Depending on where the carrier operates and the weight or seating capacity of the vehicles the carrier operates, the carrier will need an SFC to operate legally.

For example, in Alberta, a carrier needs an SFC if the carrier operates:

• A truck or trailer, or any combination of the two, with a registered weight of 11,794 kg or more, operating solely within Alberta;
• A truck or trailer, or any combination of the two, with a registered weight of more than 4,500 kg that is used (or intended to be used) to transport goods on a highway outside of Alberta, including farm-plated vehicles; or
• A commercial vehicle originally designed for carrying 11 or more persons, including the driver, that is used (or intended to be used) for the transportation of passengers.

It is the carrier’s responsibility to ensure they receive a Safety Fitness Certificate with the proper operating status. Some jurisdictions do not differentiate between carriers that operate solely within the province and those that operate within and out of the province. For example, for carriers based in Ontario, all carriers that operate commercial vehicles with a registered gross weight of more than 4,500 kilograms require the Ontario CVOR; it does not matter if the carrier operates solely within Ontario or intends to operate within and out of Ontario.