I called the Ontaro Ministry of Transportation Enforcement Branch today to try to get some answers to some nagging questions regarding RV regulations.
I spoke to:
Mr. Alf Brown
Head, Enforcement Program Evaluation
301 St. Paul Street
3rd Floor
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2R 7R4
Phone
905) 704-2342
Fax No: (905) 704-2467
Alf.Brown@mto.gov.on.ca
Mr Brown was very helpful. He started the conversation by saying that the regulations pertaining to RVs were under review, and that some specific exemptions from the existing commercial trucking regulations were in the works for pick-up trucks used solely for personal transportation pulling recreational trailers with no commercial cargo.
Some specific points:
Annual Safety Inspection (Yellow sticker): This is required for the tow vehicle if the loaded truck weight exceeds 4500kg. There is a specific exemption for motor homes, truck campers, and camper trailers (but not for a Tow Vehicle).
Registered Gross Weight: This is where the Ministry collects their fees. There is no annual fee for a trailer, instead the total loaded weight of the truck and trailer are added together and this becomes the RGW of the truck. It is up to the owner to make sure that their RGW is sufficient to cover the combined weight. The annual fee depends on this weight and is in the range of $250 to $300 for typical Montana set-ups. There are significant fines for exceeding your RGW. (You can change your RGW if you are not using your trailer, e.g. during the winter).
Class A license: This is only required if the weight transmitted to the road through the trailer wheels exceeds 4600kg. Larger Montanas are borderline on this, so you need to know your weight, and either get the Class A license, or take some load off the trailer. (Air brake endorsement is only required if you actually have air brakes).
GVWR: The Misistry does not enforce GVWRs but the police may pull you over if you are obviously grossly overloaded, and charge you with operating an unsafe vehicle. There may also be liability and insurance issues in the event of an accident.
Weigh scales: The Ministry does not expect RVs to stop at highway weigh scales.
A number of other regulations that apply to commercial vehicles, (like hours of work, log books, daily inspections) are not enforced against RV's. Mr Brown had no timeline for the introduction of the new RV-specific regulations, but he did agree to see if an RV section could be added to the Ministry's website to clarify the regulations and their enforcement as applied to RVs.
I know this topic is of limited value outside of Ontario, but the principles are probably similar in other jurisdictions, so it may pay to make sure that you have "your ducks in a row".
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