Transport Canada and Provinces Extend HoS Exemption to Support Wildfire Response – Ontario Joins

Source: ACT

Transport Canada, along with Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, has renewed the optional hours-of-service (HoS) exemption for extra-provincial motor carriers supporting wildfire response efforts. Ontario has also joined this initiative.

The exemption temporarily relaxes scheduling provisions under sections 12 to 29 and 37 to 54 of the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations, allowing carriers and drivers to transport essential supplies, equipment, and people in direct support of wildfire emergency relief operations across the affected provinces and territories.

Several key conditions apply, including:

• Carriers must notify their base jurisdiction’s HoS director in writing before using the exemption;

• Carriers must provide a list of participating drivers and vehicles;

• A copy of the exemption must be kept in each operating vehicle;

• Drivers must note the exemption in their daily logbook remarks;

• Carriers with a “conditional” or “unsatisfactory” safety rating are not eligible;

• Vehicles or drivers under an out-of-service declaration are excluded.

The exemption is valid until August 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST, unless revoked earlier by the Minister in the interest of public safety.