Truck Safety

A new standard and qualification for the carrier transportation is set to improve safety on our roads and highways.

New Standard

The Canada Safety Council was on the Technical Committee that developed CSA International's new safety management standard CSA B619-00.

The Carrier Safety Management System (CSMS) standard offers guidelines to develop and implement a safety management system to manage the risk of accidents and safety incidents. It covers four key elements: demonstrated commitment to safety by company management; safety management system implementation; ongoing support for a safety management system and commitment by management to continuous improvement of the safety processes.

The CSMS standard was developed by a technical committee of volunteer representatives from groups including transportation companies, industry associations, shippers, insurers, consumer organizations and regulators.

Benefits of Qualification

CSA International has provided a complete package of its Carrier Safety Management System Standard and Qualification Program to all Provincial and Territorial transportation regulators for evaluation. The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) is considering acceptance of CSA's CSMS audits under Ontario's Carrier Safety Rating (CSR) program, in lieu of Ministry audits.

The benefits to trucking companies could be significant. Qualified carriers will be considered for a satisfactory or excellent rating under the Ministry's safety rating program (subject to MTO evaluation of the CSMS Standard and Qualification Program). Because the carrier is audited by a third party, it will not be subject to charges or fines for non-conformances discovered during the audit. In addition, all provincial and territorial Ministries will be formally notified of each completed qualification and that these carriers will now be subject to regular surveillance audits by CSA International.

The benefits to the Provincial and Territorial legislative and regulatory bodies that evaluate and accept the program are also very significant.

Each Province and Territory with CSMS standard and qualification program will have, at no cost, a leading edge, business-driven private sector standard and qualification program a safety program designed with input from all relevant stakeholders.

Moreover, the carrier safety management system and qualification program is managed, administered, and continuously improved by a highly recognized third party, CSA International, again at no cost to taxpayers.

With CSMS in place, the public will see that the private sector has taken responsibility for safety, and that legislative and regulatory bodies are taking active measures to address truck safety.

Auditor training, education, and development will be a three-week program. Participants will cover the CSMS Standard auditing protocols and methodology, power unit and trailer inspection, and legislation and regulation. Following this program, prospective auditors must participate in a number of qualification and surveillance audits before receiving full certification. CSA will offer the course to the industry, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders.

The Canada Safety Council officially endorses both the Carrier Safety Management System standard (B619) and CSA's voluntary qualification program.

The qualification mark, to be affixed to the door panels of the power unit, is 7.5 centimeters in diameter, with blue lettering on a silver background.

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