old boy
Senior Member
How they are operated is primarily a police responsibility; how they are regulated, in terms of things like safety inspections, equipment, weight, licencing, etc. should be primarily a MTO responsibility, but they have largely dropped the ball. There are obviously shared grounds in terms of public safety (police) and regulatory compliance (MTO) because of the potential devastating potential for an overweight truck, worn components, fatigued driver, etc. The media often reports on a police-led 'truck safety inspection' but they are only filling a void that the MTO has left. Some inspection stations on major freeways are almost never open. I uaed to live in gravel country up on the Oak Ridges Morraine and don't think I ever saw a MTO carrier enforcement cruiser on the major haul routes. I would support the OPP absorbing the MTO carrier enforcement responsibility similar to the State Police in most US states.
" Northumberland OPP officers are being trained in the use of commercial motor vehicle scales....This will help ensure commercial vehicles are operating safely within their weight regulations. " Ontario Provincial Police-Central Region. Special thanks goes to Cramahe Township ( at Colborne ) for the funding for mass load scales for the approximately 78 kms. of the 401 that falls within this area of responsibility. It's said that the 401 is the busiest highway in North America and this initiative will begin to address an important deficiency.