An examination of the Canadian hours-of-service rules has been requested by Transport Minister David Collenette. He made the request April 30 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport and Government Operations.
The request to examine the rules was made in order to build on the ongoing work of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) on hours of service rules, according to information from Transport Canada.
"Public consultation is essential on this issue," said Mr Collenette. "The committee's examination will add to our body of knowledge and allow broader public input."
In Canada, the responsibility for commercial vehicle safety is shared among the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. For that reason, a review of the rules for commercial drivers' hours of service is being conducted under the auspices of the CCMTA, a joint provincial, territorial and federal organization that coordinates motor vehicle transportation and highway safety matters. The group also includes representatives from the trucking industry and from public safety organizations.
The CCMTA drafted a proposal to modernize and simplify the current rules. The proposed changes would shorten drivers' workdays and provide more opportunity to rest and recover, on a daily basis, from the effects of fatigue.