Ontario ramps up mechanical inspection for some farm trucks

Thursday, January 22, 2015

by MIKE BEAUDIN

Ontario farm vehicles with licence plates and weighing more than 4,500 kg (10,000 pounds) will face stiffer mechanical inspection standards this year.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) introduced new inspection procedures on Jan. 1 that require vehicles to undergo more rigorous testing.

Ministry spokesman Ajay Woozageer, in an email, said the MTO is providing a soft enforcement period of 12 months to allow mechanics and technicians who do the inspections to familiarize themselves with the new standard.

Ontario is the last province to fully adopt National Safety Code 11B (NSC 11B) which outlines 16 minimum standards for periodic mandatory vehicle inspections.

“Overall, the new version of NSC 11B is more precise and explicit as to what needs to be inspected and includes inspection items not previously covered, such as electronic stability control,” said Woozageer.

Woozageer said the new code, which addresses vehicle technologies not previously covered such as anti-lock brakes and airbags, would improve safety.

The 16 standards cover licensing, training programs for drivers, medical standards for drivers, hours of service, load security, maintenance standards, safety rating and trip reports.

The standards were put in place mostly to regulate the commercial trucking and bus industries but farm vehicles are not exempt.

Woozageer said the amended standard outlines which items can be visually inspected and which items require additional procedures. Inspections must be conducted by a certified mechanic/technician at a licensed station.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the inspections is when wheels need to be removed for brake inspection. If a truck meets the qualifications for a limited brake inspection and visible defects are found, only limited brake measurements are required. Removal will be necessary if the technician suspects a problem that requires a closer inspection.

NSC 11B requires the inspecting mechanic to record measurements, pad friction, material thickness and rotor thickness for disc brakes, and the brake shoe lining thickness and brake drum diameter for drum brakes.

The licensee must keep a record of all vehicles inspected together with the measurements and any other information required. Records showing a list of defects, recommended repairs and actual repairs carried out must be kept for one year from the date of inspection.

The records aren’t required to be submitted to the MTO.

Although vehicles must meet stricter standards, the inspection shouldn’t take much more time or cost much more than current inspections unless repairs are required, said Woozageer.

“Inspections to the new standard will create minor impacts on the process, while the additional time to undertake the inspection is minimal,” he said.

Representatives of the truck and bus industry were consulted on the changes, said Woozageer. Farmers were not consulted because they're not considered a primary transportation industry and make up such a small fraction of the trucks on the road. BF