ONTARIO-The Ontario government says it is strengthening training and eligibility requirements for commercial vehicle drivers across the province.
As part of these changes, the province is developing a new standardized entry-level truck driver training curriculum to ensure commercial drivers receive consistent, high-quality training across Ontario and have the skills they need to operate safely on the province’s roads.
“Our government is focused on keeping Ontario’s roads safe, and a new standardized curriculum will ensure truck drivers have the rigorous training they need before getting behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By strengthening training standards and ensuring commercial drivers have the skills and experience they need, we’re making our roads safer for truck drivers, commuters and families in every corner of the province.”
Organizations across Ontario that offer truck driver training will be required to follow the new standardized entry-level curriculum. The curriculum will include more than 103 hours of training designed to ensure anyone applying for a Class A commercial driver’s licence has the skills and knowledge needed to operate safely and responsibly on Ontario’s roads. Additional training subjects being considered for the new curriculum include fatigue management, northern, rural and remote driving, human trafficking awareness and new mandatory air brake training.This builds on previous action taken by the province to strengthen commercial vehicle safety across Ontario, including:
- Requiring commercial vehicle drivers to provide documentation verifying their eligibility to work in Canada.
- A dedicated integrity manager for truck driver testing across the province, as well as supervisor spot checks and weekly reviews of commercial driver training schools.
- Tabling legislation to introduce tougher penalties for distracted driving in commercial vehicles and for operating a commercial vehicle without a functioning speed limiter.
- Introducing a mandatory six-month waiting period, effective January 1, 2027, before Class G or higher licence holders can attempt a Class A road test.
As a next step, the province will work with industry leaders, training providers and other subject matter experts in the coming months to develop the curriculum, with implementation expected to begin early next year.
