REGINA (May 31) — Saskatchewan is putting the finishing touches on its system to review and rate the safety performance of motor carriers in the province.

Effective July 1, all commercial carriers base-plated in Saskatchewan and who are required to hold an NSC Safety Fitness Certificate will be subject to a carrier profile program and an accompanying compliance review.

Operated by the Motor Transport Services branch of the Saskatchewan Auto Fund, the carrier profile system will hold information on carrier convictions, accidents, and results of on-road vehicle inspections and facility audits. The profile is based on a system where NSC demerit (“violation”) points are assigned for safety infractions. Carriers with poor safety records will face penalties based on the number of points accumulated in their profile record.

“Every carrier will be assigned a maximum number of NSC violation points, determined by the average number of power units registered to that carrier,” said Tim Shoulak, manager of Motor Transport Services.

Point values are developed based on weighting tables for safety violations, at-fault accidents, and results of CVSA inspections. Those carriers who reach 40%, 65%, 85%, or 100% of their maximum allowable point level may face penalties.

“The carrier profile system is intended to help us highlight operators who are having problems regarding safe operation, and the compliance review program will then interact with them to help them improve their performance, through various mechanisms. They¹re separate programs, but they¹re integral to one another.”

For more information, contact Motor Transport Services at 306/775-6667.