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Alberta Class 1–4 overview

Alberta Class 1–4: National Safety Code and hours of service

Safety Fitness Certificates, carrier safety and maintenance plans, Alberta and federal hours-of-service limits, daily logs and their exemptions, and the Vehicle Inspection Program.

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National Safety Code and hours of service · Question 1Score 0/0

How often must a school or commercial bus be inspected under Alberta's Vehicle Inspection Program?

Study reference: Commercial Driver's Guide (Spring 2023), Ch. 2 National Safety Code — Safety Fitness Certificate, Safety and maintenance plans, Provincial and federal hours of service, Vehicle Inspection Program

All 17 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. How often must a school or commercial bus be inspected under Alberta's Vehicle Inspection Program?

    1. Every two years
    2. Every six months
    3. Every 12 months
    4. Every three months

  2. During a trip you find a defect that would endanger others. What does the maintenance rule require?

    1. Report it at the next annual inspection
    2. Tell the carrier and do not drive the vehicle
    3. Fix it yourself and report nothing
    4. Finish the trip, then report it

  3. What is the maximum on-duty time in federal cycle 2?

    1. 120 hours in 14 days
    2. 70 hours in 7 days
    3. 120 hours in 7 days
    4. 100 hours in 10 days

  4. Which condition is NOT part of Alberta's daily log exemption?

    1. Stay within 160 km of the home terminal
    2. Start and end at the same place
    3. The driver must work fewer than 10 hours
    4. Be released within 15 hours of starting

  5. A carrier runs trucks only within Alberta. From what registered weight do its trucks need a Safety Fitness Certificate?

    1. 15,000 kg or more
    2. 4,500 kg or more
    3. 5,000 kg or more
    4. 11,794 kg or more

  6. Under a carrier's safety plan, what must a driver report to the carrier?

    1. Nothing; police report directly
    2. Only collisions with injuries
    3. Violations, convictions and collisions
    4. Only fines over $500

  7. How soon must a driver give daily logs and supporting documents to the employer under Alberta rules?

    1. Within 20 days
    2. Within 7 days
    3. At the end of each month
    4. Within 48 hours

  8. A carrier has one truck that sometimes runs into British Columbia. Which hours-of-service rules apply to its drivers who never leave Alberta?

    1. Whichever rules each driver prefers
    2. No rules if they stay in Alberta
    3. Federal rules for all its drivers
    4. Alberta rules for in-province drivers

  9. A carrier's trucks travel into Saskatchewan. Which Safety Fitness Certificate threshold applies?

    1. Trucks registered at 11,794 kg or more
    2. Only trucks with three or more axles
    3. Trucks over 4,500 kg
    4. Only trucks hauling dangerous goods

  10. What is a motor carrier under the National Safety Code?

    1. The government office that inspects commercial trucks
    2. The driver who holds a Class 1 licence
    3. Anyone who operates a commercial truck or bus
    4. Only a company that hauls dangerous goods for others

  11. In a federal work shift, after how much elapsed time since the last 8 consecutive hours off may you no longer drive?

    1. 18 hours
    2. 13 hours
    3. 14 hours
    4. 16 hours

  12. Under federal rules, a driver may not drive unless they have had at least how much consecutive time off in the previous 14 days?

    1. 72 hours
    2. 48 hours
    3. 24 hours
    4. 36 hours

  13. Under federal rules, how much off-duty time does a driver need each day?

    1. 8 hours in any blocks
    2. 6 hours, including 4 in a row
    3. 10 hours, including 8 in a row
    4. 12 hours, all consecutive

  14. A driver on federal cycle 1 wants to reset the cycle to zero. How long must they be off duty?

    1. 36 consecutive hours
    2. 72 consecutive hours
    3. 48 hours in any blocks
    4. 24 consecutive hours

  15. A passenger vehicle needs a Safety Fitness Certificate when its seating capacity, counting the driver, is at least:

    1. 15
    2. 7
    3. 11
    4. 25

  16. Under Alberta hours-of-service rules, what are the driving and on-duty limits in a work shift?

    1. 10 hours driving or 12 hours on duty
    2. 14 hours driving or 16 hours on duty
    3. 13 hours driving or 15 hours on duty
    4. 13 hours driving or 14 hours on duty

  17. Which vehicles are exempt from Alberta's Vehicle Inspection Program for commercial vehicles?

    1. School buses and charter buses used for field trips
    2. Any truck whose carrier has an approved safety plan
    3. All trailers under 11,794 kg
    4. Transit buses and in-province farm trucks

National Safety Code and hours of service: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Introduction and Safety Fitness Certificates (p. 18)

  • The National Safety Code (NSC) took effect on April 1, 1989, when every province and territory agreed to common safety standards for commercial carriers.
  • A person or company that operates a commercial truck or bus is called a motor carrier, or carrier.
  • Only one piece of NSC legislation, federal or provincial, applies to a carrier at a time.
  • Federal law applies to carriers that operate outside Alberta.
  • Federally regulated carriers need a Safety Fitness Certificate for trucks, tractors or trailers registered for or weighing more than 4,500 kg.
  • Provincially regulated carriers (operating only within Alberta) need a Safety Fitness Certificate for trucks, tractors or trailers registered at 11,794 kg or more.
  • Under both laws, a commercial passenger vehicle with a manufacturer's seating capacity of 11 or more, counting the driver, needs a Safety Fitness Certificate.
  • Farmers are exempt from the Safety Fitness Certificate under Alberta law but not under federal rules.
  • An Alberta Safety Fitness Certificate is valid in other jurisdictions only for Alberta-plated vehicles and only if the carrier declared itself a "federal" company.
  • A carrier that also has a vehicle regulated by another jurisdiction needs a second Safety Fitness Certificate from that jurisdiction.
  • A carrier that keeps posing an unacceptable risk can have its Safety Fitness Certificate and commercial registrations cancelled.

Safety plans (pp. 18–19)

  • An Alberta carrier must set up, keep and follow a written safety program.
  • A carrier that fails to do so can face court charges, an administrative penalty or cancellation of its Safety Fitness Certificate.
  • The safety plan covers matters such as speed limits, seat belts, drug and alcohol use, defensive driving, load security and fuelling.
  • It also covers records such as bills of lading, manifests, dangerous goods documents, time records, daily logs and weigh slips.
  • It includes instructions for safety equipment such as reflective triangles, fire extinguishers, goggles and hard hats.
  • Every driver must know and follow the company safety plan.
  • A driver must be medically fit, not fatigued, and not under the influence of alcohol or any drug.
  • A driver must carry required documents such as a valid licence, registration, insurance and, where needed, a dangerous goods training certificate.
  • A driver must report violations, convictions and collisions to the carrier.
  • The safety plan rules are in the Commercial Vehicle Certificate and Insurance Regulation (AR 314/2002).

Preventive maintenance plans (pp. 19–20)

  • An Alberta carrier must have a written maintenance and inspection program for all its Alberta-registered vehicles, including leased vehicles.
  • Each driver must understand the maintenance plan and carry out the inspections the owner and the law require, such as trip inspections.
  • A driver must report on-road inspections by enforcement officers and give the documents to the carrier.
  • A driver must tell the carrier about defects found and must not drive a vehicle with a defect that would endanger anyone.
  • The maintenance rules are in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation (AR 121/2009).

Hours of service (p. 20)

  • Hours of service rules exist so commercial drivers get enough rest and do not drive while tired.
  • Alberta hours rules apply to carriers whose vehicles operate only within Alberta; federal rules apply once any vehicle operates outside Alberta.
  • Once a carrier falls under federal rules, all of its drivers of regulated vehicles follow federal rules, even drivers who never leave Alberta.

Provincial (Alberta) legislation (pp. 20–21)

  • An Alberta work shift generally starts after eight consecutive hours off duty and ends at the next eight consecutive hours off.
  • Under Alberta rules a driver may not drive after 13 hours of driving or after 15 hours on duty in a work shift.
  • A driver must complete a daily log for each day or note in the remarks that they were off duty on those dates.
  • The log must be kept current to the last change of duty status and must be accurate.
  • Keep trip receipts such as hotel and fuel receipts as supporting documents.
  • Give the daily log and supporting documents to the employer within 20 days.
  • Keep a copy of each daily log and supporting documents for at least six months.
  • Alberta log exemption needs all four conditions: start and end at the same place, stay within 160 km of the home terminal, no more than 15 hours from start to release, and employer keeps start and end times for six months.
  • The employer must keep each driver's daily logs in order for six months.
  • Alberta hours rules: Drivers Hours of Service Regulation (AR 317/2002).

Federal legislation (pp. 21–22)

  • Federal hours of service rules are stricter than Alberta's and have daily, work shift and cycle limits that must all be met.
  • In a day (a 24-hour period chosen by the carrier) a driver may not drive after 13 hours of driving or after 14 hours on duty.
  • Each day a driver needs 10 hours off duty: eight consecutive, and the other two in blocks of at least 30 minutes.
  • In a federal work shift a driver may not drive after 13 hours driving, 14 hours on duty, or 16 hours elapsed since the last eight consecutive hours off.
  • The carrier assigns cycle 1 or cycle 2 and the driver records the cycle on the daily log.
  • Cycle 1: no driving after 70 hours on duty in seven consecutive days.
  • Cycle 2: no driving after 120 hours on duty in 14 consecutive days; the driver must take at least 24 consecutive hours off before reaching 70 hours on duty.
  • A cycle 1 driver resets to zero with 36 consecutive hours off; a cycle 2 driver resets with 72 consecutive hours off.
  • A driver cannot switch cycles without taking a reset.
  • No driver may drive without having had at least 24 consecutive hours off in the previous 14 days.
  • Sleeper berth rules differ for team drivers and single drivers.
  • Federal log exemption: stay within 160 km of the home terminal, return there each day for at least eight consecutive hours off, carrier keeps accurate duty records for six months, and no driving under a permit.
  • Federal hours rules: Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulation (SOR/94-716).

Vehicle Inspection Program (pp. 22–23)

  • Alberta has a mandatory safety inspection program called the Vehicle Inspection Program for Commercial Vehicles.
  • The program does not replace an owner's preventive maintenance; it sets the standard for it.
  • A vehicle that passes receives a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Certificate and a decal for the vehicle.
  • Municipal transit buses and farm trucks operating only inside Alberta are exempt from the program.
  • Buses designed for more than 11 passengers, including the driver, must be inspected, including school and commercial buses but not municipal transit buses.
  • Buses are inspected every six months; Alberta has required twice-yearly bus inspections since 1978.
  • Trucks, truck-tractors, trailers and semi-trailers with a registered combined gross vehicle weight of 11,794 kg or more must be inspected every 12 months.

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