Border Lines

By Staff -- Logistics Management, 2/1/1998

Ontario is getting tough on defective commercial vehicles. Effective Feb. 2, any truck or bus found to have a "critical defect" such as faulty brakes, suspension, or tires, will be taken to an impoundment yard for 15 days. The length of the impoundment increases to 30 and 60 days, respectively, if a vehicle is found to be defective a second or third time within a two-year period. All commercial vehicles are subject to enforcement, regardless of where they are based. Among the many additional safety provisions that take effect in Ontario this month are increased fines of up to CDN $20,000; revised safety-fitness tests for new market entrants; increased responsibility by shippers to prevent truck overloading; a new performance-based facility-audit system; additional mobile safety-enforcement units; and expanded training for municipal and provincial police. Ontario's Ministry of Transportation also is developing a safety-rating system to help shippers choose safe carriers.