Heads up! Are you a carrier with a Safety Fitness Certificate that still says ‘Continuous’? If so, the deadline to complete your renewal is February 28th, 2022. Yep – you read that right. All Safety Fitness Certificates issued before February 28, 2019 (yes, even those which indicate ‘Continuous’) will expire on February 28, 2022.
Who needs a Safety Fitness Certificate?
If you register any of the following in Alberta, you are considered a ‘carrier’ and are required to maintain a current Safety Fitness Certificate:
- 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 vehicle(s)
- 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
What does this mean for your business?
If you wish to continue operating as a carrier and your Safety Fitness Certificate was issued before February 28, 2019 (or if it says ‘Continuous’ on it), you must renew it prior to February 28, 2022.
Don’t think it’s a big deal to let it lapse?
Think again!
It is an offence to operate a commercial vehicle without a current Safety Fitness Certificate; and if found in violation, your vehicle(s) could be seized, and you could be fined up to $10,000 (ouch!).
In addition, failure to renew your Safety Fitness Certificate prior to expiration may result in you having to apply as a new carrier (which means you may even have to complete the Pre-Entry Program), which is both more costly and more time consuming than meeting the renewal deadline.
So go renew it. Right now. I mean it.
Ok! So what exactly do you need to do to remain compliant?
Renewing your Safety Fitness Certificate online is relatively quick and easy. You can expedite the process by having the following information ready before you begin your application:
- Vehicle registration
- Motor Vehicle Identification (MVID) Number (hint: this can be found on your vehicle registration)
- Insurance (don’t get overwhelmed, but feel free to check out the minimum requirements here)
- Operating status (whether you will be operating solely within Alberta, or if your work will take you across our borders)
- Nature of your business (what type of commodities you haul, or if you transport passengers)
- Transportation Safety and Maintenance Program (you will need to identify the individuals responsible for your transportation safety and maintenance programs)
Then, go here to complete the renewal application form online.
The fee to renew your Safety Fitness Certificate is $110, and upon renewal, it will be issued for a 3-year term moving forward.
Still have questions?
Not sure where to start, and want some help with the renewal process? Feel free to reach out – I would be happy to support the success of your team!