OTA’s DriveOn committee advances program implementation, urges fleets to join
The Ontario Trucking Association’s (OTA) ad-hoc committee has been meeting weekly since early July to support the operationalization of the MTO’s DriveON program.
This program is designed to modernize Ontario’s motor vehicle inspection stations’ (MVIS) standards by integrating annual safety and emissions inspections into a unified digital system.
By now, MVIS should have applied to receive a free tablet that will be required to perform inspections.
OTA says that since the program’s launch on May 9 and its full mandatory implementation as of Aug. 1, the committee, consisting of OTA members and other industry stakeholders, has made significant strides in sharing information and best practices as fleets and vehicle inspection centers work to integrate the new safety and emissions requirements.
Key initiatives that emerged from these ongoing discussions include the educational enforcement period and the mobile trailer inspection pilot. These efforts are critical in supporting the supply chain and ensuring that the DriveON technology is utilized effectively, with the necessary accountability and oversight, OTA said in a news release.
The pilot program started on Aug. 1 and will run until Dec. 31, 2024. MTO aims to include 10 participants in the pilot program to allow for efficient administration and evaluation.
“This joint government-industry effort is creating a level playing field, restoring law and order — which is a key OTA policy that aligns with the Ontario government’s mandate — making our roads safer, our air cleaner, and empowering law-abiding fleets, shops, and technicians to ensure accountability throughout the inspection process,” said Geoff Wood, OTA’s senior vice-president of policy, in a release.
OTA is encouraging members who have not yet engaged with the committee to register. Participation is free, and the committee meets virtually every Tuesday at 2 p.m. EST to discuss the transition, offering a platform for members to connect with peers, share insights, and contribute to discussions that help shape the program’s implementation.
“It’s a minimal time investment each week, but as a witness to the discussions, I can say they have proven extremely valuable in advancing the program and the ability for the industry to work together and move forward in an expedited manner,” Wood added.
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This is a very big burden for small shops in rural parts of ont run by one to 3 people that often farm or have another job teaching shop at the high school level. I know of at 3 high School shop teachers that had a shop placed on a farm that will be giving up their teaching job in Ontario. This is very bad it is almost impossible to to find teachers to teach auto mechanics in a high school level in my opinion.