TORONTO — Ontario Minister of Transportation Bob Chiarelli announced last Friday that the province is extending the exemption for the hand-held use of two-way radios (CB’s) by commercial drivers for an additional five years.

It’s the right thing to do, said the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) in a statement.

The original exemption, introduced in 2009, was created to allow time for hands-free alternatives to CBs to be developed.

“Clearly, that has not happened to any great extent and OTA felt that a further extension was required,” the association said.

“OTA is pleased with the Ministry’s willingness to work with us on these sorts of issues,” said OTA president David Bradley. “CB radios continue to play a key role in the day-to-day lives of truck drivers in that they serve as a vital communications tool for drivers from both a safety and operations perspective.”