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Alberta-based passenger vehicles
Intraprovincial charters
Alberta-based intraprovincial charter service operators must obtain operating authority to operate legally in Alberta. Operators submit an application, a certificate of registration from the Alberta Corporate Registry, proof of insurance, a copy of each vehicle’s commercial vehicle inspection certificate, the safety fitness certificate application (if seating capacity is 11 or more including the driver), Alberta principal business office address, and applicable filing fees.
Trip Permits
Operators are allowed 12 single trip permits per year per company at a fee of $55 per trip. Operators must apply for single trip permits at least 14 days before the trip is scheduled. To obtain a single trip permit, an operator must submit the name and motor vehicle identification number of the registered owner, vehicle licence plate number(s), origin/destination of the trip, desired permit start/end date, and applicable fees. Operators must also have an acceptable safety rating, proper passenger insurance coverage, and current motor vehicle inspection certificates.
Extraprovincial operation
Any motor coach operator who wishes to engage in extraprovincial transportation must apply for an Extraprovincial Operating Authority Certificate.
An application for an Extraprovincial Operating Authority Certificate is considered complete when it consists of:
- Application for Operating Authority with all questions answered fully or, when not applicable, marked N/A; and
- The following:
- If a corporation, a copy of the registration certificate issued by Alberta (when picking up passengers in Alberta);
- Application fee of $180;
- Home jurisdiction operating authority and safety rating; and
- Insurance verification form.
An Alberta-based applicant must meet the National Safety Code requirements and obtain a safety rating prior to a permanent operating authority being issued if carrying 11 passengers or more.
Upon approval of the application, an operating authority certificate will be issued to the motor carrier. The certificate will be valid for a three-year period, and must be renewed by the carrier prior to the expiration date.
Carriers operating under the authority of a safety fitness certificate must carry the original or a photocopy of the certificate in the cab of each vehicle they operate.
The driver or carrier must be able to produce either the original or a photocopy of the safety fitness certificate at any time upon request of a peace officer.
Trip Permits
Commercial bus carriers are allowed 12 single trip permits per year at a fee of $55 per trip.
Alberta-based property carrying vehicles (private and for-hire)
The operating authority requirements for freight trucks engaged in transportation of goods were eliminated. Alberta-based carriers are required to have a safety fitness certificate plus liability insurance to operate. Either the original or a photocopy of the safety certificate must be carried in the cab of the freight truck and produced when requested by enforcement.
Out-of-Province Carriers
Passenger-carrying
A non-Alberta, Canadian-based applicant must submit with the passenger carrying operating authority application, a copy of a permanent home base jurisdiction authority and a National Safety Code safety rating.
A non-resident carrier that enters Alberta with a partial load of passengers may pick up up to 12 passengers per trip or a maximum of 25% of the total number of passengers traveling on each vehicle.
Trip permits
A non-resident carrier may obtain a single trip permit if no passengers are being picked up in Alberta. Non-resident carriers may obtain 12 single trip permits per calendar year.
Property-carrying
The operating authority requirements for freight trucks engaged in transportation of goods were eliminated. Canadian-based carriers are required to have a safety fitness certificate plus liability insurance to operate. Either the original or a photocopy of the safety certificate must be carried in the cab of the freight truck, and produced when requested by enforcement.
U.S. carriers
Passenger-carrying
All U.S.-based applicants must submit the passenger-carrying operating authority application with a copy of their FMCSA operating authority certificate and a safety rating issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Trip permits
A non-resident carrier may obtain a single trip permit if no passengers are being picked up in Alberta. Non-resident carriers may obtain 12 single trip permits per calendar year.
Property-carrying
The operating authority requirements for freight trucks engaged in transportation of goods were eliminated. U.S.-based carriers may be required to show their U.S. federal operating authority and their U.S. DOT number when requested by enforcement.
Insurance
Passenger-carrying
All buses registered in Alberta with an Alberta plate must be covered by an insurance policy of automobile insurance providing passenger hazard coverage in at least the following amounts:
- If the capacity of the bus is 10 or less persons, including the driver:
- $400,000 for bodily injury or death of any one person as a result of any single accident; and
- $1,000,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons as a result of any single accident;
- If the capacity of the bus is more than 10 persons, including the driver:
- $400,000 for bodily injury or death of any one person as a result of any single accident; and
- $2,000,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons as a result of any single accident.
Property-carrying
Cargo carriers must maintain liability/property damage insurance in the amount of $1,000,000; if the carrier is transporting dangerous goods, the liability/property damage coverage must be at least $2,000,000.
Cargo carriers must maintain cargo insurance to cover against loss of or damage to goods transported as follows:
| For each vehicle having a registered gross weight of: | The minimum cargo insurance coverage is: |
|---|---|
| 12,700 kg or less | $15,000 |
| 12,701 kg up to 18,000 kg | $20,000 |
| 18,001 kg up to 21,000 kg | $20,000 |
| 21,001 kg up to 37,000 kg | $27,000 |
| 37,001 kg or more | $32,000 |
Private carriers transporting their own goods are not subject to cargo insurance.
Cargo carriers that transport certain commodities, such as but not limited to clay, coal, crude oil, grain, logs, propane, snow, water, or woodchips, are not subject cargo insurance. See the Commercial Vehicle Certificate and Insurance Regulation 314/2002, for a complete listing of commodities.