Transport Canada has given the provinces and territories authority over motor carrier safety in Canada.

In general, a commercial motor vehicle in Canada is defined as one that is a:

• Truck, tractor, trailer, or any combination thereof that has a registered gross vehicle weight exceeding 4,500 kilograms; or
• Bus that is designed and constructed to have a designated seating capacity of more than 10 persons, including the driver.

This general definition is a guideline. Each jurisdiction in Canada defines a commercial motor vehicle a little differently. Jurisdictions may apply different sets of rules based on the types of vehicles the carrier operates and whether the carrier’s vehicles travel within or out of the carrier’s base jurisdiction.

The applicability of motor carrier safety rules depends largely on the provinces or territories in which the carrier is based and where the carrier operates.