With spring just around the corner, landscapers are cleaning up their equipment, hooking up their trailers and preparing for the busy season ahead. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has specific regulations for commercial landscape vehicles and trailers. From determining gross weights to pre-trip inspections, the rules of the road must be followed.

Determining Registered Gross Weight (RGW)
The registered gross weight (RGW) of your vehicle determines whether or not you are subject to the various commercial operator regulations set in place by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), as well as the fee paid for truck license plates. The truck’s RGW is based on, and must be at least equal to, the actual weight of the truck or truck and trailer and load. A trailer permit does not have a RGW. Generally, the weight of a towed trailer and its load are added to the RGW of the truck. The registered gross weight is located in the plate portion of a truck’s ownership, to the right of the heading REG. GROSS WT and is in kilograms. (1 kg = 2.204 lbs) To determine how much weight an attached trailer transmits to the road, as well as how much a truck should be registered for, weigh the trailer only, with the trailer attached to the truck (weight A). Be sure to weigh the truck alone as well, with the trailer attached (weight B).

If the trailer weighs more than 2,800 kg (6,171 lbs), you must register the truck for at least the combined weight of the truck and trailer. If the trailer weighs 2,800 kg or less, the truck must be registered for at least the weight of the truck (weight B), which includes trailer tongue weight. (Weight transmitted directly to the ground, by the trailer, is not included in the RGW.)

Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR)
Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) is a system implemented by the MTO as part of the Highway Traffic Act, which ensures that all commercial operators are accountable for their actions and those of their drivers. If standards are not met, the MTO has the right to suspend or revoke certification. This regulation applies to a) trucks and truck tractors with a registered gross weight over 4,500 kg; b) trucks and truck tractors with an actual weight over 4,500 kg.

It is not necessary to apply for CVOR if you have leased the truck for a period of 30 days or less to move personal goods or to carry passengers at no fare.

Annual inspections
You are required to have an annual safety inspection performed on your vehicle if you operate a) a single truck with an actual weight, registered gross weight or gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,500 kg; b) a truck and trailer with a combined weight of more than 4,500 kg.

Pre-trip inspections
Some commercial vehicles must be inspected daily. It is a good idea from a safety perspective, however, for everyone to do them. Pre-trip inspections include thorough examination of the truck and trailer, inside and out. Drivers must also generate an accompanying inspection report. (An approved downloadable report is available at www.mto.gov.on.ca)

This regulation applies to a) trucks and truck tractors with registered gross weight over 4,500 kg (9,920 lbs); b) trucks and truck tractors with an actual weight of over 4,500 kg. There are some vehicles that are exempt from performing pre-trip inspections. These include a) two- and three-axle trucks and tractors not towing a trailer that are being used primarily to transport primary products (i.e. livestock and poultry), farm, forest, sea or lake products produced by the driver or the driver’s employer (includes farm plated trucks); b) trucks leased by individuals for 30 days or less to move their personal goods or to carry passengers at no fare.

Daily logs
Under the Hours of Work regulation, some drivers are required to keep daily logs. Application and exemptions from this regulation are the same as for pre-trip inspections (see previous paragraph). In addition, drivers are not required to keep a log on days when they stay within 160 km of the operation base and return within 15 hours. (Note: The 160 km exemption used to apply to pre-trip inspections as well, as of 1999, however, it no longer does).

Class A License
Anyone, whether commercial or private, who drives a combination of motor vehicle and towed vehicle where the towed vehicle weighs more than 4,600 kg, must hold a Class A license.

Highway scales (Truck Inspection Stations)
The following pickup trucks are required to enter weigh scales in Ontario when the “TRUCKS ENTER INSPECTION STATION” signs are flashing:
1) Pickup trucks with actual gross weights, registered gross weights or manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 4,500 kg (9,920 lbs), or
2) Pickups towing trailers, objects, devices or implements of husbandry, when the combination’s weight exceeds 4,500 kg.
Note: Combination weights are determined by adding the greater of the power unit’s actual weight, registered gross weight or manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating to the greater of the towed unit’s actual weight or manufacturers’ gross vehicle weight rating (if available).

Examples of vehicles not required to enter scales when sign lamps are flashing are trucks towing recreational vehicles such as campers and house trailers, and motor homes.

If a defect is found during inspection, the MTO officer may put an end to your journey. A broken secondary leaf of a leaf spring assembly (part of the suspension system), for example, would probably not put a vehicle out of service. The driver would most likely be asked to make the repairs and verify, later on, that they had been done. A penalty may also apply. If, however, the main leaf was broken, the vehicle would definitely be placed out of service until the repairs were done. A penalty may apply in this case, and the vehicle’s license plates may be removed.

Please be advised that this article is not an official MTO document and appears in an abbreviated form. The information presented is intended only to bring awareness to the industry of the various rules of the road. For more information on these regulations visit www.horttrades.com and click on the MTO link under Resources.

More helpful MTO links

Reprinted in part, with permission from Horse Sport Magazine.