TORONTO (Sept. 4, 2000) – With Ontario scheduled to implement the International Registration Plan on Nov. 1, motor carriers in the province have less than two months to prepare for a new prorate regime.

The province kicks off a series of three-hour workshops across the province this month, starting Sept. 8 in North Bay. The sessions will be led by Sandy Johnson and Bill Taylor of Total Trucking Management, a Calgary-based consulting firm contracted by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

“With the deadline fast approaching, I’m finding that fleets aren’t preparing for IRP as well as they should be,” said Johnson, a tax and licence specialist formerly with Rentway Ltd. “It represents a fundamental change, and we want to make the transition to IRP easier for anyone who manages the vehicle registration process.”

Carriers wanting to attend the sessions should register by e-mail at irp@mto.gov.on.ca or by calling Nadia Riccelli at 416/235-3865.

Listed below are the seminar locations and dates and times. For more details, go to Total Trucking Management’s web site and click “News.”

Sept. 8: North Bay, Pinewood Park Inn, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Sept. 9 Mississauga, Wyndham Bristol Place Hotel, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 11 Windsor, Holiday Inn Select, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 12 London, Ramada Inn London, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 13 Kitchener, Holiday Inn, 9 a.m.-noon; 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 St. Catharines, Ramada Parkway, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 22 Mississauga, Sheraton 4 Points, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 25 Ottawa, Chimo Hotel (in Gloucester, Ont.) 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 26 Cornwall, Ramada Inn, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 27 Kingston, Holiday Inn, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 28 Oshawa, Holiday Inn, 9 a.m.-noon
Sept. 29 Mississauga, Wyndham Bristol Place Hotel, 9 a.m.-noon
Oct. 5 Thunder Bay, Golden Tulip Valhalla Inn, 8:30-11:30 a.m.