Ontario Inspection Guidelines

National Standard requires buses to complete a full inspection every six months.

Buses, accessible vehicles, and school purpose vehicles will be required to complete an inspection every six months. Ontario has made an exemption to the National Standard which means the internal brake inspection is only required during the annual inspection. The frequency of inspection matches the previous requirements under HTA Regulation 611 (as it existed 30th June 2011).

The following sections of the National Standard can be skipped during a semi-annual inspection:

• Section 3 item 11 Drum Brakes
• Section 3 item 12 Disk Brakes
• Section 3A item 19 Drum Brakes
• Section 3A item 20 Brake Drum
• Section 3A item 22 Disc Brakes
• Internal Brake Inspections Introduction of Section 3 & 3A

NOTE: these sections must be complied with during the annual inspection

National Standard provides an exemption allowing mechanics to conduct an inspection of the internal brake components exclusively through inspection holes of brakes. This applies when owner-operators provide proof an internal brake inspection has been completed within the previous 24 months.

In Ontario this exemption will NOT be available to buses, accessible vehicles or school purpose vehicles.

National Standard outlines the items to be inspected on an accessible vehicle; however this does not require the smooth operation of a power lift.

In Ontario if an accessible vehicle is fitted with a power lift, the lift platform, shall rise and lower smoothly when activated by the appropriate controls.

This is the only requirement Ontario has added to the National Standard.

National Standard outlines inspection criteria for liquefied petroleum gas and Dual Fuelled Systems.

• National Standard (Truck) Section 1 item 2 Fuel Systems – II LPG or Dual Fuelled systems.
• National Standard (Bus) Section 1 item 2 Fuel Systems – II LPG or Dual Fuelled systems.

Ontario is removing the inspection criteria outlined in the standard. In Ontario, alternative fuel systems will continue to be inspected by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).

This section of the National Standard has been replaced with the same inspection criteria as outlined in HTA Regulation 611 prior to July 1, 2011 as follows:

Vehicles with a liquefied petroleum gas, gaseous fuel or dual fuel system shall be inspected and tested and,

1. no mounting or attachment shall be missing or insecure;
2. no fuel filler cap shall be missing or insecure; and
3. no leakage shall be present at any point in the fuel system.

National Standard outlines a camshaft rotation test as an alternative to measuring internal brake drum diameter.

• National Standard (Truck) Section 3A item 18 Camshaft Rotation
• National Standard (Trailer) Section 3A item 7 Camshaft Rotation
• National Standard (Bus) Section 3A item 18 Camshaft Rotation

Ontario requires the internal brake drum diameter to be measured and recorded on the inspection report.

Ontario will not allow the option of the camshaft rotation test as outlined in the National Standard.

National Standard outlines inspection criteria for anti-lock brakes.

Starting on July 1, 2011 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 4,536 kg, manufactured on or after July 1, 2011 and originally equipped with Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) must have the ABS inspected and operating as intended in order to pass the National Standard inspection.

Starting on January 1, 2014 all vehicles with GVWR greater than 4,536 kg, manufactured on or after April 1, 2000 and originally equipped with ABS must have the ABS inspected and operating as intended in order to pass the National Standard inspection.

National Standard requires all vehicles, including modified vehicles to have a manufacturer’s federal compliance label.

• National Standard (Truck) Section 5 item 9 Manufacturer’s Label
• National Standard (Trailer) Section 5 item 1 Manufacturer’s Label
• National Standard (Bus) Section 5 item 15 Manufacturer’s Label

The manufacturer’s label provisions will not apply to vehicles manufactured before January 1, 2014.

National Standard prohibits aftermarket tinting of the windshield and the windows to the immediate left and right of the driver.

• National Standard (Truck) Section 8 item 9 Windshield
• National Standard (Bus) Section 8 item 9 Windshield

The tinting provisions will not apply to vehicles manufactured before July 1, 2011. (Vehicles manufactured after this date with prohibited tinting will fail the inspection)

National Standard requires reflective markings on all trailers regardless of size.

• National Standard (Trailer) Section 6 item 3 Retroreflective Markings

The reflective markings provisions will only apply to trailers that require conspicuity markings under section 7 of HTA Regulation 587 "Equipment”.

National Standard requires reflective tape on school buses manufactured on or after March 31, 1998.

• National Standard (Bus) Section 5 item 3 Reflective Tape

In Ontario the manufactured date has been amended to June 1, 2000.

National Standard requires three full brake applications to test vacuum reserve of the brake system for all vehicles.

• National Standard (Truck) Section 3 item 9 Vacuum Reserve
• National Standard (Bus) Section 3 item 9 Vacuum Reserve

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or less will require one full brake application instead of three.

National Standard outlines specific dimension requirements for outside rear-view mirrors.

• National Standard (Truck) Section 8 item 14 Rearview Mirrors
• National Standard (Bus) Section 8 item 13 Exterior Rearview Mirrors

The surface area of the rear-view mirror provisions do not apply to motor vehicles with a manufacturer’s GVWR of 4,536 kg or less in order to match the federal manufacturing standards that apply to these vehicles.

National Standard requires a fire extinguisher with a rating no less than 3A:40B:C for school buses manufactured after March 2000.

• National Standard (Bus) Section 5 item 1 Fire Extinguisher

In Ontario the manufactured date has been amended to June 1, 2000.