomed by the Ontario Trucking Association.
A legislative package introduced earlier this week proposes to double fines and increase licence suspensions upon conviction for distracted driving while operating a commercial vehicle as well as increasing the minimum fines for commercial vehicle speed limiter offenses, including operating a commercial vehicle without a functioning speed limiter.
Earlier in the month, Ontario also announced it would strengthen roadside enforcement of diesel emissions requirements, which OTA has been working with MTO for over five years to implement. Effective immediately, the Ministry is equipped at roadside with the same inspection technology used in DriveON inspection centres. Roadside inspection capabilities now include opacity testing and on-board diagnostic testing, which analyzes a vehicles computer system to confirm that diesel emissions control systems are functioning as intended. Vehicles found in violation could face a range of compliance measures including plate seizures and orders to repair the vehicle.
“These recent measures are a clear sign of Ontario’s commitment to continue cleaning up the unethical and dangerous behaviours on our highways by fleet owners who don’t care about compliance and their responsibility to safety and the environment,” said OTA president and CEO Stephen Laskowski. “What we need next is a commitment from the province to open up safety inspection scales 24/7 and remove the satisfactory un-audited safety rating category by ensuring the 90% of the fleets operating in Ontario who have never received a compliance review undergo some oversight.”
OTA is also seeking clarification from MTO on the timeline for utilizing the DriveOn technology at roadside for enforcing speed-limiters. OTA will be encouraging MTO to ensure their emissions enforcement is strong and balanced focusing on intraprovincial routes and those used by out-of-province carriers.