TORONTO – After many years and many meetings, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has proposed an amendment that would eliminate the requirement for commercial drivers over 65 years of age to take an annual road test in order to renew their Class A licence.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) returned from a meeting today with the good news for senior drivers.

“MTO’s proposed amendment reflects a balanced, fair approach to resolving this matter,” OTA president David Bradley said, commending Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli for his leadership in taking up this issue and "for bringing swift attention to it so early in his tenure."

The big changes under the proposal are:

• Only those commercial drivers between the ages of 65 and 79 that accumulate three or more demerit points on their licence or are involved in an at-fault collision will be required to complete a practical road and airbrake test.
• The licence renewal period where a written test is required for drivers between the ages of 65 and 79 is extended to every five years
• Align the written airbrake test cycle with the written knowledge test cycle and require a practical airbrake test only when a road test is required.

The proposal also maintains the existing reduced road test fee; the use automatic transmissions if a road test is necessary; the use of diagrams during the airbrake practical to show comprehension of air brake systems, and the submission of medicals on an annual basis.

The five-year renewal cycle and performance based thresholds for triggering a road test will also apply to class D drivers in the 65- to 79-age category. At age 80, all testing reverts back to an annual cycle.

OTA noted that the change will not occur immediately, but should be in effect within 9 to 15 months after the proposal makes its way through the regulatory process at Queen’s Park and technical updates can be made.

“That is standard procedure,” Bradley said.

“We’ve got to remain focused on the end result, which is the removal of a source of great discouragement for many qualified and experienced drivers who just happen to be 65 years of age or more.”