Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration: Charges Against Truckers, Contractors, Movers, Deliveries, Among Others

Question: How can businesses protect themselves from CVOR charges related to commercial vehicle operations?

Answer: Businesses can reduce CVOR-related risks by ensuring compliance with vehicle fitness, proper licensing, logbook maintenance, and adherence to load regulations, as mandated under the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8. Keeping abreast of these requirements helps maintain safety standards and avoids legal complications. For further guidance and legal strategies, consider reaching out to Lippa Legal Services, serving Vaughan and surrounding areas.

Defending Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) Charges

Corporations or individuals, as operators or owners, whose business involves the use of commercial trucks weighing in excess of 4,500 kilograms must complete the registration process known as a Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration (CVOR). As an owner or an operator with a CVOR, in addition to charges that may be brought against a driver, these owners or operators may be separately charged for any infringements of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, as well as other laws regulating use of the road network.

Common Issues

Typical CVOR concerns include vehicle fitness, overloading, insecure loadings, lackings within logbooks, improper or expiry of licensing, among other things, and all as additional to the charges against the commercial vehicle driver.  Charges against a CVOR may be laid by a police officer or an Ontario Ministry of Transportation ("MTO") officer for prosecution within the Ontario Court of Justice per the court rules and procedures prescribed within the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33, including the regulations thereto.

Inspection Authority

Within the framework of the Highway Traffic Act, specifically under section 82.1, there are mandates governing the inspection of commercial vehicles. The mandates aim to ensure the safety and roadworthiness of commercial vehicles, protecting both the operators and the public. It is imperative for commercial vehicle operators and the vehicle drivers to comply with the inspection mandates that help to ensure the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles and thereby contribute to road safety.