The Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario Inc., has given its “thumbs up” to the Ministry of Transportation’s Mandatory Entry-Level Training standards after the MTO agreed to address concerns the group raised with respect to clarifying some of the language and standards outlined in the proposal.
“(The MTO) reacted pretty quickly,” said Kim Richardson, chairman of the board for TTSAO in a phone interview with Land Line. “It was important that we were heard and that this thing be done right, as right as it possibly can be, the first time.”
Richardson said the TTSAO had initially refused to fully endorse the proposal, citing issues with the language and standards around instructor qualifications, night-time training and clear definitions of what constitutes online education and verification of training hours.
“The big thing for us is we need to ensure that the timeline for addressing these situations and scenarios are addressed before full implementation in July 2017,” he said. “It’s important, number one, that they be enforced, because regulations without teeth just don’t work, but more importantly that they are clearly defined.”
The MTO’s proposal would require any new applicant for a Class A commercial license to successfully complete a mandatory training course before attempting the road test. Nichols says the program will aim to ensure commercial truck drivers are “properly trained, tested and licensed.”
MTO is anticipating full implementation by summer 2017.
Under the mandatory entry-level training program, all organizations that will deliver the training must be registered with the province.
Among the key takeaways from the new training program will be three aspects of core curriculum: in-school, in-yard (inspections) and in-cab. The in-school training is proposed for at least 36.5 hours; in-yard training for 17 hours; and 50 hours of training behind the wheel (32 on-road, 18 off-road), for a total of 103.5 hours. In addition, the proposal calls for 12 hours of air brake training.
Classroom sizes will be limited to 15 students per teacher.
Richardson said the new training standards won’t amount to big changes for established schools that have been delivering the training properly.
“It’s going to help eliminate what we call licensing mills in the province of Ontario,” he said. “You pick up a newspaper or you see advertising online for getting your (commercial) license for $750 and done in 8 hours. There’s a tremendous amount of concern for road safety there, especially if they get to the wrong carrier.”
