Meeting all National Commercial Regulations...

To meet all national commercial regulations, here are a few facts that you must consider and follow:

The GVW must never exceed the GVWR

The total load on each axle must never exceed its GAWR

GVW The Gross Vehicle Weight - is the actual weight that is obtained when the fully loaded vehicle is driven onto a scale.

GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle (including passengers and cargo), and means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

GAW Gross Axle Weight - is the total weight placed on each axle (front and rear).

GAWR Gross Axle Weight Rating - is the maximum weight to be carried by a single axle (front or rear).

According to Transport Canada... As a group, commercial carrier operators are relatively safe road users. When they are involved in fatal crashes... statistics show that it is the other drivers involved who commit the majority of driving infractions. However, in the case of personal injury crashes, approximately 1/3 of both commercial drivers and other involved drivers committed driving infractions.
Regardless of who is at fault in collisions, commercial vehicles are enormous and when they are involved in crashes, there are often serious consequences. Because Transport Canada recognizes that safer commercial vehicle travel is a major factor in keeping our roads safe... Initiatives that have recently been developed or implemented as part of the National Safety Code - a set of standards governing safe commercial vehicle operation include the following:

A revised commercial driver hours of service regime

A commercial carrier safety rating system

A North American load securement standard

A commercial vehicle roadside inspection and inspector training program

An enhanced commercial driver license administration program to facilitate availability, accessibility and
standardization of information

A National Safety Code trip inspection standard aimed at streamlining requirements for commercial drivers to conduct daily vehicle inspections

A national education, publicity and enforcement campaign

Improved data capture and reporting protocols for commercial vehicles

A protocol to make shippers and carriers jointly liable in cases of overweight offences

A national commercial driver license infrastructure

A fatigue management program

A carrier excellence program, which recognizes and rewards carriers that have demonstrated exemplary safety

More information on commercial vehicle compliance & regulations - click here to go to Transport Canada's Website >>

British Columbia Commercial/ Private Vehicle Inspection Program
Division 25 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR) requires that certain commercial/private vehicles be inspected either annually or semi-annually. Procedures have been set for out-of-province commercial vehicles and private vehicles that weigh less than 3,500 kilograms and are entering British Columbia.
These procedures ensure these vehicles are maintained to B.C. standards of safety and repair, or to equivalent recognized standards established by their respective jurisdictions of registration. Random roadside inspections of all vehicles are performed throughout the province.

All vehicles must be inspected and maintained in accordance with the Standards of Safety and Repair.
All vehicles that are being given a required inspection must be inspected in a designated inspection facility.
After inspection, a prescribed vehicle will have affixed to it one of three decals:
• APPROVAL where the vehicle meets all of the requirements
• INTERIM where it fails some of the requirements but is safe to continue operating for a period of 14 days, with or without load or
passengers as noted in the Inspection Report
• CONDEMNED, in which case the motor vehicle may not be moved from the point of inspection except by tow truck or transporter

Repairs, required prior to reinspection, may be made at any facility or by the owner of the vehicle. A passed inspection report must accompany the application for vehicle licence or renewal. If a passed report is not presented, the application may be refused or the licence or renewal of the licence subsequently suspended or cancelled.
The cost of the vehicle inspection charged to the
owner of the vehicle is set by the inspection facility.
Vehicles – Inspection Programs WHICH VEHICLES MUST BE INSPECTED?
The inspection program is compulsory for the following classes of vehicles:
• taxi
• bus
• bus or school bus for which a school bus permit has been issued
• truck or truck tractor having a licensed GVW greater than 8,200 kg
• commercial trailer or semi-trailer
• any vehicle, other than a motorcycle, where the operator is required to hold a motor carrier licence
• any vehicle, other than a motorcycle, owned or leased by a driver training school
• any vehicle issued a notice and order number 1 or 2 at a roadside inspection
• private vehicles newly licensing or registering in BC from another jurisdiction Proof of inspection must be provided for all vehicles included in the Vehicle Inspection Program prior to initial licensing or renewal of a vehicle licence. A valid certificate of approval must also be displayed at all times while parked or operated on the highway. Inspection certificates are valid for 6 or 12 months, depending upon the type of vehicle.