Driver

Policy and Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers

The SAAQ has implemented a policy to monitor and assess the conduct of heavy vehicle drivers as well as a program to recognize those whose behaviour is exemplary.

Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers

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

• identify drivers of heavy vehiclesA road vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, or a combination of road vehicles having a gross combination weight rating of 4,500 kg or more. The following vehicles are also considered to be heavy vehicles regardless of their GVWR: buses, minibuses, tow trucks, vehicles transporting dangerous substances requiring the display of safety marks. 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 in Québec or elsewhere in Canada using a heavy vehicle registered in Québec.

Monitoring the conduct of heavy vehicle drivers

We keep a record for every heavy vehicle driver who has been involved in an event related to road safety or the integrity of the road network 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 3 conduct areas:

• operational safetyAny offence related to road safety, load and size limits, the conditions of a special travel permit and “driver” out-of-service orders.
• involvement in accidentsAny “at-fault” accident involving injuries or property damage only for which a peace officer has completed an accident report.
• overall driver 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 threshold that must not be exceeded (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 transferred to the Commission des transports du Québec, which may impose corrective measures or even prohibit you from driving a heavy vehicle.

For more information on the weighting, critical events, threshold values and intervention mechanisms, consult the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers and Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers (PDF, 2.9 MB)This file does not meet Web accessibility standards..

Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers

The purpose of the Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers is to recognize drivers of heavy vehiclesA road vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, or a combination of road vehicles having a gross combination weight rating of 4,500 kg or more. The following vehicles are also considered to be heavy vehicles regardless of their GVWR: buses, minibuses, tow trucks, vehicles transporting dangerous substances requiring the display of safety marks. whose conduct is exemplary in terms of road safety.

Levels of excellence established by the Program

Level	Minimum experience
Bronze (PDF, 200 KB)This file does not meet Web accessibility standards. (in French only)	6 months (for new drivers only)
Silver (PDF, 219 KB)This file does not meet Web accessibility standards. (in French only)	2 years
Gold (PDF, 298 KB)This file does not meet Web accessibility standards. (in French only)	5 years
Platinum (PDF, 175 KB)This file does not meet Web accessibility standards. (in French only)	10 years

Who can register with the program?

All heavy vehicle drivers:

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

Elegibility requirements

To be eligible for the Program, drivers must have travelled at least 10,000 km in Québec or elsewhere in Canada at the wheel of a heavy vehicle registered in Québec for each of the years required for the applicable level. Drivers must also meet several other conditions.

For detailed information on the eligibility requirements

Consult the publication entitled Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers and Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers (PDF, 2.9 MB)This file does not meet Web accessibility standards..

How to register

Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements

Fill out the Registration Form for the Excellence Program for Heavy Vehicle Drivers (PDF, 183 KB) and apply for one of the levels of excellence (Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze).

Send us the registration form

By fax:

418 643-1896

By mail:

Service du suivi du privilège de circuler
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Case postale 19600, succursale Terminus
Québec (Québec)  G1K 8J6

If your application is accepted

We will send you a registration confirmation by mail.

Your name will appear on the list of drivers whose behaviour is recognized as exemplary.

List of drivers whose behaviour is recognized as exemplary

Every month, we publish an updated list of drivers whose behaviour is recognized as exemplary. This list indicates the level of excellence each driver has achieved.

Last update: January  6, 2021