Quebec to require some Ontario truck drivers to take exams

Quebec will soon require some truck drivers from Ontario to pass practical exams before they can exchange their heavy vehicle licence and work in the province. The new rule applies to drivers with less than two years of Class 1 driving experience. If they fail the practical test twice, they will have to complete mandatory training. The province said the change is meant to improve road safety after several collisions involving heavy vehicles and concerns about inexperienced drivers. Quebec officials said the measure is temporary while they wait for Ontario to respond to a recent auditor general report on commercial driver licensing and training oversight. A working group has also been created to review road safety requirements for temporary foreign workers operating vehicles. Industry groups and union representatives said the move is a useful step, but not a complete solution. They said broader enforcement, better training oversight, and more national consistency are needed to address unsafe practices and competition from companies that bypass labour rules.