Tony’s brow was furrowed into a knot as he fidgeted on a chair, knowing that his truck driving career could grind to a halt. The driver, whose name has been changed, received a letter in August from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) ordering him to re-take his knowledge and road tests.
But he considered himself lucky for the opportunity to re-test as news spread about the MTO sending letters suspending licences and ordering truck drivers to “STOP DRIVING” any motor vehicle.
The letters obtained by trucknews.com from two sources state that the MTO believes that “your Class A Ontario driver’s licence was obtained as a result of your dishonesty during the Class A testing and/or training processes. Your failure to abide by the regulatory framework that protects road safety in Ontario has undermined the confidence of the Ministry of Transportation in your ability and your intention to drive safely.”
Licences have been suspended for 90 days and drivers have been ordered to return them to the ministry. “You have a right to appeal this decision to suspend your driver’s licence to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, pursuant to subsection 50(1) of the Highway Traffic Act,” drivers were informed.
Trucknews.com asked the MTO what kind of “dishonesty” was discovered, which driving schools were involved, if any DriveTest staff were discovered taking bribes, what action was taken against them, and at which locations.
“We have zero tolerance for bad actors on our roads …”
Dakota Brasier, MTO’s director of media relations
Dakota Brasier, MTO’s director of media relations, responded in an email, “We have zero tolerance for bad actors on our roads and have suspended the Ontario Class A commercial driver’s licences of individuals who we believe to have obtained them dishonestly during the Class A testing and/or training process.
“The Ministry of Transportation has sent letters to each of these individuals, imposing an immediate suspension of their licence.”
The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) said the suspensions were a positive step in tackling truck safety issues.
Stephen Laskowski, OTA president, said in a news release, “Drivers who received this letter would never be allowed to drive a truck a few feet in an OTA member’s yard, let alone move loads on public highways; yet there are way too many companies that allow such drivers to share the road with the public. OTA questions how many fleet owners were aware or unknowingly participated in these licensing scams to access low-cost labor at the expense and risk to public safety.”
The OTA also said that its staff members were subpoenaed earlier this summer to an Ottawa court to provide a community impact statement as part of the sentencing process for a case related to truck driver training and testing. The sentencing is expected to conclude this fall.
“It’s time to begin mandatory audits for all driving schools and the trucking industry in this province to end the lawlessness,” Laskowski added.
Shady driving school
Meanwhile, as he digested the news about the suspensions, driver Tony rued the trust he placed in a driving school owner. He had earlier trained for his D/Z licence at the same school and passed the test at a DriveTest center.
The owner told him the private career college had the authority to conduct road tests for the ministry and Tony believed him. He paid $5,000 cash for A/Z manual transmission training and a road test, and no receipt was provided. He said the word MELT (mandatory entry-level training) was never mentioned at the driving school.
Classes in the yard were crowded, and instruction was not in English, as most of the students conversed in another language. He had to repeatedly request the trainer to explain things in English.
Tony passed a road test at the school in 2023 and was issued an A/Z licence at a DriveTest center, the same place from where he had earlier collected his D/Z licence. He noted that a few months later, he was pulled over while driving a dump truck and the police officer sent him on his way after inspecting his licence and paperwork.
Target on driver’s back
He thought everything was above board, and faced no issues until he received the MTO letter. Tony tried calling the school, but the calls did not go through. He went to the facility, and all the trucks and trailers were gone.
Tony has enrolled at a Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario member school and is undergoing training. He has already passed his required vision and knowledge tests. Besides the additional financial burden of paying for training and tests, he is tense about his upcoming road test. He is worried that the MTO letter is a target on his back and that the examiner will be looking to fail him.
“I am so lost and helpless, I sacrificed so much for this, and now my future is in jeopardy,” Tony said.
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