Safety Fitness Certificate

Safety Fitness Certificate

Safety Fitness Certificate

All commercial vehicles must meet the National Safety Code's (NSC) performance standards brought in by all Canadian jurisdictions to ensure vehicles are driven safely across the country. If you have registered a vehicle that is regulated under the National Safety Code program in Canada, you are required to apply for a Safety Fitness Certificate. The Safety Fitness Certificate gives you permission to operate a commercial vehicle in Alberta or Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions. It is an offence to operate a commercial vehicle without a Safety Fitness Certificate.  

There have been many new changes to the process of applying for your Safety Fitness Certificate in Alberta. This includes completing an NSC knowledge test online and in a registry office, completing an NSC audit within 12 months of obtaining your Safety Fitness Certificate and renewing your certificate every 3 years. 

Performance Business Consulting is here to assist you in creating a safety and maintenance program and ensuring you have all the proper records to submit for your audit.

National Safety Code

The National Safety Code (NSC) of Canada contains the minimum performance standards for the safe operation of commercial vehicles, agreed to by all jurisdictions in Canada. The NSC applies to all people responsible for the operation of commercial vehicles on the road. These vehicles include trucks, power units, trailers and buses.

A truck is defined for Provincial NSC operators as a commercial vehicle or combination of vehicles registered for a combined weight of 11,794 kg or more and only operate inside one province.

Alberta or Saskatchewan carriers that operate into other jurisdictions are designated as Federal and must comply with federal legislation. Under federal legislation, trucks or truck and trailer combinations registered for a combined weight of more than 4,500 kg must comply with NSC standards as implemented in Alberta (5000 kg or more in Saskatchewan). This includes farm plated vehicles that travel extra-provincially.



     National Safety Code Standards


  • Single Driver License Concept
  • Knowledge and Performance
  • Driver Examiner Training Program
  • Classified Driver Licensing System
  • Self-Certification Standards and Procedures for Drivers
  • Medical Standards for Driving
  • Carrier and Driver Profiles
  • Short-term Suspension
  • Hours of Service Regulations
  • Security of Loads Standards
  • Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Standards
  • Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance On-road Inspections
  • Daily Trip Inspection Reports
  • Safety Rating
  • Facility Audit Standards
  • First Aid Training.

Commercial Safety & Maintenance Program

Safety and maintenance programs are written documents that outline safe policies and procedures for a transportation company. All National Safety Code (NSC) carriers are required by law to write and implement these programs. Performance Business Consulting can create a safety and maintenance program for your company, assist on ensuring it is implemented, evaluate the program periodically, and update as necessary. 

Carriers that are required to submit their safety and maintenance programs to Alberta Transportation for review must also complete and submit the Carrier Information Sheet and Carrier Safety Maintenance Program Summary forms. 

The Safety and Maintenance Program requires provincially or federally regulated Alberta-based commercial trucks/tractors/trailers to have a written maintenance program complete with complete vehicle files, daily trip inspections, continuous and regular vehicle maintenance, CVIP, written safety program, hours of service and cargo securement.
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