Ontario’s online air brake learning module for renewals begins Sept. 1
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is introducing a new online air brake learning module on Sept. 1, to replace the in-person air brake knowledge test at time of renewal.
Drivers required to renew their air brake (Z) endorsement will receive a mailed notification, the MTO told TruckNews.com.
According to the MTO website, drivers must complete the module online before going to a DriveTest center to renew their endorsement. As of Sept. 1, the air brake knowledge test will no longer be a requirement for renewals.
How to renew ‘Z’ endorsement
Drivers must have their licence with them when starting the module, and after finishing it, and download or print the certificate of completion.
They then must bring the digital or printed copy of their certificate of completion and driver’s licence to a DriveTest center or driver certification program (DCP) organization.
“If you hold a commercial class (A, B, C, D, E or F) driver’s licence, you will need to complete the vision and commercial class knowledge test in person at a DriveTest center or through your DCP organization,” the website says.
Decision divides trucking groups
The MTO decision continues to divide trucking groups. The Ontario Trucking Association strongly supports the online module and had launched a campaign to promote it.
The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) is concerned about the removal of the knowledge verification component.
PMTC president Mike Millian said the organization has no issues with learning modules and helping people’s knowledge of the air brake system.
“We don’t know how they are going to verify that the person taking the learning module is who it is supposed to be. Our concern is unless you have someone sitting there looking at them with a camera — even if you have verification at the start — they could walk away and someone else take over,” he said. “How do you verify that the person who needs the knowledge is the person getting the knowledge?”
The Ontario Safety League, an organization that provides MTO-approved air brake endorsement instructor training among other courses, had earlier said it is opposed to the proposal on safety grounds.
Have your say
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I and many other drivers 9nly drive part time and live in homeless shelters with no internet 8n Canada
This is the dumbest decision to blindly trust commercial drivers to honestly review the module and not cheat. Laws are there to protect the innocent. I have had a commercial ABZ for nearly 20-plus years. Reviewing the Z endorsement rules every 3 years was always a refresher. To me this new program would be good but to allow those few commercial drives to cheat is outrageous and irresponsible. The public fear us commercial driver’s and our accident rates only show Ontario does not have the safest roads.
Return to in class exams for this endorsement.
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You are correct, the dumbest thing ever. But cheating? lol we can print our own certificate now and dont even have to do any of the stupid air brake garbage. I started it, im over 3 hours in, havent learned a damn thing and Im considering not even renewing because of how stupid this is.
That’s really nice
You still have to go in person to do the other parts of the test so still have to stand in line. What good is it to do only the air brake part at home. Just another lame brain government idea
Just retired after 30 yrs on the road,I have taken that test many times ,sometimes I have missed something and had to redo the test .you dont stop learning but you do need to be refreshed!
This is the worst thing I have ever heard happening in this industry.
After 30 yrs of driving and only 1 time I had failed an inspection at a scale house . What they should be doing is increasing the MTO officers so unqualified drivers are off the road!
As a professional driver I never understood why I have to rewrite my knowledge test I have past it once WHY am I subjected to retesting do G license drivers have to retesting …NO WE HAVE ENOUGH ON OUR PLATE STOP!!!! it’s just a cash grab.
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Scott, I agree 100%, with 10, 20, 30 and in My Case 38 years, it’s all nonsense and nothing but a waste of time and another Money Grab.
Bruce Doyle
Hamilton
Another example of people sitting behind a desk trying to make things cheaper for MTO and drive test and create a larger pool of fraudulent qualified drivers on the road…..well done….take your safety reports and jam them when you end up w drivers who know nothing about the components or how they should operate. Unreal.
I don’t believe the changes will be of any help. Anyone will be able to go online and sign up impersonating the actual licensed driver and take the module. This will generate an underground economy allowing those who are less competent to get an endorsement that they otherwise fail.
I think this is stupid because if you don’t have a air brake driver even are not even supposed to adjust his brake Ontario want to take off the z for air brake now conservative wanted to stop complete takeoff the air brake test sorry to say this lot of driver will lose they license
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They aren’t taking it away ,
Good
I think its about time,
We could go to another province if you know someone and do it their, where they dont do the stupid air brake tests like Ontario
Unless we are certified we cant touch or fix brakes anyways
My BZ license are expired May 2024
Can I attend now the new Air brake module 6 months before my BZ expired?
How long is the expiration of air brake certificate?
Smart pass won’t verify my info. Typical government program that fails misserably.
Where do I get this module
I feel that after driving for over 30 yrs we should NOT have to be retested, any one 15yrs and younger of driving should be retested ,I’m driving every day, doing my circle check, I’m doing what the law requires of me and more . The STRESS that the retesting gives me is unbelievable .This is my job my life if I fail I lose my job ,and with the driving schools today they must learn more in-depth
I think this is a waste of time
i just want my z endorsement
Looks good to me , can hardly wait to do test
Having it available to complete at home is comforting .
I accept
We have to do a test that has components that we have to know but are not allowed to touch. We are not allowed to adjust the brakes but we need to know what type of brakes they are. I am not a mechanic so explain why.
I need to know my air pressures, kick in and kick out pressures. These tests don’t seem to be applicable to the job I am allowed to do. Put someone in charge that has done the job and knows what they are doing and talking about.
Just want to try my learning renewal test
I’m just renewal my licence why do I need this
Where is the test
What if you don’t have internet at home