Wait long at open DriveTests; Schools supposedly giving off-site exams

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Few truck drivers are walking away from DriveTest centers with renewed licences even after supervisors opened six locations across the province.

As expected, lines are long and drivers who show up hoping for an exam are being delayed for up to 10 minutes in the parking lot by striking picketers, reports the Toronto Star.

Last week, Serco DES, the private company that operates Ontario’s licensing centers said that it would open six location on a limited basis to commercial drivers who have passed a training program or veteran drivers over 65 looking to take their road test, which they are required to do annually. 

The only DriveTest Centres that will be open are Brampton; Toronto Port Union (Scarborough); Ottawa Canotek Road; Kitchener; North Bay, and Thunder Bay.

Commercial drivers are being given priority, but that hasn’t stopped others from showing up, unaware that they won’t be tested in the near future, reports the Star.

Jim Young, president of United Steel Workers Local 9511, says that he has learned certain truck driving training schools are being allowed to administer tests off-site and questioned whether examiners or chosen routes are approved by the Ministry of Transport.

Local 9511, which represents Ontario’s 590 driving examination workers, voted 78 percent against the company’s final offer. Workers have been on strike since mid-August.