TORONTO — So maybe banning one of the most iconic objects in trucking isn’t such a great idea after all.

That could be the conclusion Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation comes to after it reconfigures laws banning drivers from using hand-held devices, including CB radios.

In implementing Bill 118 earlier this year, the MTO said that because CBs are also hand-held, they, too, would get the heave-ho eventually.

The law, as originally written, said CBs would be subject to a three-year phase-out period to allow manufacturers to bring to market a hands-free version of two-way communication devices.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) asked the Ministry to reconsider the CB part of the ban. And this week, the trucking group received the following message from the MTO:

"We have noted the OTA’s concerns and we acknowledge that, before the sunset date, the ministry will review the appropriateness of the exemption in consultation with the industry."

OTA Head David Bradley was pleased with the response. "OTA agrees with the principle of the regulation to improve highway safety," Bradley says, "but we need to ensure its application does not negatively interfere with trucking operations and communication."

Bradley also adds that the OTA continues to consult with MTO officials on this regulation to ensure trucking industry concerns are addressed.