The Act respecting owners, operators and drivers of heavy vehicles (Bill 430) has been in progressive implementation since April 1st 1999. It targets all stakeholders; not only the drivers, the owners and the operators of heavy vehicles but also intermediaries.
The Act provides a new framework for road transportation. It introduces an administrative registration system for owners and operators, and compliance monitoring. Each stakeholder is allocated a security rating (satisfactory, conditional or unsatisfactory). In addition, a tolerance threshold regarding the continuous monitoring of accidents, operations and general behaviour/compliance is in place.
Drivers are also assessed under the Act. The assessment mechanism consists in keeping a file for each owner and operator where drivers’ violations in view of traffic and road network protection are recorded. Demerit points are recorded and registered in the owner or operator’s file for the purpose of a penalty, if need be. In addition to this mechanism, the Act includes violations to the Regulation respecting the hours of driving and rest of heavy vehicle drivers, to the pre-trip equipment inspection, to the Cargo Securement Standards Regulation and to the Special Road Train Operating Permits Regulation.
Thus, a heavy vehicle driver, who in the scope of his work, commits a Highway Traffic Code violation can with demerit point penalties impact his employer rating. The SAAQ monitors the driver’s compliance to regulations on the road and on the business site.
The professional driver must therefore understand that his behaviour on the roads impacts the future of his employer.