Greater Sudbury Enhances Driver Training to Boost Safety Ratings

Greater Sudbury is actively working to improve the safety records of its commercial drivers following a warning from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation. The municipality oversees approximately 450 drivers operating its fleet of 320 commercial vehicles. In April 2023, the city received a letter indicating that its Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) rating had risen to 35 percent, suggesting a troubling trend in safety violations, including collisions and failed safety inspections.

Brendan Adair, the city’s director of transit services, emphasized the importance of reducing this violation rate. “We want to make sure that that violation rate is reduced because it speaks to an overall safe fleet and really a safe service delivery,” he stated. A higher CVOR rating can lead to increased penalties for drivers, underscoring the need for effective training and safety measures.

Improving Safety Through Training

The province’s CVOR program evaluates operators based on their safety records, taking into account infractions, collisions, and vehicle inspections. In response to the warning, Greater Sudbury has initiated a series of remedial and proactive training programs designed to lower the CVOR rating to 30 percent.

Adair noted positive developments, saying, “We’ve seen improvement already this year, and that’s evidence of our safety culture and the support through our driver training program.” He expressed confidence in the commitment of drivers who are dedicated to providing safe services to the community.

While the rating reflects the overall performance of the fleet, Adair clarified that it does not identify specific vehicles with higher violation rates. “We don’t have information in terms of a problem area. It was cumulative across the entire fleet,” he explained.

Exemptions for Emergency Vehicles

It’s important to note that any infractions involving emergency service vehicles—such as ambulances or fire trucks—are excluded from the CVOR rating. For instance, if an ambulance is recorded running a red light while responding to an emergency, that incident does not affect the municipality’s safety rating.

To further enhance training efforts, the city has allocated $134,308 for the hiring of an additional driver certification instructor in 2026. “Providing proactive training or reactive training is essential,” Adair said. The goal remains clear: to further lower Sudbury’s CVOR rating and ensure safe driving practices are consistently communicated to all commercial drivers.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the public can access current safety ratings for carriers using the Carrier Safety Rating Enquiry tool. Additionally, a specific carrier can request a CVOR abstract for $5, which summarizes a two-year history of the carrier’s safety record, including collisions and convictions.

As Greater Sudbury continues its efforts to bolster safety among its commercial drivers, the focus remains on fostering a culture of accountability and excellence in service delivery.