If you want to drive a truck in Ontario, you need a commercial truck driver’s licence. This information will help you understand which truck licence you need and the steps you need to take to get your restricted Class A (full or restricted) or Class D licence.
Important notice: Effective July 1, 2018 – New Rules for Commercial Drivers:
- Class D licence renewal and medical requirements have changed
- Before you renew your Class D licence, you will need to pass a knowledge and vision test
- To maintain your Class D licence you will need to submit a Medical Report form
- Drivers of commercial vehicles will be subject to zero tolerance laws based on the presence of alcohol and/or drugs. Penalties include:
- Immediate 3 day roadside licence suspension
- $281 penalty
- Remedial measures and ignition interlock based on the number of applicable suspensions a customer has had within the previous 10 year period
- For the purposes of the new sanctions, commercial vehicles will be defined as any of the following:
- A vehicle that requires the driver to hold a Class A, B, C, D, E or F driver’s licence
- A road-building machine
- A vehicle that requires a Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration
- Driving a truck
- Full Class A licence
- Restricted Class A licence
- Class A Manual Transmission Restriction
- Class D licence
- Where to apply
- Accepted identity documents
- Fees
- Study for the knowledge test
- Commercial Knowledge and Road Tests
- Book a road test
- Frequently Asked Questions
Driving a truck
The type of truck licence you need depends on:
- the weight of the vehicle
- the weight of the towed vehicle
- combined weight of the vehicle and towed vehicle
- whether the vehicle is a tractor-trailer
- whether or not the vehicle is equipped with air brakes
Full Class A licence
Ontario has changed the implementation date for the Class A Manual Transmission Restriction to July 1, 2022. This change will ensure that all truck driver training schools are ready to transition to manual training if they choose, and to adequately prepare students for their road tests.
The full Class A truck licence is the only licence that covers full air brake systems on both tractors and trailers.
- A mandatory entry-level training course must be successfully completed before attempting the Class A road test.
- As of July 1, 2022, the type of transmission in the vehicle you use for your road test will determine what types of Class A trucks you can drive in Ontario.
What you can drive
A full Class AZ (air brake endorsement) truck licence lets you drive:
- Any truck/tractor trailer combination
- A combination of motor vehicle and towed vehicles where the towed vehicles exceed a total gross weight of 4,600 kilograms (10,000 lbs) and has air brakes
- A vehicle pulling double trailers
With a full Class A licence you can also drive:
- a car or light truck covered by a Class G licence
- heavy trucks covered by the Class D truck licence
- any vehicle covered under a restricted Class A truck licence
A Class A licence does not allow you to drive a bus carrying passengers, a motorcycle or a moped.
Requirements
To apply for a full Class A licence, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- hold a valid Ontario licence other than G1, G2, M, M1 or M2
- pass a vision test
- submit a valid medical report
- pass a knowledge test about operating large trucks and tractor-trailers
- complete a mandatory entry level training course
- pass a road testusing a vehicle that meets the requirements for a full Class A. This includes:
- A trailer with a Manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (MGVWR) of at least 4,600 kg.
- A full air brake system on both the truck/ tractor and trailer.
- Manual Transmission that consists of at least eight forward gears with a high-low range.
If your vehicle does not meet requirements for a full Class A you may either:
- reschedule your road test (and pay an additional fee)
OR - take your road test with the understanding that you will receive a restricted Class A licence (condition R) or a Class A manual transmission restriction, not a full Class A licence
Important notice: A mandatory entry-level training course must be successfully completed by all new Class A applicants prior to attempting their Class A road test on or after July 1, 2017.
Restricted Class A licence
Air Brake (Condition R)
What you can drive
The restricted Class A (condition R) licence is meant for drivers operating smaller truck-trailer combinations, such as a recreational, horse or utility trailer. As of July 19, 2021, the type of transmission in the vehicle you use for your road test will determine what types of Class AR vehicles you can drive in Ontario.
You can also drive:
- a car or light truck covered by a Class G licence
- heavy trucks covered by the Class D truck licence
What you can't drive
With a restricted Class A licence, you can't:
- pull a trailer equipped with air brakes
- drive a full-size tractor-trailer
- drive a vehicle pulling a double trailer
- train another driver on a vehicle that requires full Class A privileges to drive
Requirements
To obtain a restricted Class A licence (condition R), you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- hold a valid Ontario licence other than G1, G2, M, M1 or M2
- pass a vision test
- submit a valid medical report
- pass a knowledge test about operating large trucks and tractor-trailers
- pass a road test using a vehicle that meets the requirements for Class A (R)
To remove the "R" condition and upgrade your licence to a full Class A, you must successfully complete a road test using a vehicle with a full Class A vehicle configuration. This includes:
- A trailer with a Manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (MGVWR) of at least 4,600 kg.
- A full air brake system on both the truck/ tractor and trailer.
Class A Manual Transmission Restriction
Ontario has changed the implementation date for the Class A Manual Transmission Restriction to July 1, 2022. This change will ensure that all truck driver training schools are ready to transition to manual training if they choose, and to adequately prepare students for their road tests.
As of July 1, 2022, if you complete your Class A or Class A restricted (AR) road test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, semi-automatic or automated-manual transmissions, you cannot drive Class A/AR vehicles with a manual transmission. You can only operate automatic, semi-automatic and automated-manual transmission Class A/AR vehicles. This restriction will be noted on your driver’s record and driver’s licence. It will not apply when operating lower-class vehicles such as class G or D.
A motor vehicle is considered to have a manual transmission if it has a driver-operated clutch that is activated by a pedal or lever and a driver-operated gear-shift mechanism that is operated by hand or foot and does not use the assistance of automation. To drive Class A/AR vehicles with a manual transmission, you must complete your road test in a vehicle with a manual transmission that consists of at least eight forward gears with a high-low range.
This restriction does not apply to anyone who completed their Class A/AR road test before July 19, 2021.
Class D licence
What you can drive
The Class D licence lets you drive A truck with a gross weight or registered gross weight exceeding 11,000 kilograms (24,000 lb) or any truck or combination exceeding 11,000 kilograms (24,000 lb) gross weight or registered gross weight provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kilograms(10,000 lb). If the towed vehicle weighs more, you will need either a full Class A or restricted Class A licence.
With a Class D licence you can also drive a car or light truck covered by a G Class licence.
Requirements
To apply for a Class D licence, you need to:
- be at least 18 years old
- hold a valid Ontario licence other than G1, G2, M, M1 or M2
- pass a vision test
- submit a medical report
- pass a knowledge test about operating large trucks
- pass a road test using a vehicle that meets the requirements for a Class D
Where to apply
To apply and take the required tests, visit:
- the ServiceOntario College Park location in downtown Toronto
- at a DriveTest centre
You will need to bring valid identification that shows your legal name, date of birth and your signature.
Accepted identity documents
Canadian Citizens
- Passport (Canadian or foreign)
- Canadian Citizenship Card with photo
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card (issued on or after December 15, 2009 by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)
- Ontario Photo Card
Permanent Residents
- Permanent Resident (PR) Card
- Record of Landing (IMM 1000)
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
- Ontario Photo Card
Temporary Residents
- Study Permit / Student Authorization (IMM 1442)
- Work Permit / Employment Authorization (IMM 1442)
- Visitor Record (IMM 1442)
- Temporary Resident Permit (IMM 1442)
- Refugee Status Claim (IMM 1434)
- Acknowledgement of Intent to Claim Refugee Status (IMM 7703) with photo
- Report Pursuant to the Immigration Act (IMM 1442) with photo
- Ontario Photo Card
See a full list of accepted documents.
Fees
You will need to pay a fee to apply for a licence and take the written test. See the list of fees.
Study for the knowledge test
Ontario's Official Truck Handbook will help you prepare for your written knowledge test. It covers the special regulations and driving skills truck drivers need to know. You can buy the handbook:
- online through ServiceOntario
- at a DriveTest centre
- from many retail stores
Book a road test
To book a road test appointment, you will need to provide:
- your valid Ontario driver's licence number
- a preferred location for taking the test
- a second and third choice of location
- a preferred date and time
You can book, cancel or reschedule a road test appointment:
- online
- at a DriveTest Centre
- by phone at 647-776-0331 or 1-888-570-6110
You must to cancel a test at least 48 hours before your appointment to avoid a cancellation fee.
Important notice: mandatory entry-level training course must be successfully completed by all new Class A applicants prior to attempting their Class A road test on or after July 1, 2017
Commercial Knowledge and Road Tests
The knowledge and road tests for all commercial class licences (Class A, B, C, D, E and F) have been updated to ensure that applicants demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to safely operate a commercial vehicle.
For more information and to prepare for these tests, please visit:
You may also buy the Official MTO Handbook at a DriveTest centre or from many retail stores.
The updated commercial road test for all commercial class licences includes:
- Daily Vehicle Inspection tests:
- You will be required to inspect six randomly generated items from the schedule, demonstrate and describe how each item should be inspected, explain any potential defect(s) and describe what actions you would take upon identifying the defect.
- There will also be an in-cab check portion of the test where you must point to or touch all items listed and demonstrate and describe how each item should be inspected.
- For the in-cab portion, you will not be required to explain any potential defect(s) or describe what action you would take upon identifying a minor/major defect.
- Updated on-road and backing tests.
The road test for Class A applicants will also include updated coupling and uncoupling procedures, and your Class A driver’s abstract will now indicate if your road test (taken after July 1, 2017) was passed in a vehicle with an automatic or manual transmission.
At the end of the road test, the examiner will review the road test with you and inform you if you were successful in obtaining a commercial driver’s licence. You must be successful in all components of the test to successfully pass the road test and obtain a commercial driver’s licence.
To successfully complete your road test, you must demonstrate safe operation of your vehicle, not commit any moving violations and successfully complete all the road test components meeting the criteria below:
- Daily Inspection Test – Allowed to make errors for 1 item
- Uncoupling and Coupling (Class A) - Allowed up to 2 errors in total for both uncoupling and coupling and must complete the coupling using not more than 5 pull-ups
- On-road and Backing Skills Test - Allowed up to 30 errors and must complete the backing in less than 10 minutes
Refer to the back of the scoresheet for further details regarding the scoring of your road test.
Note: For all commercial class road tests, you must provide the driver examiner with a valid daily inspection report as well as the schedule for your vehicle or your road test will be cancelled and you will lose 50% of your pre-paid road test fee. You are encouraged to refer to your schedule as necessary during the daily vehicle inspection component of the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: I used to have a restricted Class A licence - can I exchange a full privilege licence from another province or country for a full Class A licence in Ontario?
When you apply for a new Ontario licence, you will still qualify only for a restricted Class A licence.
To remove the "R" condition, you will have to pay the appropriate fees and pass the full Class A road test in a vehicle that meets the minimum requirements for a full Class A licence.
Important notice: A mandatory entry-level training course must be successfully completed by all new Class A applicants prior to attempting their Class A road test on or after July 1, 2017
Q2: How do I upgrade my restricted Class A licence to a full Class A licence?
To upgrade your licence, you need to successfully complete a road test using a vehicle with a full Class A vehicle configuration. This includes:
- A trailer with a Manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (MGVWR) of at least 4,600 kg.
- A full air brake system on both the truck/ tractor and trailer.
Important notice: A mandatory entry-level training course must be successfully completed by all new Class A applicants prior to attempting their Class A road test on or after July 1, 2017
Q3: What happens if I arrive for my Class A road test with a vehicle that doesn't meet the minimum requirements for a full Class A licence?
You may either:
- reschedule your road test (and pay an added fee)
OR - take your road test with the understanding that you will receive a restricted Class A licence (condition R), not a full Class A licence
Important notice: A mandatory entry-level training course must be successfully completed by all new Class A applicants prior to attempting their Class A road test on or after July 1, 2017
