Driver

Conduct review Policy for heavy vehicle drivers

The SAAQ has implemented a policy to monitor and assess the conduct of heavy vehicle drivers.

New versions of the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Owners and Operators and the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers came into force on February 17, 2023. The Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers was also abolished on that date. Please refer to the page regarding the revisions that have been made to the conduct review policies for heavy vehicle owners, operators and drivers for more information.

Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers

The goals of the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers are to:

  • identify drivers of heavy vehiclesVehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, as indicated on the compliance label. who pose a risk to road safety and the integrity of the road network
  • intervene with the drivers concerned in order for them to change their behaviour and adopt safer conduct

Who is subject to the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers?

All heavy vehicle drivers:

  • who hold a driver's licence issued in Québec
    AND
  • who operate anywhere in Canada a heavy vehicle registered in Québec

Monitoring the conduct of heavy vehicle drivers

We keep a record on every heavy vehicle driver who has been involved in an event related to road safety or the integrity of the road network while at the wheel of a heavy vehicle registered in Québec. This record allows us to monitor each driver's conduct.

Ongoing conduct review of heavy vehicle drivers

The conduct review of heavy vehicle drivers is carried out on the basis of 4 conduct areas:

  • "Traffic Rules"
  • "Use of a Heavy Vehicle"
  • "Involvement in AccidentsAny “at-fault” accident involving injuries or property damage only for which a peace officer has completed an accident report."
  • "Driver's Overall ConductCombined total of weighted events in the “operational safety” and “involvement in accidents” conduct areas."


Each event entered in a driver's record is assigned a weighting based on its degree of severity.

The points associated with the events are compiled in the relevant conduct area. For each conduct area, we have established a number of points that must not be reached (threshold value).

Some events are not weighted, because they are considered critical events and result in an immediate intervention on our part.

Interventions by the SAAQ

If your record deteriorates, we inform you of that fact in a series of gradually escalating steps, in order for you to rectify your behaviour.

If your conduct record continues to deteriorate, it is referred to the Commission des transports du Québec, which may impose corrective measures or even prohibit you from driving a heavy vehicle.

Immediate interventions

We intervene immediately when you are involved in a serious or critical event, a fatal accident, or an event related to alcohol-impaired driving.

For more information on the weighting of events, critical events, threshold values and intervention mechanisms, consult the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers. (PDF, 1.2 Mo)

Last update: May 26, 2023