Comments on: Ontario considering changes to air brake endorsement renewal

By: Stephen Webster

Stephen Webster — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 20:40:29 +0000

In reply to Peter Turner. All truck drivers should have to do at approved shop or drive test office and show they know to do minor repairs to air brakes and be able to do the test in English. The O T A is not wanting to pay a fair wage on payroll then complaining when the foreign students they brought I. To drive truck get a different job in construction or the agr industry.

By: Albert Vanderploeg

Albert Vanderploeg — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 23:31:47 +0000

Why does a farmer over 80 have to take a practical test when he has completed the knowledge test after having a Z endorsement for over 20 years and drives only from field to farm with grain trucks ?

By: Darryl Brett

Darryl Brett — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:54:34 +0000

No I think there should be not any on line extra training. When someone study the a z handbook that is enough knowledge . When you pass the drive test center test that should be it .. I had my az from 2001 and till now 2023 just passed it and never had anything on my cvor last 15 years.. if clean cvor for drivers last 5 years the shouldnot be have to do az written test be executed from it pay the 90 dollars fee and 24 dollar eye test….

By: Bruce wright

Bruce wright — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 02:03:36 +0000

The drivers that cannot pass the test now just go out west change there address melt the same thing so why waste more money until all provinces get on the same page

By: Peter Turner

Peter Turner — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:07:59 +0000

The Truckers Voice is apposed to the OTA purposel!
This just another short sighted idea for the OTA!
There are more important issues than this!
Because the ota members chose to hire foreign drivers to avoid paying a decent wage to the experience drivers!
It is more important that they hire drivers that have some idea of trucking from the country they come from!

We need more enforcement!
Which is now being address by the MTO!
Just a few weeks ago 24 charges to driver in 24 hours!
Last year we participated in rewriting the melt program ,that was written by OTA! The OTA was only interested in getting drivers put in seats as to putting qualified drivers in seats.
As per the OPP stats have proved 40 % increase yearly from 2017 to 2022 that is 200% increase! That doesn’t include trucks just drove off the road or the accidents that occurred out sideside of the OPP jurisdiction!

This number would be double or even tripled!

Until Ontario allows drivers to adjust there brakes then this just another non issue as to dealing with real issues that plage the trucking industry!

By: Anthony Lotman

Anthony Lotman — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:10:48 +0000

Doesn’t it seem a little stupid that a driver has to know as much as a mechanic but can’t repair or do anything about it? Putting yourself out of service is the only answer and your decision to do so could be wrong for doing so. Remember we are drivers not mechanics.

By: Mark Marchand

Mark Marchand — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 11:17:30 +0000

In reply to Shawn Marcil. I agree, I’ve been out here for thirty seven years. The BS is never ending in this racket, I personally know of fourteen guys who hung the keys at Christmas. As far as I’m concerned people can starve, you want your products but the government wants to make it more difficult for the driver.

By: Jim Tamblyn

Jim Tamblyn — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:26:36 +0000

Air brakes and a knowledgeable operator in top condition are important but with a large amount of trucks on the road to day equipped with disc brakes braking has improved immensely. The Z endorsement training and updating has been ongoing at the licencing level as I recently experienced in rewriting the tests and thank god I read up the latest Z air brake drivers guide even though I just retired from forty years on the floor as a licenced truck coach technician.
Now returning to driving AZ parttime as having been licenced from the age of 18 I am horrified at some of the driving I am witnessing and experiencing in all classes. I still cannot understand how some drivers have managed to get their licences and operate in such careless and dangerous manners again in all classes. Its in this area I think efforts need to be strengthen the most along with the continuing increased enforcement and fines.
Also I know and still witness licenced inspection stations still bending the inspection regulations because theres still too much junk on the road. Having no money or working for low rates is never a reason or justification for not meeting safety standards.

By: Shawn Marcil

Shawn Marcil — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 00:50:28 +0000

I’ve been keeping my AZ even though I now only drive tractor trailer off road, but if I have to pay more fees and jump through more hoops after 37 years accident and infraction free driving as both an owner and a driver I won’t be renewing again.

I worked side by side with drivers that don’t even have a Canadian drivers license and I have to jump through hoops??? Screw that.

This industry is as upside down as out government.

By: William McKechnie

William McKechnie — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:05:04 +0000

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Government workers?, who have never driven a truck, have no bu
siness changing anything!

By: PHILIPPE MARTEL

PHILIPPE MARTEL — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:54:01 +0000

no comment from COTA canada truck operators association ?

By: Bob Vaudry

Bob Vaudry — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:10:46 +0000

I agree with PMTC an in person written test is the only way to ensure that the Air brake test is properly completed.