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Manitoba-based passenger vehicles
Manitoba-based passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of more than 10 passengers, including the driver, must also obtain a safety fitness certificate. See Item 6 for more information.
Manitoba-based property carrying vehicles
The operating authority requirements for property-carrying vehicles have been eliminated. Manitoba-based carriers must obtain a safety fitness certificate plus applicable insurance to operate in Manitoba.
Out-of-Province Carriers
Passenger-carrying
Any motorcoach operator providing service on highways in Manitoba is required to have operating authority from the Motor Transport Board.
For extraprovincial charter bus transportation service originating outside of Manitoba, with travel through the province, or into the province and return with original group, a motorcoach operator may either pay an operating authority fee as part of a single trip permit or apply to the Board for an extraprovincial operating authority licence.
Operators who wish to originate an extraprovincial trip in Manitoba, or to provide intraprovincial operations within Manitoba, must apply to the Board for an operating authority. Applications must be supported by evidence to meet the “public need and convenience” test and fitness criteria (safety, insurance) required under the Highway Traffic Act. Public notice of applications is required, and when opposition is accepted by the Board, a public hearing is conducted.
A non-Manitoba Canadian-based carrier is required to obtain a safety fitness certificate from the base province and maintain liability insurance to operate in Manitoba.
Property-carrying
The operating authority requirements for property-carrying vehicles have been eliminated. A non-Manitoba Canadian-based carrier is required to obtain a safety fitness certificate from the base province and maintain liability insurance to operate in Manitoba. Either the original or a photocopy of the safety certificate must be carried in the cab of the truck and produced when requested by enforcement.
U.S. carriers
Passenger-carrying
Any motorcoach operator providing service on highways in Manitoba is required to obtain operating authority from the Motor Transport Board.
For extraprovincial charter bus transportation service originating outside of Manitoba, with travel through the province, or into the province and return with original group, a motorcoach operator may either pay an operating authority fee as part of a single trip permit or apply to the Board for an extraprovincial operating authority licence.
Property-carrying
The operating authority requirements for freight trucks engaged in transportation of goods were eliminated. U.S.-based carriers operating into Manitoba may be required to show their U.S. federal operating authority and their U.S. DOT number when requested by enforcement.
Insurance
Every motor carrier to whom the Board has determined to issue a public service vehicle certificate shall take out and maintain during the term of the certificate the following insurance policies with an insurer authorized to carry on business in Manitoba:
- Covering legal liability of the motor carrier for bodily injury to, or the death of any person or for the loss of, or damage to property of others, in the following minimum amounts (subject to change):
- $2,000,000 for each regulated vehicle used for the transportation of dangerous goods of a kind and in a quantity that requires an emergency response plan filed under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Canada), SOR/2001-286;
- $2,000,000 for each bus used to transport passengers for compensation;
- $1,000,000 for each public service vehicle having a registered gross weight of 4,500 kilograms or more, other than one described in items 1 and 2 above, that is:
- A regulated vehicle used to transport cargo for compensation;
- A regulated vehicle not used to transport cargo for compensation but operated outside of Manitoba at any time; or
- A limited-use regulated vehicle operated outside of Manitoba at any time.
Safety fitness certificates
All carriers based in Manitoba are required to meet fitness (safety, insurance) criteria as prescribed by the Motor Transport Board or under the federal Motor Vehicle Transport Act.
Carriers operating commercial vehicles with a registered gross vehicle weight of 4,500 kilograms or more, or passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of 11 or more persons including the driver, are required to obtain a safety fitness certificate. Carriers can apply to Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, Motor Carrier Division, using a form provided by the Division, or online at https://web22.gov.mb.ca/SFCOR. Carriers must also provide insurance coverage information and dangerous goods transportation information (if applicable) on forms provided by the Division.
Section 312.1 of the Act.
- The consolidation of some regulated vehicle requirements into the Regulated Vehicles (Safety Fitness, Operator Identification and Records and Vehicle Exemptions) Regulation (the Regulation).
- Specific statutory power to refuse to issue a Safety Fitness Certificate to an operator who is deemed to be a safety risk, based on the operator’s safety record and/or the operator’s affiliation with another operator who has a poor safety record.
- Specific statutory power to assign a safety fitness rating to an operator based on the operator’s safety record and/or the operator’s affiliation with another operator who has a poor safety record.
There are no fees associated with obtaining the safety fitness certificate. Safety fitness certificates expire on the last day of the registration periods and the operator must concurrently apply to renew the safety fitness certificate when applying to renew the registration of the motor vehicles it operates. Renewal notices are typically sent six weeks in advance.
All regulated vehicle operators are to carry a copy of their Safety Fitness Certificate in the vehicle when operating in Manitoba.
Law
Highway Traffic Act
Regulation
Motor Carrier Safety Fitness Criteria and Certificates Regulation, 93/2015