Ontario to enforce new air-brake testing and certification standards beginning April 1

TORONTO (Jan. 31, 2002) — The Ontario Ministry of Transportation will enforce changes to its air-brake certification standards starting April 1, including a new 12-hour air-brake course and revised written and practical tests.

A review of the air-brake endorsement program was one of the
recommendations made by Target ’97, a task force to examine truck safety, to toughen commercial driver licensing standards. The new program focuses on upgrading commercial drivers’ knowledge and understanding of air brake systems, the MTO said. The program will use a new edition of MTO’s The Air Brake Handbook based on the new curriculum.

Effective April 1, the MTO will only offer the new knowledge tests and the new practical test. Until then, as a transition the MTO will offer both the new and old knowledge tests for upgrades and renewals and the current practical test only.

Signing authorities are required to use the new course and tests; only signing authorities who have successfully completed the re-certification training are authorized to deliver the new air-brake course and tests.

The Ontario Trucking Association, which helped develop the new course and testing standards, offers additional training materials and information at its web site.