We received a lot of positive feedback after sharing Part 1 of the Wanted off the Road poster series. Well, our Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) team continues to keep BC from turning into the Wild West by rounding up more vehicles travelling the roads despite serious violations.
We picked out a few of the more interesting examples for a follow up poster series in order to help you understand what types of dangerous situations our CVSE team works hard to prevent. For drivers, we hope the series draws attention to the importance of doing pre-trip inspections and using common sense when deciding whether or not a vehicle is roadworthy.
You’ll notice both commercial and passenger vehicles are included in these posters. While CVSE focuses mostly on commercial transport enforcement, they have the legal authority to stop any vehicle in order to address a safety issue (the shocking case of the Porthole Peeper is a good example of this).
Carriers and drivers, please do your homework! Safety standards are clear and available; there’s even a handy online course to help you understand National Safety Code requirements.
Our CVSE Inspectors tell us the vast majority of drivers make safety a priority. However, they do find an assortment of violations, at times – and some are real head shakers. Take a look. And remember… DON’T do this:
Bunch of pansies in here holy, a 1 ton truck can easily handle that fifth wheel and tiny trailer tell me you have never hauled anything before without telling me you have never hauled anything before lmao
Thanks for your comments, Sukma. Three Vehicle Combinations are mot legal in BC, due to the unstable handling that results from this combination. The BC Commercial Transport Act Regulations (CTAR) covers this in more detail under section 7.18, It’s also prohibited under Division 19.02 (3) (a) of the MVAR and additional information can be found in Section 5.4 of the Commercial Transport Procedures Manual.
(Note: BC’s terrain is also more mountainous than the rest of Canada’s).
How or who do you report someone driving under someone else’s electronic log(person out of hours)
Hi there Hope!
You can report any commercial vehicle violation to the CVSE hotline at 1-888-775-8785. Here is a link to the CVSE home page for more contact information as well. https://www.cvse.ca/
I have worked for Axl amazing express Ltd this guy runs us over hours or he holds our pay his equipment I don’t think should be on the road
Hello Scott – we shared your concern with our staff in the CVSE and they have tried to reach out to you to discuss your concerns further, but are unable to connect with you. Could you let us know if this is the best point of contact, or if there is a better way to connect and chat? Thanks!
I work for local company which has had this contract for years in past,and has it for 10 -15 years.
These trucks have never been in a shop for years. no red seal mechanic has looked at these trucks. too many things to list.These trucks have slid off the road multiple times due to bald tires.
Hi there Elmer – thanks for taking the time to connect with us here. Please share this directly with our CVSE hotline:
Report Commercial Vehicle Safety Violations
Toll Free:
1-888-775-8785
Phones are monitored Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM except holidays. Leave a message after hours.
Thank you so much for taking the time to connect with us here.
I am a private home owner who has a small acreage and a recreational property. I would like to purchase a small tandem axle dump/utility trailer to have for my own personal use (“not for hire”). The trailer GVW would be less than 4500kgs. I will tow it with my pick-up truck which is a non-commercial vehicle that has sufficient capacity to tow the trailer.
Will I have to insure my small dump trailer as a commercial vehicle because of its body type/style? If so, would I then also have to insure my pick-up truck as commercial too?
Commercial vehicles/trailers are subject to annual or semi annual inspections. Would these inspections then apply to my privately owned Pick-up truck and/or small dump trailer?
Next related item… If I were to periodically rent the small tandem axle dump trailer (for private use) from a rental company instead, Would I have to have commercial plates for my pick-up truck?
Hello Mark – thanks for reaching out to us here. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to help as these are all questions for ICBC. Here’s a link to their contact page: https://www.icbc.com/about-icbc/contact-us/Pages/default.aspx
Safe travels!
Why does BC not have laws similar to other cities where pickup trucks with hitch receivers are not permitted to drive the vehicle with a hitch installed unless towing?
This condition presents a spearing or piercing hazard to other vehicles in a rear end collision. Most of the drivers that have hitches installed and are not towing use them as a way to illegally occupy more than one parking space by preventing vehicles behind them from using the full length of the space.
Hello Joe,
You are correct – there is no restriction. If you are concerned about illegal occupation of space and your concern is within a municipality, we encourage you to connect with that municipality to see if there are local bylaws in place which might support your concern. Hope that this information is helpful.
Headlights, new super bright headlights, poorly aimed headlights, new Ford pickups with quad lamps plus driving lights.
Added aftermarket LED lamps etc.
These can blind you at night, so many Semi trucks with super bright lamps aimed to high, or one looking at the ground etc.
We need to start policing this. We drive all night as Pilots and I have to wear night glasses as it burns after awhile.
Thanks for your comments about overly bright, poorly aimed and after-market vehicle lights, Wayne. I will forward your comment to Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement. A TranBC blog about off-road vehicle lights, that we use to remind people to cover them when on highways and sideroads: https://www.tranbc.ca/2016/03/18/the-dark-side-of-off-road-vehicle-lights/
Enforcement needs to happen on vehicles fitted with aftermarket LED’s/HID’s in Halogen or reflector type housings or even increased power LED’s in OEM Projectors.
This causes Rayleigh scattering and turns the headlight assembly into a floodlight and a road hazard to oncoming drivers or drivers in front of the subject vehicle.
Also, adding in brighter than OEM LED bulbs into projectors is in contravention of the MVA portion that covers modifying vehicles.
A simple hand-held Lux meter should be standard equipment in a police cruiser for measuring output at 10 meters.
OEM LED’s belong in Projector housing where the lens is able to focus the light.
knowingly altering your vehicle’s lighting system contravenes the MVA portion that covers “driving with due care and attention”
The right light for the right type of housing.
I have yet to see any F250’s or Dodge Rams getting tickets or towed for this.
Cut off the supply at source. Don’t allow aftermarket LED’s HID’s into the country.
What does “D” mean on the pilot car sign anyway?
Good morning,
Thanks for your question. The D signifies an over dimensional or wide load. Here’s a link for more info on Pilot Vehicle guidelines: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/transportation-infrastructure/engineering-standards-and-guidelines/traffic-engineering-and-safety/traffic-engineering/traffic-management-and-traffic-control/tcm-work-on-roadways/tcm_appendix_g-pilotcar.pdf
Over dimensional
RVs and holiday trailers should be inspected and weighed also. Many are in terrible shape, loaded wrong, over loaded, and are obviously not safe to be on the road,
Thanks for this! We encourage RV owners to keep their RV in tip top condition and have created this content just for them: https://www.tranbc.ca/2011/06/30/on-the-road-to-rv-safety/
Who would I call to talk to regarding a question of towing with my vehicle? I also have a question regarding reporting to weigh scales. (The nearest weigh scale station is un manned). I need to talk with someone that really “knows” their “stuff”. My questions really fall in a grey areas, between the commercial and private vehicles. I’m a class 3, with air, class 4 unrestricted, (and 5 & 6) driver. I recently bought a 1999 Kenworth T300, air brakes, (single rear axle) a previous moving truck /van with 22 foot box on it and lift gate, Front axle 12000 Kg, rear axle 21000 Kg, GVWR 14,968 kg. (CVI good until the end of November) Registered & insured as a private vehicle, (don’t need or have a NSC) it is for my own use, not commercial use. But it “was” a commercial truck. I’m planning a “move” across the country, and would like to tow my F-350 (about 10k) on a 14000kg private registered trailer behind it! Most likely “pintal” hitch, I’m not sure at this point if I should go with electric brakes or find something with “Air brakes”? I’ve been reading the act … if the trailer is “private” is does not become part of the “weight ” of the truck, which is about the only thing I found, but I have found nothing regarding brakes! Is it my choice? I’m concerned if there is anything else I need to be aware of i.e. “rules”, before I go out and buy the trailer to haul the f-350?
Another question, being “private”, I haven’t been able to find if I have to report to scales (nationwide) or not. I’ve seen other private RV’s with semi tractor (commercial style) trucks pulling large fifth wheel style trailers, do they report to every scale?
I’ve also read about a interprovincial agreement, regarding basically, what is “ok” in your originating licensing province carries over to the other provinces, (…which might be causing the confusion with the three vehicle combo), it confirms that, at least the western provinces are together, but I have found nothing for the area east of Manitoba. Do you know if the agreement carries all the way to the Maritimes? I don’t want to get stopped halfway, and be unable to proceed due variations in provincial laws, especially regarding towing.
Hello! Thanks for connecting with us here. We ask that you share this information with our staff at the CVSE directly via Commercial.Transport@gov.bc.ca.
If they need to defer the question to a more senior expert – they will do so. Hope that this is helpful!
On the truck and 2 trailer combo , it mentions tow vehicle under 11000kg, so does that m an a diesel pusher motorhome that is over 11000kg could pull 2 trailers?
Hi Ray – great question. We are going to have to defer to the good folks at the CVSE directly on that. Here’s their contact email for further clarification. Commercial.Transport@gov.bc.ca
The lead trailer MUST be a 5th wheel to pull a combo. So unless a diesel pusher has a 5th wheel hitch, no.
I’m watching jade city wear a kid named Joshua goes in and out of camp plus drive his semi and go home. You are super useless because money talks
Hello Bernhard. Sorry to hear this. Not quite clear if you have a specific question about commercial vehicles? Let us know if we can help.
When can a cvse officer remove my plates on my van
Had a cracked windshield not in my line of video on. But they took my plates which in nturn i could not work, which lead to cant pay rent, eat, feed my kids so im now homeless with my family im told they couldn’t do that they should have given 30 to get fixed??
Hi Shawn – thanks for connecting with us here. Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on this matter directly but encourage you to contact the CVSE directly for clarification on the issue. Here is their contact info: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/vehicle-safety-enforcement/information-education/contacts
Who is inspecting the raised pickup trucks with no mud flaps etc. There are many dangerous motor vehicle infractions out there and it does not appear that anyone has a mandate to protect the travelling public. The tires are illegal, headlights and bumper too high and the list goes on and on not to mention that the operators drive like idiots. These are off road vehicles and if involved in a collision will kill people. That is why there are regulations, to keep our highways safe
Hello Randy,
Thanks for your comment. If you have concerns, we encourage you to share them with our staff at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement hotline: 1-888-775-8785.
Thank you!
They do go after them, they issue box1 and 2 inspection notices… swap wheels, toss on some mud flaps, it takes about a hour of work.. pass the inspection and go back to normal.
You should be more worried about rusted out falling apart cars that lack maintenance such as brakes and bald tires, these raised vehicles ppl take pride in and stay ontop of issues.
Saw a dangerously overloaded pickup truck 6ft ABOVE box of the truck,debris falling all over the road tires looked flat he had so much weight to boot. Unable to go over 30 in a 70 zone.
Got a pic and plate number,is it cvse I report this to?
Hello Fraser – thanks for connecting with us here.
You can call our CVSE hotline anytime at 1-888-775-8785 to report a violation.
You can also email the good folks in the CVSE at CVSEgeneralinquiry@gov.bc.ca
Why are right side steering vehicle allowed in this country. How do you pass safely on the highway when you cant see oncoming traffic until you are in the other lane. How do you merge in traffic when parked along the street safely . I wonder if we have stats as to how many accident those vehicles are involve in.
Hi Pierre – great question and one that is best directed to ICBC, as they keep motor vehicle statistics etc.
I have a pickup truck that is licensed for 17,000 kgs… I am a Class 1 driver… does that mean I am allowed a three vehicle combo? This would be over the 11,000 kgs that you state in the above pic.
Hello Christopher,
A three vehicle combo (like the one in the image above – pickup truck, RV, Boat ) the answer is no, three vehicle combinations are not allowed in BC regardless of the type of license.
Hope that this information is helpful!
Would a Super B not be a 3 vehicle combination ? They are allowed but the GVW must be in excess of 11,000 kgs, like Christopher above states his unit is allowable by the weight requirements. The only way it would be illegal is if the GVW identified on the truck is in excess of the manufacturers specified max GVW for the towing unit and the drivers license is not adequately endorsed. IMO
Hello Justin,
Thanks for your question. Here’s a link to provisions and regulations in place for super b loads on BC highways. We hope that this is helpful: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/cvse/commercial-transportation-manual/chapter-5.pdf
All winter have been hauling B trains in northern B.C. with only one set of single chains, asked employer for a set of triples and was told 1) too expensive and 2) regulations don’t require them, which it does,3)do you want to keep your job, so where does that leave me? Out of work?
Hi Truck Driver – thanks for your question.
The chain-up requirements did change in 2018, so perhaps your employer is unaware of the updated requirement? The minimum requirements for a B Train are found in 7.1633 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations, with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Chain Configurations poster serving as a visual aid showing those minimum requirements. We believe that all major highways in Northern BC are designated as a winter tire & chain route, but you could check where they travel against the maps here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tire-and-chain-up-routes
Beyond that, you could contact your local CVSE Inspection Station for assistance related to enforcement.
I was pulled over in my 16ft cube van on the coq, last week the stupid cvse wanted me to back the snowshoes hill to conduct a safety on my truck, I’m under 4999 and he got me for a burnt out light and said I exceed my weight limit, I had 4 rims and a compressor in my cube van, these guys are complete idiots, had me pulled over for 3 hours. And how safe is it to back up a hill in a snowstorm with a trailer halfway down the snowshed hill Larson hill…and this cop is a safety orficer
Hi Shayne – we are sorry to hear your frustration. Would you like to follow up with the CVSE directly about your experience? Here’s their contact info: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/vehicle-safety-enforcement/information-education/contacts
There is a criminally stupid CVSE inspector on Vancouver Island that works out of the Parkesville scale.
She doesn’t know the difference between a doorknob and a rocket ship.
How the hell do complete morons like her get hired as vehicle inspectors.
Everyone complains about her but CVSE won’t fire her.
Maybe her dad or husband runs the CVSE?
Hi Joe,
Thanks for sharing your concerns about one of the CVSE inspectors at the Parksville scale.
Should you have more specific information you are welcome to provide it.
I will forward your comments to our person responsible for CVSE in that area.
How come UPS / Puralator vans drive with their right doors open all the time, especially going down the hwy at 100km/h. What is the law about keeping doors closed,or is it legal to keep open like a Honda Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna?
Great question Patrick – we’ve sent it to the CVSE for response. We will let you know what we hear back.
Hi again Patrick – just following up on your question. We spoke with our folks in the CVSE and our traffic engineering standards branch and both groups believe that this falls under federal legislation – perhaps with manufacturers of the vehicles. Here’s Transport Canada’s website link for more info: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/transport.html
Is an in-operative jake brake on a gravel/equipment hauling truck an infraction.
Great question Don – we’ve sent this question to the CVSE. Stay tuned.
Hi Don – there is no legislation to support the requirement for a jake or engine brake. Thanks for your question!
This is a ridiculous self pandering site
I was recently, in my own neighborhood, detained by a CVSE person, called a peace officer, carrying a gun.
Other wise known as gun barrel law.
If he is a police officer name it as such, and stop annoying otherwise law abiding local community members.
This fellow had to call the real police who shook there heads at the stupidity related to a minor infraction occasioned by the theft of the small pick up truck plates. My vechile was not engaged in ANY commercial activity nor has it ever been.
BUT if the ministry cannot differentiate between private use and commercial activity which occasions an egregious arrest without warrant then the validity of Ultra vires law will now be tested.
This is just another revenue generating industry costing taxpayers valuable income and need to engage in more taxation to support this nonsense.
Police officers are adequately trained to respond to a danger to the public with out this ridiculous stalking of our side streets by “The Revenue Men”
For the record i have been driving for over 50 years with a clean record, no “tickets” of any type and i will practice law on this nonsense until you people get it right Fraser
Thanks for your comments. CVSE officers do not carry guns. Could you provide a location and officer/vehicle information and I’ll pass along to the department.
Rear projection on 53′ and super b. Less than 3ft, no flag?, over 3ft from tail,flags lights ect?
Second . Impact guard decal?, out of service if no impact guard decal on trailer,or straight truck? Thx
Hi Thomas,
If you see a vehicle that causes you concern, please contact the CVSE at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Violations hotline directly: 1-888-775-8785
Thanks!
WANTED
CSVE inspectors are NOT required to be Red Seal Journeymen Mechanics. They served no apprenticeship! Have your vehicle inspected by qualified people!
Drivers license Class three with Air endorsement, is ridiculous, as a commercial rated vehicle engineered to carry a load and pull a trailer with air brakes, is not allowed to, over 10,456 pounds. Yet a pickup truck and electric brakes is. Operating under Class 5, heavy endorsement. How dumb is that?
Minister of transportation hides from correcting this.
Hello Fraser,
CVSE officers consist of both Trade Qualified Technicians and Certified Mechanical Inspectors. Area Vehicle Inspectors or more commonly referred to as AVI’s are Trade Qualified Technicians while all other CVSE officers are Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Certified Inspectors. CVSA is a nonprofit association comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives. The alliance aims to achieve uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial motor vehicle inspections and enforcement by certified inspectors dedicated to driver and vehicle safety. We hope this helps clarify. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns.
I was pulled over in a cvse road block. in a non commercial vehicle. they had a cvse go over my 1996 truck. they found that my door when opened dropped a few millimeters. my break fluid was 3 mills short from max. my back licence plate light was out. my right front head light was loose ish. my drivers side door handle was broken.but i call myself on this one because it just broke off. i had a crack in my windshiled that was there when i bought the truck. so what ive learned is that they will do anything to take old vehicles and poor people who own old vehicles off the road with extreme vigilance. i got hom,e and fixed everything besides front windsheild in a few hours. have a new windsheild comming in the next few days. and i was a lucky one. all i have to say is cvse should only be aloud to target commercial vehicles and not target familys just picking up there kids from school who rely on there pos cars.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your experience with safety concerns identified by CVSE when they inspected your vehicle.
Glad to hear that you have made the fixes and will soon have a new windshield. Safety concerns created by vehicles requiring maintenance affect everyone on the road.
Thanks to the CVSE for the work you do
Thanks for the nice comment!
This is an awesome post, it really shows some of the worst things you will find out there. I am glad to see this made it through all the political turmoil that has happened this year.
It’s a tough post to beat, but if you guys plan on doing another issue at some point in the future, I look forward to seeing it.
Just like to say thanks to all the CVSE officers out there working to keep the roads safe and getting this kind of stuff off the road.
Thanks for the positive feedback on this Charles – we really love hearing it and we will send the kudos along to the good folks at the CVSE.
Log truck drivers here on Vancouver Island need to learn to slow TF down when on public highways. And maybe check more carefully for rocks and loose bark in your loads/trailer wheels. I have replaced a windshield several times over the years and almsot excusively from damaga ecaused by debris released from log trucks. Even worse in the summer or during dry speels in winter because the volume of dust they kick up is dangerous and disgusting!
Of course I have NEVER seen a log truck pulled over by the CVSE. Brutal.
Hi Lenny,
We shared your concern with one of our commercial inspectors who confirmed that the CVSE conducts roadside inspections on more than 20,000 commercial vehicles every year including logging trucks and other commercial vehicles.
Commercial vehicles are also required to have annual or semi-annual mechanical vehicle inspection done at licensed mechanic facilities to ensure these vehicles meet safety standards.
There is a province wide toll free number to report commercial vehicle safety violations, should you see something that causes you concern: 1-888-775-8785. Hope this helps!
Maybe you should not drive so close to the back of log trucks…. your comment about them speeding, really hit home over how fast you drive to be tailgating them….
You’re talking like you’ve never been overtaked by a truck in 90-100 km/h zone while you’re going 10 over the limit.
I know I have, only to catch onto them on the next hill, then be overtaken again on descent.
Years ago I worked for an Insurance company in Ontario and when we initially insured a vehicle we had to take photos of it and do a visual inspection. I denied insurance for a jeep that had no gas tank but had a gas can in the back with a garden hose feeding into the gas lines….. scary stuff!!! he said it worked just fine….. uh no!
Whaaaaat?! Yikes. That is quite the story. Thanks for sharing Donna!
And as a logging truck driver I am disgusted to see a fellow driver have a load of logs with a broken bunk. I can say that my years of experience it is unusual to see things as blatantly obvious as that. Log truck drivers are usually the best truckers there are and to not notice that doesn’t seem right it seems suspect. That said unfortunately there are some drivers who are getting into log hauling and shouldn’t be allowed to wash a truck let alone drive one. That kind of a thing would be spotted by someone such as the person loading the truck and when the driver gets out to wrap his load it would be spotted immediately and no one would dare drive that. That load would be off loaded quicker than you can say Jimeny cricket. That is life threatening there is no way anyone would driver it. It had to have happened during the drive so I’m suspecting there was a sign such as a crack that wasn’t noticed when driver did safety check of load. It’s the worst picture out of them all. The bus with shit not bolted down is stupid if there was anyone using the chairs while Its moving. A stove not bolted down is fine if the bus is not moving?
Hi Floyd, thanks for your comments. Some of the infractions are pretty unbelievable, aren’t they. Sadly, they still happened. Thanks for your continued safe driving!
The top one you call The Three Vehicle Combo I have seen similar and when I asked the driver/owner said it is legal if the driver and outfit is insured in Alberta where it is legal. And he had been stopped before to be questioned and was sent on his way because he was an Albertan. Seems crazy don’t it?
Hi Floyd,
We sent your comment to the CVSE who told us that someone driving a three vehicle configuration would be in violation of Division 7.18 of the Commercial Transport Regulations, which is adopted under Division 19 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. Vehicles found to be in violation of Division 7.18, regardless of their origin, are subject to enforcement.
Just wondering if the Commercial Transport Regulations apply to private non-commercial vehicles?
Hi Dave,
Commerical vehicles are regulated by the Commercial Transport Act and private non-commercial vehicles by the Motor Vehicle Act.
Here’s a link to the Commercial Vehicle Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96058_01
OMG, but someone makes it legal for three combo 53 ft. trailer units to travel the coquihalla. Stupid.
Hi Bruce,
CVSE does allow Long Combination Vehicles (two 53’ trailers) to operate, but under a permit and only if they meet very specific conditions. Also, extensive engineering studies have been commissioned by the trucking industry, which has allowed for these combinations to operate.
there are so many rusted out vehicles that are licensed on BC highways recommend that all vehicles that are more than 5 years old have a vehicle inspection before licensing and repeated every 2 years the first inspection will take lots of the junkers off the highway and get a handle on the illegal headlamps and lamp that are out of height requirements and seriously out of alignment
Thanks for this feedback Robert. We have sent it to the CVSE for consideration.
Hi Robert,
We sent your comment to the CVSE who have informed us that enforcement officers do have the ability to, and quite frequently do, issue notice and orders to vehicles they have safety concerns over as per Division 25.08 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. The motor vehicle is then required to obtain a safety inspection within a set period of time or remove the vehicle from the road.
There are a surprising number of tow vehicle mirrors not nearly extended enough to see anything other than the front of the trailer. I always assumed it was illegal. And yet I see it often enough to think it is either legal, or simply not enforced.
A great comment, thank you for sharing with us. We will share your comment forward with the CVSE.
Hi there,
We asked the CVSE your question and they have informed us that looking for mirrors that are not properly aligned can be tricky for enforcement officers to spot, but there is a requirement for mirror alignment in Division 7.04 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. Full size commercial vehicles also get a maximum extension of 30 cm on each side beyond the total width of the vehicle under Division 7.06 of the Commercial Transport Regulations.