TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is revisiting the medical, vision and knowledge requirements for Class D licence holders — and the potential of aligning them with other commercial vehicle classes, the Ontario Trucking Association reports.

A Class D is needed to operate straight trucks with gross weights above 24,000 pounds, and combinations above that weight which include towed vehicles with gross weights below 10,000 pounds.

The proposed alignment would subject Class D drivers up to the age of 64 to complete knowledge and vision tests every five years, those under 46 to submit a medical every five years, those 46-64 to submit a medical report every three years, and those 65 and over to submit an annual medical, the association says.

The Ontario Class D does not currently align with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators’ national medical standards, which are the basis of a reciprocity agreement with the U.S.

Just don’t expect any changes right away. “No timelines have been set for this proposal, and [the ministry] is currently reviewing the logistics of what would be required to realistically make the transition, including education, capacity of the medical community and medical review office,” the association adds. Medical report reviews currently take 30 days.

The province’s plans to introduce Mandatory Entry Level Training does not apply to Class D drivers.