Ontario Developing New Training Requirements for Truck Drivers

New standardized curriculum will strengthen commercial driver training and keep Ontario roads safe

 The Ontario government is strengthening training and eligibility requirements for commercial vehicle drivers across the province, marking a milestone in the government’s plan to protect Ontario by ensuring our roads remain among the safest in North America. As part of these changes, the province is developing a new standardized entry-level truck driver training curriculum to ensure commercial drivers receive consistent, high-quality training across Ontario and have the skills they need to operate safely on the province’s roads.

“Our government is focused on keeping Ontario’s roads safe, and a new standardized curriculum will ensure truck drivers have the rigorous training they need before getting behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By strengthening training standards and ensuring commercial drivers have the skills and experience they need, we’re making our roads safer for truck drivers, commuters and families in every corner of the province.”

As part of these enhanced safety measures, organizations across Ontario that offer truck driver training will be required to follow the new standardized entry-level curriculum. The curriculum will include more than 103 hours of clear, robust and consistent training designed to ensure anyone applying for a Class A commercial driver’s licence has the skills and knowledge needed to operate safely and responsibly on Ontario’s roads. Additional training subjects being considered for the new curriculum include fatigue management, northern, rural and remote driving, human trafficking awareness and new mandatory air brake training.This builds on previous action taken by the province to strengthen commercial vehicle safety across Ontario, including:

• Requiring commercial vehicle drivers to provide documentation verifying their eligibility to work in Canada.
• A dedicated integrity manager for truck driver testing across the province, as well as supervisor spot checks and weekly reviews of commercial driver training schools.
• Tabling legislation to introduce tougher penalties for distracted driving in commercial vehicles and for operating a commercial vehicle without a functioning speed limiter.
• Introducing a mandatory six-month waiting period, effective January 1, 2027, before Class G or higher licence holders can attempt a Class A road test.

As a next step, the province will work with industry leaders, training providers and other subject matter experts in the coming months to develop the curriculum, with implementation expected to begin early next year.

The province is also improving trucking safety in the north along Highway 11/17 by increasing the number of Transportation Enforcement Officers in northern Ontario, expanding enforcement blitzes along the Highway 11/17 corridor, deploying two mobile inspection support units to increase truck enforcement along the corridor and upgrading the provincial rest area network in northern Ontario to provide more year-round truck parking.

Quick Facts

• The new standard curriculum for truck driver training aligns with recommendations from an Auditor General report calling for stronger training standards for commercial drivers.
• Drivers from jurisdictions that do not have a reciprocal licensing agreement with Ontario must now complete a G2 road test followed by a G road test at least 12 months later to become fully licensed.