Buses and Minibuses

Owners and Operators of Buses and Minibuses

Owners and operators of buses and minibuses must know and comply with the rules that govern the transportation of passengers.

Obligations related to the vehicle

Owners and operators of buses and minibuses must respect various obligations related to the safety of their vehicles.

Transport permit

A bus transport permit issued by the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ) is required to carry out commercial transportation of passengers by bus or minibus, with some exceptions.

Categories of transport permits issued by the CTQ

  • Urban transport
  • Interurban transport
  • Airport transport
  • Tourist transport
  • Student transport
  • Shuttle transport
  • Chartered transport
  • Experimental transport
  • Bus leasing permit

For more details, visit the Web site of the CTQ.

Registering in the Register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles

Owners and operators are required to be registered in the Register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles of the CTQ to operate a bus or a minibus.

Conduct review policy

The Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Owners and Operators provides a framework for monitoring and assessing the conduct of owners and operators.

Operator's responsibilities toward the driver

Operators must ensure that the driver meets all the obligations related to using and driving a bus or a minibus.

An owner, a lessee or the person who has the control of a bus, a minibus or another vehicle used for the transportation of school children may not allow the vehicle to be driven by a person who does not hold a certificate of competence:

Hours of driving and off-duty time

Operators of buses and minibuses must ensure that drivers comply with the hours of driving and off-duty time and that they fill out their daily log.

Driver fatigue

Bus and minibus driver fatigue is everyone’s business – employers included.

Record keeping

Owners and operators of buses and minibuses must keep various files and documents.

Last update: May 17, 2022