National Safety Code in April 22, 2004

What is NSC? The National Safety Code (NSC) is a set of safety standards for motor carriers, drivers and vehicles operating in Canada. Provides support through regulation for drivers and carriers to implement management processes to improve safety.

How was the NSC established? In 1989 the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) established the NSC standards. All provinces and territories have adopted the NSC standards and use them to develop their own regulations.

NSC Weight Threshold Vehicles included in NSC in BC are: Trucks or truck tractors with GVW exceeding 5000 kg Buses Vehicles licensed under the Motor Carrier operating authority (taxis and buses)

Carrier’s Obligations As a carrier, you are responsible for: –educating yourself and all drivers who work under your Safety Certificate –ensuring that all vehicles that are operated under your Safety Certificate are properly maintained

Carrier’s Obligations Cont. –ensuring only competent and qualified drivers drive your vehicles –establishing policies for monitoring hours of service, vehicle maintenance, safety programs, and ensuring your safety policies are followed

Carrier Profile Elements Carrier profile incorporates all of the information as required by NSC Standard 14 Points are assigned for: OOS CVSA’s (3) At-fault Accidents (2, 4, 6) Deemed Guilty Contraventions (1, 2, 3, 5) All info. received through CDE on the above

Requesting a Carrier Profile Fax request to (250) Include carrier name, NSC number, and specific date range (if applicable) Carrier profiles are provided to the carrier free of charge

Progressive Intervention Process - Risk Bands Carriers are divided into 7 risk bands based on fleet size

Progressive Intervention Process - Thresholds Within each risk band, the provincial median is calculated in each of the 4 categories: Contraventions Inspections Accidents Total Points Thresholds for warning letter, interview, audit, and hearing are established based on the median in each risk band

Progressive Intervention Process - Carrier Profile Scores Points are calculated using a 12- month moving window (12 months is established from deemed convicted date) Points are based on a per vehicle score (established by dividing the points by the 12-month average fleet size) Note: 1 vehicle=365 days of licensing

Progressive Intervention Process - Warning Letter Warning Letters are triggered automatically at the beginning of each month 1545 carriers (or 6.9% of active carriers) were triggered for a warning letter in 2003

Progressive Intervention Process - Interview Carrier interviews are triggered at the beginning of each month. 461 carriers (or 2.1% of active carriers) participated in an interview in 2003 Other sources of interviews are: Carrier selected for random audit (not previously interviewed or audited) Carrier Requested Requested by enforcement or 3rd party

Progressive Intervention Process - Audit Carrier audits are triggered at the beginning of each month. 379 audits (or 1.7% of active carriers) were conducted in 2003 Other sources of audits are: Random (Clean, NSC Random, Motor Carrier Random) Follow-up (1st or 2nd follow-up) Carrier Requested Requested by enforcement or 3rd party

Progressive Intervention Process Warning Letter Carrier Interview Quantifiable Audit Show Cause Hearing

Carrier Audit Audit points are assigned on the basis of non-compliance Audit statuses are assigned as follows: 1-10 points - Satisfactory points - Conditional points - Unsatisfactory

2003 Safety Rating Statistics

Record-keeping Records must be kept for the four areas of your NSC obligations: –drivers –hours of service –vehicles –special safety requirements

Driver Records You must keep records on each of the following for every driver who works under your Safety Certificate: –driver license –transportation of dangerous goods training certificates –driver abstracts –driver incident records

Hours of Service As a carrier, you are responsible for ensuring that your drivers obey hours-of-service regulations Drivers of almost all NSC vehicles must follow these rules.

Hours of Service Cont. Your obligations are to: –understand the hours-of-service rules –ensure your drivers do not drive for longer periods than they are legally allowed to do

Hours of Service Cont. –ensure your drivers get the rest periods they are required to have –keep accurate records that show your drivers are working within the legal limits

Vehicle Maintenance You must ensure every vehicle that operates under your Safety Certificate is properly maintained.

Vehicle Records As a carrier, you must: –Retain all manufacturer recall notices and evidence of corrective action –Retain all vehicle maintenance, inspection, and repair records –Maintain, inspect, and repair all vehicles according to the regulations

Vehicle Records Cont. –Ensure trip inspections are properly conducted –Take appropriate action on all defects found during trip inspections –Ensure you retain all required trip inspection reports

Safety Rating Legislation 4-level Safety Rating process implemented November 2001 Enacted in BC legislation under the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (MVAR ) on April 2, 2001

Rating Carriers in BC Safety ratings are assigned to BC base-plated carriers only All BC Carriers receive a Safety rating. On December 31, 2003, there were 22,259 active base plated carriers in BC

Safety Rating Categories BC may assign one of foursafety ratings to a carrier (MVAR ): –Satisfactory-Unaudited –Satisfactory –Conditional –Unsatisfactory* Active in 2003:

Assigning Safety Ratings

Progressive Intervention Process - Show Cause Hearing 22 NSC certificates were cancelled in 2003 Audits are conducted prior to a recommendation for cancellation CCMTA is notified when a decision is reached to cancel a certificate in BC

Hours of Service

Summary of Changes Requirement for 10 hours off within every 24 hours Limitation to 14 hours of elapsed time between periods of 8 hours off 48 hour averaging Must identify cycle 36/72 hours off to switch cycles or reset cycle Only team drivers can split sleeper time 2 cycles - 70 hours in 7 days hours in 14 days Once in every 14 days a driver must take at least 24 hours off duty