Risk & Business Magazine Gifford Associates Spring 2017 | Page 31
MTO CHANGES
“...road-building machines are “self-propelled
vehicles of a design commonly used in the
construction or maintenance of highways”...”
kg will require a valid Commercial
Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR)
certificate. Along with this change
in status to a commercial vehicle,
operators and drivers will be subject
to the requirements already in place
for commercial vehicles including
safety inspections, daily inspections,
recordkeeping, and recording hours of
service. Vehicles no longer considered
to be road-building machines will also
have to be registered, receive licence
plates with valid stickers, and obtain
motor vehicle insurance.
Some of these changes may come as a
shock to many operators who are used
to facing fewer requirements on their
vehicles. As such, getting everything
in order (including insurance for
the vehicles) can be a daunting task.
Fortunately, there is still plenty of time
to take stock of what vehicles you have
and which ones may be affected.
Highway Traffic Act (HTA) Changes—
Effective January 1, 2017
•
All tow truck operators must
register under the Ministry of
Transportation’s Commercial
Vehicle Operator’s Registration
(CVOR) system.
•
•
The definition of “commercial
motor vehicle” in the HTA has been
amended, and a new regulation
has been developed to define
“commercial motor vehicle and tow
truck.”
Light Duty Vehicles (LDVs)
registered on remote islands in
Ontario will be exempted from
emissions test requirements for
vehicle registration renewals. The
proposed exemption will apply
to LDVs registered to remote
islands that are not connected by
road, bridge, or causeway to the
mainland or another island; are not
accessible to motor vehicles by ferry
year round; and have distinct postal
codes that are not shared with any
other area.
• The use of bicycle traffic signals to
direct bicycle traffic at signalized
intersections will be allowed.
• An authority will be created to
prescribe in regulation a bicycle
symbol for use in bicycle traffic
signal systems.
• Cyclists will be required to obey
the bicycle signal lane lights at
AND HOW THEY
COULD AFFECT
YOUR BUSINESS
intersections where both bicycle
and regular traffic signals apply to
the same lane.
•
Amendments to the Traffic
Control Signal System will provide
the description and placement
requirements of the new bicycle
traffic signals.
Consulting an insurance professional
who has the expertise in Risk
Management, Fleet Transportation, and
Construction is always a good first step,
as he or she will not only be aware of the
changes which are being made to the
relevant laws but will also know what
you need to do in terms of registration
and insurance.
Whether you run a small business that
moves goods across the city or country
or across borders, working with an
experienced insurance professional who
understands your business is key. Steve
Montcalm has been a specialist in the
industry for 20 years. For a review of
how these changes could affect you or
your business, Steve would be happy
to help and can be contacted at 613-
596-9101 ext. 341 or by email at Steve.
[email protected].
BY: STEVE
MONTCALM, FLEET SPECIALIST
AND PARTNER AT GIFFORD ASSOCIATES
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