Under the National Safety Code (NSC), transportation carriers must have a Transportation Safety and Maintenance Program. When we are contracted to perform an National Safety Code Audit for Alberta Transportation, we frequently are handed a thorough Manual created with Occupational Health and Safety requirements in mind, however usually these manuals do not meet the requirement(s).

This program should:

• Meet the needs of your specific company;

• Meets regulatory requirements;

• Be implemented as described in the written document; and

• Be effective.

A successful safety program should consider Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) requirements. But, a safety program that only includes information about OH&S is not effective under the NSC. OH&S does not consider the specific transportation safety laws a Transportation Safety and Maintenance Program would.

The safety section details your company’s guidelines and expectations for all employees. It can include:

• Safe use and operation of vehicles;

• Proper record completion and retention, including hours of service compliance;

• Use of safety equipment;

• Driver conduct, discipline and qualifications; and

• Employee training.

The maintenance section provides a continuous and regular guideline for the inspection, maintenance and repair of regulated commercial vehicles. An effective inspection and repair program is rated based on its on-road performance and the type of repairs completed. This program is separate from the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) or Preventative Maintenance Vehicle Inspections (PMVI)’s that are required to be completed by a government approved inspector on regular intervals. As such, the program should be working in an effective way so that no repairs are completed during the CVIP/PMVI. Details in this program can include:

• Routine preventative maintenance;

• Trip inspections;

• Under vehicle trip inspections;

• Trip inspection reports; and

• Repairs.

The NSC requires that Transportation Safety and Maintenance Programs be specific to each company. If you have a larger or mixed fleet there are many factors to consider, making a program can be confusing and difficult. CayCan Safety Consulting will work with you to create and customize a Transportation Safety and Maintenance Program. Our knowledge and expertise ensure that your program meets all current legislative requirements and considers the unique influences facing your company. Alberta Transportation provides an excellent sample programs for carriers to implement for a basic level of compliance (available here: https://www.alberta.ca/preparing-written-safety-and-maintenance-programs.aspx)

Developing a Transportation Safety and Maintenance Program with the help of CayCan Safety Consulting can help your company achieve its Certificate of Recognition from the AMTA. More, by implementing a fulsome program, you are protecting your employees, maintaining your vehicles and establishing your company’s reputation as a leader in safety.

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