New conduct review policies for heavy vehicle owners, operators and drivers came into force on February 17, 2023.
The conduct review policies that apply to heavy vehicle owners and operators (HVOOsHeavy vehicle owners and operators) and to heavy vehicle drivers were developed in order to meet the requirements of the Act respecting owners, operators and drivers of heavy vehicles. These policies govern the creation of heavy vehicle owner, operator and driver records. They also define the conduct review process and the procedures used by the SAAQ when intervening with heavy vehicle drivers, owners or operators (heavy vehicle users) that present a risk to road safety or to the integrity of the road network.
Given that these policies had not been revised for several years, the SAAQ undertook to revise them in their entirety in order to take into account both the evolving socioeconomic and regulatory context of the freight and passenger transportation industry, and the government’s goals regarding road safety and the integrity of the road network. The revision process was carried out in collaboration with government partners and industry representatives between 2015 and 2019. Before the new policies could be implemented, important changes also needed to be made to the existing computer programs and systems in order to accommodate the requirements of the new policies.
Consult the new policies:
The policies were revised with a view to:
Over the two-year period following the implementation of the new policies, the SAAQ will assess whether the above objectives have been met so that any necessary adjustments to the policies can be made in collaboration with the SAAQ’s partners and industry representatives.
Analysis has shown that the new policies will not lead to more records being referred to the CTQTransport commission of Quebec. Furthermore, the new policies will make it possible to:
For more information on the changes that have been made, refer to the fact sheet that summarizes the policies (PDF, 440.4 ko).
Barring exceptions, the new policies have been applied retroactively as of February 17, 2023 to all events from the previous two years that had already been entered in a heavy vehicle user’s conduct record.
However, the following conduct review and intervention procedures have not been applied retroactively:
No, no change is expected in the number of HVOOHeavy vehicle owner and operator and heavy vehicle driver records that are referred to the CTQTransport commission of Quebec. However, the revised policies will allow us to better identify heavy vehicle drivers, owners and operators that present a risk to road safety and to the integrity of the road network.
Yes.
HVOOsHeavy vehicle owners and operators with a fleet of 100 or fewer vehicles will find the threshold values that apply to them in the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Owners and Operators. As for HVOOsHeavy vehicle owners and operators with a fleet of 101 to 5,000 vehicles, the threshold values that apply in their case can be found in the comprehensive table of threshold values (PDF, 6.1 Mo). Heavy vehicle drivers can find the threshold values that apply to them in the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers. (PDF, 1.2 Mo)
No, the “Operational Safety” conduct area no longer exists and has been replaced by two separate conduct areas: “Traffic Rules,” which includes offences related to the various traffic rules (speed, stop signs, road signs, etc.) and “Use of a Heavy Vehicle,” which includes offences related to the various rules that govern the use of a heavy vehicle (hours of driving and off-duty time, the circle check, cargo securement, etc.).
The other conduct areas remain the same, but a few modifications have been made to them. See the fact sheet (PDF, 440.4 ko) that summarizes the policies for more details.
Yes, new threshold values have been calculated for each new conduct area.
Yes, offences committed under the following laws and regulations are taken into consideration:
Offences for which a statement of offence was served or a plea entered under a municipal by-law are taken into consideration where the offences in question have an equivalent HSCHighway Safety Code offence and result in demerit points under the Regulation respecting demerit points. These offences are now given the same weighting as the equivalent offences under the HSCHighway Safety Code and are entered in the corresponding conduct area. Such offences generally relate to:
The municipality determines which section of the HSCHighway Safety Code is equivalent to the municipal by-law and informs the SAAQ.
No, the weighting scale has been adjusted based on more discriminating criteria that serve mainly to take into account the risk of future accidents. This risk is assessed based on the offences committed and any other events entered in the heavy vehicle user’s record:
Alcohol- or drug-related driving offences are not given a weighting in a heavy vehicle driver’s record, as they continue to result in the immediate referral of the driver’s record to the CTQTransport commission of Quebec.
The adjustments made to the weighting scale are in line with the updates made in February 2014 to the weighting of offences under the “Load and Size Limits” conduct area.
Offences of the same nature are offences committed under the same section of a law and assigned the same weighting. However, special provisions apply in some cases. Refer to the policies for more information.
Yes. In the case of an HVOOHeavy vehicle owner and operator, a repeat offence limit (number of offences of the same nature that must not be exceeded) is determined based on the number of heavy vehicles in the HVOOHeavy vehicle owner and operator’s fleet. Additional points are assigned when the number of repeat offences of the same nature exceeds this limit.
Note that in the case of a heavy vehicle driver, additional points are assigned as soon as the driver’s record contains two offences of the same nature.
Yes. Repeat offences of the same nature are taken into consideration as soon as a statement of offence or general offence report has been served. However, once an HVOOHeavy vehicle owner and operator or a heavy vehicle driver is found not guilty, the conduct record is automatically adjusted. If, as a result of this adjustment, the HVOOHeavy vehicle owner and operator no longer exceeds the limit for repeat offences of the same nature, or the heavy vehicle driver no longer has any repeat offences of the same nature, the additional points that had been assigned for repeat offences will be withdrawn.
Additional points for repeat offences are assigned as follows:
The conduct record of a heavy vehicle operator with a fleet of 10 heavy vehicles includes four offences of the same nature in the “Load and Size Limits” conduct area. Given the size of the operator’s fleet, the operator cannot exceed three offences of the same nature. The threshold value (the number of points that must not be reached) for the “Load and Size Limits” conduct area is 28 points and the threshold value for the “Operator’s Overall Conduct” conduct area is 70 points. The number of additional points for repeat offences of the same nature is calculated as follows :
A heavy vehicle driver’s conduct record includes two offences of the same nature in the “Traffic Rules” conduct area. In accordance with the conduct review policy, additional points are assigned as soon as any repeat offences of the same nature are entered in a driver’s record. The threshold value (the number of points that must not be reached) for the “Traffic Rules” conduct area is 16 points and the threshold value for the “Driver’s Overall Conduct” conduct area is 17 points. The number of additional points for repeat offences of the same nature is calculated as follows :
No. Certain offences committed by drivers are assigned a higher weighting in the driver’s record than in the HVOO’s record, as they are primarily the driver’s responsibility. Such offences relate to:
The notion of “age of events” has the effect of decreasing the weighting of events by half when they have appeared in an HVOOHeavy vehicle owner and operator’s record for more than one year.
This notion applies to:
This notion does not apply to:
No. The “Operator” and “Owner” categories now have separate failure thresholds when it comes to facility audits. This change is reflected in the corresponding table in the policy.
The HVOO Good Conduct Recognition Program started on February 17, 2023. This program aims to encourage HVOOs to adopt safe behaviour and maintain their good conduct over the long term. The program includes tangible benefits for HVOOs that demonstrate good conduct. For more information, please refer to the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Owners and Operators (PDF, 4.1 Mo).
The Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers was abolished on February 17, 2023. The decision to do so was made because of the low level of participation and the program’s inability to cover all heavy vehicle drivers whose conduct is exemplary. During the two years following the coming into force of the revised Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers, the SAAQ will continue to look at ways it can recognize exemplary heavy vehicle driver conduct and may eventually revamp the program.
Last update: March 8, 2023
