The province has announced new curriculum and eligibility requirements for commercial truck drivers in Ontario to strengthen driver training with the goal of making them the safest in North America. Trucking safety along Highway 11/17 is improved with additional enforcement officers, more traffic blitzes, two mobile inspection support units and upgrades to the provincial rest area network, the province said in a news release Monday. “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 standards, ( we can ensure ) commercial drivers have the skills and experience they need.” “Organizations will be required to follow the new standardized entry-level curriculum that includes 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,” the province said. Additional training subjects being considered include fatigue management, northern, rural and remote driving, human trafficking awareness and new mandatory air brake training. The province added it will work with industry leaders, training providers and others in the coming months to develop the curriculum, with implementation expected to begin early next year.
