Quebec Restricts Class 1 Commercial Driver Interprovincial License Exchanges
Mandating stricter compliance metrics for commercial transportation networks, Quebec Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Benoit Charette has introduced two new safety directives targeting heavy-duty vehicle operations.
Effective immediately, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) will require truck drivers moving from Ontario with less than 24 months of experience under a Class 1 license to pass Quebec’s practical examinations before operating within the province.
The emergency regulatory measure directly responds to a May 12 audit report released by the Auditor General of Ontario, which exposed systemic deficiencies regarding the oversight, training baselines, and licensing integrity of Ontario’s commercial driving schools. Under the new SAAQ guidelines, transferring drivers who fail the practical exam twice will be legally required to complete Quebec's mandatory 125-hour entry-level commercial driver training program.
“Road safety is paramount, and it is for this reason that we are putting these two new measures in place,” stated Transport Minister Benoit Charette, emphasizing the new administration's resolve to verify operator qualifications. “Our government is taking action to ensure that individuals traveling on our roads are qualified. These measures build upon the mandatory heavy vehicle training implemented by our government in Quebec last December.”
Safety Mandates Extended to Temporary Foreign Workers
The provincial framework also introduces a dedicated inter-agency task force comprising ministry officials, logistical stakeholders, and regional fleet hiring associations. This panel is tasked with tightening road safety enforcement and developing synchronized onboarding standards for Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) currently operating heavy vehicles within regional commercial supply chains, with future regulatory adjustments expected.
This policy shift complements ongoing heavy-vehicle enforcement strategies initiated late last year, including a public coroner's inquest into fatal trucking collisions and the phased arming of Quebec's highway transport enforcement officers (contrôleurs routiers).
Additionally, as of June 15, 2026, the province has enacted a strict zero-tolerance alcohol policy for all apprentice commercial vehicle drivers holding probationary or learner permits, independent of age.
