Sector Compliance Branch: Inspections

Industrial Waste Haulers

The Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Transportation are working together to inspect vehicles that transport hazardous, liquid industrial and solid waste (e.g. waste chemicals) and non-hazardous waste (e.g. garbage).

• The Inspections
• Inspection Results

The Inspections

Since December 2000, iinspectors from the Sector Compliance Branch (formerly called the Environmental SWAT Team) and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) have inspected these vehicles at MTO operated truck inspection stations in Oakville, Milton and King City.

When inspecting these vehicles, MOE inspectors typically:

• inspect the trucks for leaks
• visually inspect the trucks' contents and, if necessary, take samples of the contents
• ensure the drivers have the necessary certificates of approval and appropriate manifests to transport the contents
• ensure the vehicles have appropriate markings to indicate they are transporting waste.

The MTO Officers will detain and/or charge drivers and vehicles if found to be in violation of safety standards or regulations, including:

• operating unsafe vehicles
• commercial drivers exceeding allowable driving hours
• driving while under suspension
• violations of the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act.

Inspection Results

Inspectors from both ministries have found a number of violations, including:

• lack of appropriate documentation in the vehicle, such as a certificate of approval
• poorly maintained and leaking equipment
• improperly identified vehicles
• no certificate of approval for the materials being transported
• operating vehicles with brake defects
• failure to secure loads on operating vehicles.

The Sector Compliance Branch inspectors and MTO Officers continue to conduct joint inspections of hazardous, liquid industrial and solid waste and non-hazardous waste vehicles at truck inspection stations across the province on a monthly basis.

View a summary of the results.