Ontario launches 10-year Automated Commercial Motor Vehicle Pilot Program

Ontario has launched an Automated Commercial Motor Vehicle Pilot Program set to run for the next ten years. 

The program was launched in early September and is expected to run through August 1st, 2035. The program involves heavy duty commercial vehicles outfitted with Level 3, 4, or 5 automation. and will run throughout Ontario, Canada.

According to the information page put out by the Ontario government, the program is intended to evaluate the performance of these automated vehicles, determine how to improve overall road safety, and gain insight on the role automation will have in Ontario’s trucking industry. 

The Automated Commercial Motor Vehicle Pilot Program will use two testing sectors – a driver supervised CMV with automation, and a completely driverless CMV with an assistant supervising either remotely, or from elsewhere in the truck cab. 

To participate in this program, carriers must meet at least one of the following safety stipulations: 

Operated with a “Satisfactory-Unaudited” safety rating for two years, and partnered with another carrier with five years of experience, plus the same “Satisfactory-Unaudited” rating. 

Operated with an “Excellent-Audited” safety rating for three years or more. 

Operated with a “Satisfactory-Unaudited” for at least five years. 

Carriers who meet these requirements and wish to participate in the pilot program must submit an application and obtain approval from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Carriers that are approved for the program will work with the MTO to develop a testing plan. These carriers will be required to continuously meet stringent safety requirements related to overall safety, driver qualifications, insurance coverage, and other standards. 

The performance of each participating Automated Commercial Motor Vehicle will be monitored in real-world conditions, and fleets will complete regular reporting forms, along with additional data or feedback. This information will be used to compare ACMVs to driver-operated CMVs regarding safety, efficiency, and reliability.