Overview
Since 2009 carriers have been operating LCVs in Ontario as part of a
gradually expanding program administered by the Ministry of
Transportation, Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Trucking
Association (OTA). Over 42,000 trips have resulted in an accumulation of
about 14 million kilometres within Ontario up to December 2011.
OTA Database
OTA maintains a database that contains the names of all LCV drivers,
instructors and carrier LCV contacts of companies approved by the MTO
for LCV operations in Ontario. The purpose of the database is to
ensure all drivers, instructors and carriers are registered and there is
a single source of information available to MTO and enforcement agencies
to validate driver and instructor training certificates. The onus
for inputting information into the database for instructors and drivers
remains the responsibility of the carrier’s primary LCV contact.
Once registered with OTA, carrier Primary LCV contacts will receive
instructions on how to use the database (see below).Carrier Primary LCV
Contact
Carrier Primary LCV Contact
As a part of the permit criteria each carrier participating in
the LCV program must identify to MTO one or more persons who will act as
the company’s primary LCV contacts with the MTO. OTA will
also require this information to coordinate the training of instructors
and drivers.
OTA LCV Driver and Instructor Certificates
All eligible LCV drivers and instructors operating in Ontario are issued
Ontario LCV certificates by their carrier through OTA.
Certifying LCV Drivers
LCV driver certification is obtained by drivers who meet the entry
criteria through the carrier that employs or contracts them to operate
LCVs on their behalf. Entry criteria includes having an Ontario
Class A drivers license with Z endorsement (or equivalent from another
jurisdiction), at least 5 years tractor-trailer experience and an
abstract check showing no more than 2 moving violations in previous 12
months, no more than 3 moving violations in previous 36 months, and no
Criminal Code violations. There are two categories of drivers;
drivers with current valid LCV experience, and drivers that have no
experience.
All drivers must carry a wallet card issued by OTA through their carrier
certifying them as an LCV driver. This wallet card will identify
to enforcement personal that they are a legitimate LCV driver.
.
- Drivers with
Previous LCV Experience
This includes drivers holding a valid and current
driver’s certificate to operate an LCV in a western province where
the training provided was based on the Canadian Trucking
Alliance’s (CTA) LCV Training Program, or drivers with a valid and
current Quebec driver’s license which includes a
“T-mention” issued prior to June 2009. In both cases,
the driver must have at least 1,000 km of applicable LCV driving
experience (experience in regulation size b-trains (25m) is not
considered applicable LCV experience). Such drivers can be
certified to operate an LCV in Ontario through the carrier they work
for. Additional training is not required, but highly recommended.,
In lieu of formal training carriers must orient the driver on all
aspects of the Ontario permit conditions, as they and their drivers will
be accountable for any and all violations of the LCV permit conditions,
up to and including revoking of carrier LCV permits and drivers
certificates. Once satisfied the driver meets all the requirements, the
carrier primary LCV contact must sign off on the driver and submit
information to OTA. OTA will then issue an LCV drivers certificate to
the carrier in the name of the driver. Although not required, it
is highly recommended that such drivers take the complete OTA “new
LCV driver” training program to ensure they are fully familiar
with Ontario permit conditions.
- Drivers
without previous LCV Experience
Drivers who do not yet have LCV certification must attend
certification training. Certified OTA LCV instructors working for the
carrier for whom the driver works will provide classroom and practical
instruction. After successful completion of prerequisite knowledge
tests, participation in a day of classroom instruction and successful
completion of a final knowledge examination, drivers will receive a
driver-in-training certificate. During the practical skill development
stage the novice LCV driver must accumulate at least 1000 km of LCV
driving and be accompanied by a certified LCV instructor approved under
the OTA program.
- LCV Driver
Certificates
All drivers must carry a wallet card issued by
OTA through their carrier certifying them as a driver authorized to
operate LCVs in Ontario. This wallet card will identify to
enforcement personal that they are a qualified LCV
driver.
- Responsibility of Carriers for LCV Drivers
The carrier must validate all driver
qualifications and provide a signed declaration and supporting documents
to OTA. Upon successful completion of all aspects of the training, the
driver obtains his/her LCV driver certificate valid for one year as long
as the driver remains with that carrier. Drivers who move to a different
carrier must be recertified by that carrier. Drivers can only register
for certification directly through a carrier for whom they are working.
. If drivers operate LCVs for more than one carrier, they must carry a
separate LCV drivers certificate for each
carrier.
- Certificate Renewal
LCV driver certificates must be renewed annually
through OTA. Carriers will be notified by OTA when certificates are
about to expire and will automatically receive renewal documents.
Up-to-date driver abstracts must be submitted at time of renewal to
verify the driver continues to meet the required
criteria.
Click here for a flow chart that
explains the Driver Certification Process
Certifying LCV Instructors
LCV Instructors will also be certified through the OTA program.
The information below outlines three types of instructors. All
instructors must be qualified and/or experienced to deliver adult
learning.
- Previously Qualified CTA LCV Instructors
Instructors holding a valid and current LCV
Instructor certificate from an LCV Instructors Course based on the CTA
LCV Instructor Course in another province can migrate to the Ontario
program through the carrier that employs them, or contracts their
services. These instructors must have at least 10,000 km of LCV driving
experience and will be required to attend an orientation session to
familiarize themselves with all aspects of the Ontario program and
obtain certification as Instructors. This involves one day of classroom
instruction. A ½ day practical portion of the training is
also available where practical skills and equipment verification are
addressed on-site at the carriers facility. It is highly
recommended all previously certified instructors take the practical
portion of the training.
- New LCV Instructors
Persons wishing to become certified as LCV Instructors, but who have no
previous qualifications as an LCV Instructor, must first become
qualified as an LCV driver and accumulate a minimum of 10,000 km LCV
driving experience. Secondly, each instructor must be qualified as a
driver trainer by taking a recognized training course, or otherwise
qualified in adult education and truck driver training. Instructors can
then participate in the OTA LCV train-the-trainer program. This involves
one day of classroom instruction and a ½ day practical portion
where practical skills and equipment verification are addressed on-site
at the carriers
facility.
- Restricted
LCV Instructor (Classroom Only)
Persons who have no previous qualifications as an LCV
Instructor or LCV driver can become certified as LCV Instructors to
deliver classroom learning only. This involves one day of classroom
instruction.
Click
here for a flow
chart explaining the Instructor Certification
Process