Do you have a defective vehicle or trailer? Don't make Smokey Bear's day!

Having your vehicle or trailer decaled out is a great way to attract new business, especially when its done right, it looks professional and it can convey the quality of your work you deliver.

The downside of decals is that they can attract the wrong attention. This can vary from people wanting to break in and steal your tools and stop your livelihood, to being pulled over by police or inspectors from the Ministry of Transport.

Trucks and trailers take a beating in this business, needless to say. So remember to  inspect them at the start of each day for damage and flaws.

If you don’t catch any deficiencies in time, it’s possible a  police officer or a Ministry of Transport inspector might decide to pull you over for an inspection. The MTO guys  are similar to police officers – they have the power to fine you if any part of your vehicle is defective, and they can shut your business down if they decide to take your vehicle (and its contents) off the road at that very moment.

Common reasons to fine you includeoverloaded vehicles, license and sticker infractions – and all kinds of wear and tear from the tires, to the brakes, to any other component deemed to be damaged, split or cracked.

If items like these are discovered under inspection, your vehicle could well be impounded if these faults are seen as critical. At this stage, charges will be laid against the owner, operator or driver. The vehicle is then impounded for a prescribed period. Before the impounded vehicle is removed, it must be in a safe condition for towing. Vehicles that cannot be made safe for towing must be placed on a flat bed trailer taken to an  impound facility.

Fines for safety related offences are set out in the Provincial Offences Act (in Ontario) and may be as high as $20,000. What’s more, the Ontario Commercial Vehicle Impoundment Program (CVIP) started in 1998 allows your vehicle to be impounded for a minimum of 15 days. Ontario was the first jurisdiction in North America to impound commercial vehicles for critical defects.

This can very easily disturb your day’s business,stopping you reaching your intended destination or jobsite that day. Especially if you are a small self-employed owner-operator without larger resources to turn to.

CARAHS was founded as a no- profit association to help educate, inform and mentor self-employed builders, renovators and home services contractors. We welcome your comments, feedback and stories to share with others.

CARAHS has over 130 online Health & Safety e-courses at www.carahs.org

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