Humboldt: a real "whiplash" for trucking safety, driver's license review, says Alberta minister

Alberta's Minister of Transport is proposing a major overhaul of its regulations on the trucking industry and the province's privatized driver's license system.

Brian Mason said Tuesday that the Privatized Licensing System for 25 years, he is currently tainted with frequent complaints, opportunities for abuse and "total lack of supervision".

His department intends to bring all driving examiners to the government by January 2019.

It is clear that the terrible tragedy has drawn everyone's attention to the need to do even more to ensure that our highways, our trucking system, are as safe as possible – Transport Minister Brian Mason

is filling a gap that allows trucking companies to operate without a safety certificate and to put in place mandatory training for truck drivers, bus drivers and drivers. school buses, who must now take a test.

Mason emphasized this deadly collision as his motivation for rapid chronology.

"The horrible tragedy of Humboldt was a real boost for today's announcement.The things we are working on today were things that we were working at that time, "Mason said at a press conference at the Alberta Motor Transport Association's headquarters. "But it is clear that the terrible tragedy has drawn everyone's attention to the need to do even more to make sure our highways, our trucking system, are as safe as possible."

The deadly crash of a Humboldt trailer and broncos A hockey team driver killed 16 people and injured some 13 others.

The truck driver, a 29-year-old Calgary man named Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, faces 16 counts of dangerous driving. He appeared in court on Tuesday and was released on bail.

The parents of a deceased Broncos player, 16-year-old Adam Herold, are suing the driver, the company, Adesh Deol Trucking Ltd., for which the driver was working, and

More training, different tests

The changes have been announced with the support of several industry groups, but other commercial and public consultations will be held this month, with the goal of getting the changes for January.

The province commissioned a report from a third-party consultant in 2016 on the Alberta driver's examination and licensing system

Mason described the report as "significant difficulties with the current model ", including bad service, irregularities and criminal activities.

"We have complaints every week and there is a complete lack of supervision," he told the crowd.

• Read the report detailing the problems identified with the current model of driver examiner. Some complaints concerned the availability of driving test staff, the professionalism of the test staff, the high costs for testing and, he said, the failed students in order to solicit a second test fee

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  Driver licensing and road reviews have been privatized in Alberta since 1993.

  "We need to address the issues that have been identified with the Driver Examiner process," said Minister Brian Malkinson. "Even a case of badual harbadment, bribery or fraud is one too many."

  The Minister stated that despite the desire to make government registry officers, the province will provide the same access to services in communities Rural and Urban

  View Full Comments by Minister of Transport Brian Mason:

  Province Also Considering Compulsory Basic Training Course for Drivers Applying for Clbad 1 (semitrailer), Clbad 2 (bus) and an S approval, which is for school bus driving. At the moment, such training is offered only in Ontario, says Mason

  At present, if a driver pbades the tests, he will not need to take additional training .

  The industry and the public will be consulted. the result in Ontario.

  Craig Couillard, President of the Association of Alberta Registry Agents, stated that his organization fully supports the province's proposal.

  Attacking "Chameleons"

  Alberta also says it wants to kill a 60- Day Temporary Security Permit offered to new carriers that allows them to continue operating while waiting for a federal certificate. # 39; aptitude for security.

  Mason says that a temporary certificate has led to "chameleons" who perform their duties until the federal government denies them safety aptitude certificate, and then the company simply reopens under another name

  Getting rid of the 60-day period will eliminate this tendency, which, according to Mason, is "a particular problem" in A lberta. Following the announcement, the Canadian Trucking Association issued a statement in which it applauded the security changes proposed by Alberta as taking a good step toward eliminating the so-called chameleon operators and the improvement of security. driver training.

  President Stephen Laskowski stated that most operators "adhere to a culture of compliance far exceeding minimum safety requirements," but demanded pan-Canadian standards.

  The Association said the alleged actions of the truck driver involved in the Humboldt crash "

  Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed changes can complete an online survey on the government website by July 27.

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