Commercial Driver’s License
Overall regulations in Canada are governed by Transport Canada’s National Safety Code. The National Safety Code is the standard each province and territory are to follow when regulating their drivers. However, each province has its own classes of Commercial Vehicle Licenses and its own requirements for obtaining a license.
Regulations in Canada
Overall regulations in Canada are governed by Transport Canada’s National Safety Code and are the standard for each province and territory. That being said, each province has its own classes of commercial vehicle licensing requirements.
Generally speaking, these Commercial Licenses cover driving vehicles such as passenger buses, heavy trucks, taxis, limousines, dump trucks, large snow plows, school buses, and ambulances.
Regulations by Province
Each province has separate endorsements that can be added to their license for things such as school buses or air brakes. As an example, in Ontario, one must have a Z-endorsement to drive a truck with air brakes while in New Brunswick it is an F-endorsement. To drive a school bus in Saskatchewan requires you to have an S-endorsement.
For drivers looking to drive vehicles such as school buses, transporting people with special disabilities, and larger capacity buses an unrestricted designation is required.
In Ontario, the license requires a class B, C, E or F. A class B license allows drivers to operate a school bus with more than 24 passengers. A Class E license allows a driver to use a school bus to transport up to 24 passengers.
With a Class C license, a driver can drive a non-school bus with seating for more than 24 passengers It also allows the driver to operate a vehicle covered by D, F, and G licenses.
A Class F license allows the driver to operate a regular, non-school bus with seating for up to 24 people, including an ambulance.
All Commercial Licenses require knowledge and road test.
Regardless of which province you are in, driving others as a career is a big responsibility and requires a special skill set, training, and knowledge base.
Signing up for professional driving training is a great way to ensure you are confident and comfortable on the road and in your exam.
It is important to find driving instruction that includes both in-class instruction as well as vehicle road training.
By taking an approved training course, you will feel best prepared for not only the tests involved in obtaining your license but confidence while you drive the vehicle. You will come away with some initial experience that can make all the difference.
