Driver Log and Vehicle Inspection Requirements (Log Books)
Driver Log Books
Log Book Instructions
Daily Vehicle Inspections
University of Alberta faculties and departments operate commercial fleet vehicles beyond provincial and national boundaries.
This places additional responsibilities on University drivers to adhere to Federal (Transport Canada) Drivers' Hours of Service Regulations when operating vehicles registered to the University of Alberta with an actual or registered weight of 4,500 kg. or more.
Examples are:
- ½ ton and ¾ ton pick-up trucks with trailers attached and have a combined registered or actual weight exceeding 4,500 kg.
- one ton trucks or greater (GVW for a one ton truck could be 4,600 kg or more)
- passenger vans designed to carry 12 or more persons, including the driver, and regardless of the number of passenger actually being transported (15 passenger vans, 24 and 37 passenger buses).
Vehicles with gross vehicle weights or actual vehicle weights exceeding 4500 kg must stop at Commercial Vehicle Inspection Stations when illuminated signboards direct commercial vehicles weighing more than 4,500 kg and non-scheduled buses (includes 15 passenger vans, regardless of the number of passengers) to report.
Drivers may be subject to examination by local law enforcement and Transportation Inspectors. Drivers who are unable to produce properly completed log books and trip inspection reports may be subject to a fine and seizure of the vehicle, trailer and equipment, or may be "taken out of service" (suspended driver's license). Police and Transportation Inspectors may search a vehicle, without a warrant, for driver log books, trip inspection reports and vehicle documentation.
The drivers must record their duty status for the previous 14 days (total work, driving and off-duty hours) in the appropriate lines on each log book page. Proof of "duty status" must be available to Transportation Inspectors and may be presented as time cards or previously completed log book pages.
Log books and trip inspection sheets are available from the Fleet Safety Officer.
Exemptions:
- Vehicles registered to a commercial rental or leasing company are exempt
provided that the term of rental or lease agreement is less than 30 days.
- Drivers are exempt from completing log books when all of the following four requirements for exemption are met:
- The radius of the trip does not exceed 160 km
- Driver is returning to the home terminal (original departure location) to begin a minimun 8 hours of consecutive off-duty time
- The driver's duty status records indicating daily start and end times are maintained for the previous 6 months. (log books, time cards, daytimer records signed by driver daily)
- The driver is not driving under a permit or other restriction issued by Transport Canada or another commercial vehicle regulation.
Penalties:
- Vehicles may be seized for non-compliance.
- Failing to stop at a scale as directed may result in a fine or detention.
- Fines range from $400 to $10,000 and may be issued to the driver and to the University.
Drivers are responsible for disposition of fines and violations issued to them.
Fines and violations issued to the University will be transferred to the appropriate department or project.
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Log Book Instructions
Visit the link to the right to view an example of a log book that includes the timelines.
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Daily Vehicle Inspections
Drivers must inspect their vehicles daily and prior to the first trip of the day. Pre-trip inspections identify potential vehicle equipment failures prompting preventive maintenance.
Original vehicle inspection sheets (white copies) must be forwarded to the Fleet Safety Officer within 20 days or upon return to
Edmonton. Departments may make copies for their own records as required. Yellow copies are to be retained by the driver.
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