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Apply for safety permits for commercial carriers and understand the permit review process.
COVID-19 response
Go to COVID-19 – Commercial carrier information on how COVID-19 affects this service.
The purpose of this exemption is to support efforts by extra-provincial truck undertakings and their drivers to transport specific essential supplies and equipment, in direct assistance to forest fire suppression efforts in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or Ontario.
Under a federal exemption, extra-provincial carriers providing supporting the fire fighting suppression efforts in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario are exempt from the provisions set out in sections 24 to 29 of the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulation.
Carriers utilizing this exemption must notify in writing the provincial hours of service director of the base jurisdiction of its intention to operate under this exemption. Driver and vehicle information must be provided.
For details on this exemption and notification requirements, contact the Central Permits Office at 1-800-662-7138 or [email protected].
Permitting and Approvals monitors, controls and issues safety permits for commercial carriers.
Safety permits are those issued by the Registrar for exemptions to federal and provincial safety laws (for example, hours of service or record keeping requirements).
The Government of Alberta recently updated regulations in an effort to improve efficiency for the commercial transportation industry. The updated regulations, which come into effect on January 1, 2021, will reduce the number of permits industry must obtain, saving time and money while maintaining safety of Alberta highways. The regulation changes include new vehicles added to regulation, increased weight and dimensions for specific vehicles and updated definitions, as outlined in the Revised Exemption and Dimension Permits chart (PDF, 130 KB). See the Weight and dimensions regulations page for more information on required permits.
Before applying for a safety permit, you should review the sample permit conditions carefully to ensure that the permit you’re applying for meets your business needs. You should also ensure you are in compliance with all permit conditions.
Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC)
CAODC member carriers may gain some exemptions to Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) annual inspections, dangerous goods training and documentation, and drivers' licence requirements.
Municipalities with firefighting vehicles may gain some exemptions to CVIP annual inspections, retention of records at locations other than their principal place of business, and requirement to obtain annual driver abstracts.
Water Well member carriers may gain some exemptions to CVIP annual inspections, drivers' hours of service and reduced vehicle registration fees.
Allows drivers an exemption from federal hours of service cycle requirements.
The Oil Well Service Vehicle Cycle Exemption Permit applies only to Alberta-plated National Safety Code (NSC) vehicles. Jurisdictions in which the permit can be utilized include Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Yukon. For more information about using the permit in different jurisdictions, please contact Carrier & Vehicle Safety.
Allows drivers a maximum 2 hour exemption from daily and work shift hours of service requirements when they follow a regular itinerary, deliver perishable goods or respond to an immediate public need.
Safety permit applications are available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Alberta Transportation Online Services.
The following documents can help with your online application:
Carriers that do not have access to Online Services must register for an account.
Please direct any questions related to account options, service additions or registration problems to Carrier & Vehicle Safety.
A non-refundable application fee of $55 is required for all permit applications.
CAODC and water well permits are $100, which are issued every 5 years.
Government agencies and Partners in Compliance (PIC) carriers are exempt from all application fees.
Online applications must be paid by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or 'On-Account' (if the carrier has a valid account with Alberta Transportation).
For credit card payments processed online, the applicant enters their cardholder data through a secure payment page powered by TD Merchant Services.
Once you submit your application, it is automatically sent to Carrier & Vehicle Safety for review.
If the permit application is approved, you will receive an email notification that contains an official copy of the permit document(s) and receipt of payment.
If the application has been declined, you will receive an email notification with review comments.
Permit applications are reviewed and issued by Carrier & Vehicle Safety during office hours only (Monday to Friday from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm).
The Registrar conducts a review for each permit application to determine eligibility. The review verifies:
If a carrier meets the above requirements and there is no foreseen adverse impact on public safety, a permit may be issued.
To consider upgrading a Safety Fitness Rating, the carrier must:
Connect with Carrier and Vehicle Safety and sign up for updates.
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