Hours of Service Regulations

Ontario Regulation 555/06: Hours of Service (O. Reg 555/06) under the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O 1990, c. H.8, is a significant component in terms of safety. O. Reg. 555/06 came into force on January 1, 2007 and regulates the number of hours a driver can be behind the wheel (i.e. “on duty”). A driver is “ on duty ” when they drive a commercial motor vehicle, or perform any other work, for an operator, including themselves if they own the vehicle. This includes time spent:

• Inspecting, servicing, repairing, cleaning, and warming up a commercial motor vehicle;

• Travelling in a commercial motor vehicle as a co-driver, not spending time in the sleeper berth;

• Participating in the loading and unloading of a commercial motor vehicle;

• Inspecting and checking the load of a commercial motor vehicle;

• Waiting for a commercial motor vehicle to be serviced, loaded, unloaded, and dispatched;

• Waiting for a commercial motor vehicle or its load to be inspected; and

• Waiting at an enroute point because of an accident or other unplanned occurrence or situation.

A driver cannot drive more than 13 hours in a day and cannot drive after 14 hours on-duty in a day. Furthermore, a driver must have a minimum of 10 hours off-duty in a day, which may be distributed throughout the day in blocks of no less than 30 minutes each, with a mandatory eight consecutive hours of off-duty time required.

Daily Log & Electronic Logging Device

Drivers must maintain a daily log that contains a list of prescribed information relating to the driver’s workday. The daily log may be handwritten, computer generated, or made by means of a recording device. At the federal level, the commercial vehicle sector is transitioning to a tamper-resistant Electronic Logging Device (ELD).

An ELD connects to the truck’s engine control module (ECM) tracking for Hours of Service (HOS) compliance. The ELD provides a fail proof way to monitor compliance with federal and provincial regulations, such as driving hours. By June 12, 2021, all drivers of federally regulated commercial trucks and buses operating in Canada must use an ELD.

The Province of Ontario has amended the HTA to permit ELDs; however, as of October 2, 2020 the amendment is awaiting proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor. This will align Ontario with the Government of Canada in terms of monitoring compliance with regulations. Information stored in the ELD can be transferred to dispatchers, and transport ministries or departments in Canada and the USA. Law enforcement may use the information for investigating accidents as it stores the information in a standardized format no one can alter.

Long Combination Vehicle (LCV) Program

A typical Long Combination Vehicle is up to 40 metres long, consisting of a tractor pulling two full-length semitrailers. An LCV replaces two 23-metre tractor-trailers. The MTO has gradually intr oduced LCVs onto Ontario roadways by issuing a limited number of permits to carriers that are subject to strict regulations. MTO states that allows for a “ carefully controlled and closely monitored program as part of an effort to build a stronger, greener economy ”.