Canada Inches Closer to Hours Reform

Canada moved one step closer to drafting new regulations that reduce the number of hours truckers may work.

Two committees of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators have approved a plan that is still in its early stages. It was unveiled to the public in late October (11-1, p. 4).

A final version isn’t expected to be out until next summer, but so far representatives of Canadian truckers appear to be happy with the shape of the changes. At a CCMTA meeting held Nov. 7 to 9 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, officials issued a policy paper outlining the hours of service revisions, which was then approved by the council’s compliance and regulatory affairs committee.

Graham Cooper, senior vice president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said the proposal looks like a vast improvement over the current regulations. He said it is simpler and strikes an appropriate balance between economic and safety concerns.

However, Cooper cautioned that it’s still very early in the game.

"Bear in mind, we still have hurdles to be overcome," he said. "A committee of government officials and bureaucrats have approved a policy paper. That’s a long way from putting a regulation in place."

CCMTA, which includes members from the federal government and Canadian provincial and territorial governments, coordinates regulation of motor vehicle transportation and highway safety in Canada.

The next step is for the group’s board of directors to approve the proposal. The details will be worked out over the winter, and meetings will be held to get public input. A final standard will then be submitted for CCMTA approval in June 2000, and that rule will serve as a template to be adopted at the federal and provincial levels.

The major components of the plan include the creation of a 24-hour work day by increasing the current minimum off-duty period from eight hours to 10 and reducing the daily maximum on-duty limit from 15 to 14. The proposal does away with the distinction between on-duty time and driving time.