TORONTO — With a little bit of tweaking, a couple of Ontario associations have fully deployed the enhanced Commercial Vehicle Wheel Service training program.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) and the Ontario Tire Dealers Association (OTDA) made revisions to the program that was initially launched in 1996.

The Commercial Vehicle Wheel Service training program materials entitled “Practical Tire & Wheel Service” are offered in response to Ontario regulations.

The regulation requires all individuals who remove or replace wheels on heavy trucks, and truck trailers, having a manufacturer’s gross weight rating of 9,000 kg or higher and all motor coaches to be certified. All certificates issued since 1996 remain valid. Persons who wish to take refresher training can also attend the revised training courses.

The certification training program consists of 17 learning modules and allows individuals to become certified at one of four different levels. These levels are based on the specific needs of the individual and based on the job tasks each person is required to perform.

Each of the basic certification levels are very limited in scope and are intended for drivers and other individuals who must perform certain job functions. The advanced stream is designed for tire service technicians and people who perform tire service work as a primary part of their job function.

To become certified an individual must attend the appropriate level of training delivered by a qualified Instructor and successfully complete the knowledge test.

A list of qualified instructors is available on the OTDA website.