Safety Monitoring Framework

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure uses the Carrier Profile System to track a carrier’s on-road safety performance and assign a carrier’s safety rating. The department also uses the Carrier Profile System to determine the level of intervention needed to encourage carriers to operate in a safe manner.

The Carrier Profile System includes carrier records related to convictions, inspections and accidents, which are used to calculate performance scores and assess the level of risk a carrier poses to other road users. The department’s progressive intervention levels include safety education for new and renewing carriers, early and managed intervention strategies for at-risk carriers and the prohibition from operating regulated vehicles for high-risk non-compliant carriers.

Carriers based in Manitoba are placed in one of the following categories based on their safety record:

  • Start-up – Carriers apply for a safety fitness certificate and undergo early education to ensure that they start on a path of safe operations.

    • Carrier Start-up – New Safety Fitness Certificate (SFC)

    New carriers must:

    • Complete a Compliance Officer Certification via the New Entrant Training (NET) Course administered by the Manitoba Trucking Association.
    • Submit and review of a safety plan.
    • Screen of applicant’s history and possible affiliations.
    • Create carrier information and operating details in the Carrier Profile System.
    • Confirm mechanical safety for all regulated vehicles.
    • Confirm company ownership and registration with the Manitoba Companies Office.
    • Confirm minimum required insurance.
     
  • Pre-Intervention – Carriers complete an annual Safety Fitness Certificate (SFC) renewal application to maintain a valid certificate. Potential safety concerns may be identified.

    • Annual Renewals & Pre-Intervention: Companies with a Performance Score of 0 to 40 Percent with No Risk Level

    Before an intervention is initiated, the department:

    • Ensures annual renewal of the company’s safety fitness certificate.
    • Identifies early warning signs of safety concerns.
    • Completes annual review of applicant’s history and possible affiliations.
    • Reviews and updates carrier information and operating details in the Carrier Profile System.
    • Confirms annual confirmation of mechanical safety review for all regulated vehicles.
    • Completes annual confirmation of company ownership and registration with the Manitoba Companies Office.
    • Conducts annual confirmation of minimum required insurance.
    • Adjusts performance scores monthly based on-road operations over a two-year sliding window (past 24 months).
     
  • Early Intervention – Provides early warnings for at-risk carriers and educates on progressive intervention related to improving operator safety and promotes carrier understanding of their responsibilities under the Highway Traffic Act.

    • Early Intervention: Performance Score 41 Percent to 84 Percent at Risk Level 1-2.75

    When a carrier scores at 41 to 64 percent, (Risk Level 1-1.75) the department carries out the following actions:

    • Sends first sanction letter to carrier identifying an increase in their performance category score and encourages carrier to review their safety obligations in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act
    • Sends carrier’s profile with the sanction letter containing the details of on-road performance for carrier review.
    • Places carrier on early intervention list.
    • Increases Risk Level by 0.25 for each performance category score that exceeds the threshold.
     

    When a carrier scores at 65 to 84 percent, (Risk Level 2-2.75) the department carries out the following actions:

    • Sending second sanction letter to the carrier identifying an increase in their safety rating and requiring the carrier to submit a safety plan to the Motor Carrier Safety Program for review and approval. If the carrier has already submitted a safety plan, the department will require submission of an action plan for review and approval by a safety analyst.
    • Keeping carrier on the early intervention list and may place carrier on the quarterly review list.
    • May change carrier safety rating to Conditional, decided on a case-by-case basis.
    • Increases Risk Level by 0.25 for each performance category score that exceeds the threshold.
     
  • Managed Intervention – Delivers active intervention to support operators to become more compliant and to determine if operators pose an unacceptable risk for road safety.

    • Managed Intervention: Performance Score 85 Percent at Risk Level 3-3.75

    When a carrier scores 85 percent or greater, the department carries out the following actions:

    • Changes safety rating to Conditional if the overall performance score exceeds 85 Percent for three months or more.
    • Sends third sanction letter to carrier advising that they have been placed on the managed intervention list and that they may be selected for a National Safety Code (NSC) 15 facility audit.
    • Increases Risk Level by 0.25 for each performance score that exceeds the threshold.
    • Subject carriers selected for an NSC 15 facility audit to further interventions if they fail the audit. Audit interventions include, but are not limited to:
      • Conditional safety rating assigned, regardless of on-road performance record. Carrier is not eligible for a safety rating change for three years, unless they undergo a subsequent audit and pass it;
      • Follow-up meeting with auditor to educate the carrier in the failed areas of the audit and give the carrier tools for practical application to improve their overall operational safety;
      • Monetary penalties;
      • Carrier may be ordered to work with a third party agency to assist in improving their safety deficiencies and thus improving their performance threshold;
      • Carrier may be ordered to provide additional training to drivers or implement a safety plan or action plan to improve operations;
      • Carrier may be ordered to undergo a follow-up audit or a mandatory hours of service review; and
      • Carrier may be ordered to reduce their fleet size until they improve their safety record.
    • Carriers demonstrating ongoing deficiencies in safe operating practices and compliance with applicable highway safety laws and regulations and also failing to improve their operations when ordered to do so under s. 322.1(3) of the Highway Traffic Act, will be considered for departmental shutdown of their operations.
     
  • Shut-down Consideration – Occurs when carriers have been identified as posing a serious road safety risk and the department is examining the case against the carrier to determine if the carrier should be assigned an Unsatisfactory safety rating and have their safety fitness certificate revoked.

    • Shutdown Consideration: Ongoing Safety Deficiencies at Risk Level 4

    When a carrier fails to comply to improve safety practices following a NSC facility audit, the department may carry out the following actions:

    • Sends a fourth sanction letter to carrier advising that they have been assigned a Risk Level 4 and are being considered for being assigned an Unsatisfactory safety rating under NSC 14 Safety Rating and/or a suspension or revocation of their safety fitness certificate.
    • Reviews the carrier’s safety record, including their audit history. The carrier’s full history, including their compliance with the department’s interventions to improve their safety practices, are considered.
    • May temporarily suspend or revoke the carrier’s safety fitness certificate if they demonstrate ongoing deficiencies in safe operating practices and compliance with applicable highway safety laws and regulations and have failed to improve their operations when ordered to do so under s. 322.1(3) of the Highway Traffic Act.
     
  • Shut-down of Unsatisfactory Carrier – Occurs when the department prevents a carrier that is deemed to be an unacceptable safety risk from operating with a Manitoba SFC. The carrier is assigned an Unsatisfactory safety rating and their SFC is revoked.

    • Shutdown of Carrier: Risk Level 5

    When a carrier is determined to pose an unacceptable road safety risk, the department carries out the following actions:

    • Sends a letter to carrier advising that they have been assigned a Risk Level 5 and an Unsatisfactory safety rating under NSC 14 Safety Rating and a suspension or revocation of their safety fitness certificate.
    • Suspends or revokes the carrier’s safety fitness certificate; when this occurs, the Registrar will cancel their regulated vehicle registrations as required under s. 322.1(3.2) of the Highway Traffic Act.
    • If the department deems the carrier’s trailers unsafe, the Registrar will be notified and will cancel their trailer registrations as required under s. 322.1(3.2) of the Highway Traffic Act.
    • Notify other Canadian jurisdictions that a carrier’s safety rating has been made Unsatisfactory and the carrier will be added to Manitoba’s Unsatisfactory carrier list.