May 2, 2002
MTO - Daily Truck, Trailer and Coach Inspection and Maintenance Program
March 19, 2001 (Copyright) Queen's Printer for Ontario, 1999. This is an unofficial version of Government of Ontario legal materials. For accurate reference refer to the official volumes. The Highway Traffic Act and the applicable Regulation "Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections" may be viewed on the internet at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca
In this document "vehicle" means a truck, truck tractor, trailer or a bus with a designed seating capacity of 10 or more passengers.
APPLICATION:
Applies to trucks and tractors with a registered gross weight or an "actual weight" of more than 4,500 kg (9,920 lbs). "Actual weight" means the weight of the truck or tractor only, which may include weight transferred to it by an attached trailer. Also applies to buses with a seating capacity for 10 or more passengers.
EXEMPTIONS:
Vehicles that are exempt from daily vehicle inspections and reports are;
- A truck or tractor having a gross weight and a registered gross weight of 4,500 kilograms (9,920 lbs) or less,
- A vehicle leased for no longer than 30 days by an individual for the transportation of goods kept for that individual's personal use or where the passengers are carried free of charge,
- A two or three axle truck, bus or tractor not towing a trailer that is primarily used to transport primary products of a farm, forest, sea or lake produced by the driver of the vehicle or the driver's employer; (includes farm plated trucks) (primary products include livestock and poultry).
- A recreational vehicle,
- A bus that is used for personal purposes without compensation,
- A bus used for passenger service in a municipality or within 25 kilometres of the boundary of the municipality,
- A school purposes bus which has been inspected in accordance with the "School Buses" Regulation, made under the Highway Traffic Act,
- A vehicle operated under the authority of a dealer licence plate or an in-transit permit, and
- An ambulance, fire apparatus, hearse, casket wagon, mobile crane, motor home, and tow truck.
A non-exempt vehicle must be inspected by the driver in accordance with Schedules 1 & 2, if the vehicle was not inspected by the driver or another driver within the previous 24 hours.
An inspection is valid for 24 hours. Any number of drivers may operate the vehicle within the 24 hour period on the original inspection.
A person other than the driver may conduct the inspection and complete the required report.
Inspections of emergency vehicles or vehicles used to provide disaster relief are to be carried out prior to the vehicle's first non-emergency or non-relief trip.
DAILY VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT REQUIRED:
Buses;
- A report must be completed for a bus that is operated beyond a radius of 160 km from where the driver reports for work.
- A report is not required for a bus that is operated within a radius of 160 km from where the driver reports for work and is instructed to return.
- Where a report is not required and a safety defect is discovered and repaired prior to the vehicle's operation a "record of defects and the repairs" (record) must be written up. A record may be any type of document suitable to the operator for recording safety defects and repairs. A record is not required to be carried in the vehicle.
Trucks;
A report must be completed for a truck or tractor and any towed trailer(s), regardless of the distance to be travelled.
When a report is required, the report is to be filled out and signed at the completion of the trip inspection, carried in or on the vehicle and produced to an enforcement officer upon request.
A report is valid for 24 hours. Any number of drivers may operate the vehicle with an inspection and report completed by another driver if the inspection and report are not more than 24 hours old.
A person other than the driver may conduct the inspection and complete the report.
CONTENTS OF REPORT:
A report must contain, as a minimum, the following information:
- Make of motor vehicle,
- The licence plate number or unit number of the truck, bus, tractor and towed trailer(s),
- The date and time of the inspection,
- The name and signature of the person who carries out the inspection,
- A list of the items required to be inspected as set out in Schedules 1 and 2, and
- Any safety defects of the items referred to in Schedules 1 and 2, discovered during the inspection.
RECORDING INSPECTION RESULTS:
Where a report of inspection is required, the driver must record on the report any safety related defects found. If there are no defects, the report must so indicate. In addition to any defects noted during an inspection, a driver must, at the end of the trip or 24 hour period, record on the report any defects noticed while in charge of the vehicle.
REPORTING DEFECTS:
The driver must report safety-related defects to the operator before operating the vehicle. The person repairing these defects shall record on the inspection report the date on which the repair is completed, or the fact that no repair is required, and shall sign the report. Completed inspection reports are forwarded to the operator as soon as possible.
KEEPING REPORTS AND RECORDS:
A report that does not show a defect(s), is kept for three months.
A report that lists defects, repairs or indications that repairs were not required becomes a "record" of defects and repairs and is kept for two years along with other vehicle maintenance documents.
"Records" of defects and repairs are kept for two years.
Records and reports are kept at the operator's principal place of business.
INSPECTING THE VEHICLE:
The items contained within the brackets in Schedules 1 and 2 are designed to serve as a guide to the driver and are not required to be listed on the report.
SCHEDULE 1
OUTSIDE INSPECTION
- All lights and reflectors (equipped and functioning as required under the Act and the regulations)
- Wheels and fasteners (for wheel or rim cracks, defective lock rings, loose or missing fasteners)
- Tires (for tread depth, flat or noticeable leaks, any visible bumps or bulges, mixture or bias and radial tires on the same axle, contact with any part of the vehicle or any other tire)
- Fuel system (for visible leak at any point, tank filler caps shall not be missing, the fuel tank shall be securely mounted)
- Exhaust system (for audible leaks, missing or loose components, secure mountings)
- Fifth wheel (for loose, missing or ineffective fasteners, missing, broken or deformed parts in the locking mechanism, operating handle being in closed or locked position when in use)
- Suspension, springs, air bags and controlling attachments (for any cracked, broken, loose or missing axle positioning or fastening parts, broken or missing spring leaves, broken coil springs, deflated air suspension due to system failure)
- Towing and coupling devices (for missing or unattached safety devices, or safety devices not capable of secure attachment, wear kinks or broken cable strands, improper repairs)
- Load for security (for compliance with the requirements of Ontario Regulation 614)
- Load covering (for compliance with the requirements of Regulation 577)
- Air brake adjustment and connections (for absence of braking action on each wheel, missing, broken or loose mechanical components where readily visible, audible air leaks and brake re-adjustment limits)
- Hydraulic brake Fluid (for visible leakage)
- Mirrors (as required under the Act and the regulations, for condition and adjustments)
SCHEDULE 2
INSIDE INSPECTION
- Steering wheel (excessive play, looseness)
- Brake pedal (reserve and fade)
- Brake booster (operation)
- Brake failure warning light (functions as intended)
- Brake air pressure or vacuum gauge
- Warning signal, low pressure or low vacuum
- Windshield washer and wipers (function as intended)
- Windshield and windows (are to afford the driver a clear view)
- Mirrors (adjustment and condition)
- Defroster and heaters (function as intended)
- Horn (functions as intended)
- Driver's seat belt and seat security (function as intended)
- Parking brake (adequate to hold vehicle)
- Emergency equipment (as required under any Act and the regulations made thereunder for that class of vehicle)
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND COMPONENT STANDARDS:
Every operator shall maintain all trucks, truck tractors, trailers and buses under their control. The maintenance shall be in accordance with the prescribed vehicle component performance standards contained in Schedules 1, 2 and 4 of Regulation 611, Regulation 587, both made under the Highway Traffic Act and the operators system of periodic maintenance and inspections.
VEHICLES EXEMPT FROM MAINTENANCE & COMPONENT STANDARDS:
- A truck or tractor having a gross weight and a registered gross weight of 4,500 kilograms (9,920 lbs) or less;
- A truck, tractor, trailer or bus leased for no longer than 30 days by an individual for the transportation of goods kept for that individual's personal use or where the passengers are carried free of charge;
- A bus that is used for personal purposes without compensation;
- A truck, tractor, trailer or bus operated under the authority of a dealer plate or an in-transit permit and;
- An ambulance, fire apparatus, hearse, casket wagon, mobile crane, motor home, and tow truck.
- A statement of the types and frequency of inspections and maintenance to be carried out;
- Vehicle identification records, including company number (if any), make, serial number, and year;
- Name of vehicle lessor, if applicable;
- Record of repairs and maintenance including the nature of repairs, date and odometer readings; and
- Record of axle or suspension modifications that affect weight ratings.
Maintenance records are kept at the operators principal place of business for two years or 6 months after the vehicle ceases to be the operators responsibility.
Sample Daily Vehicle Inspection Report
Related articles and infomation on the MTO Commercial Motor Vehicle requirements can be found below: