The Quebec government has introduced stricter licensing requirements for truck drivers moving from Ontario, aiming to enhance road safety following a series of fatal incidents. As of July 9, 2026, Ontario-based drivers with less than two years of road experience must pass a practical driving exam administered by Quebec’s auto insurance board to secure a provincial heavy vehicle license.
Under the new policy, failure to pass this exam on two separate attempts will trigger a mandatory training requirement before a driver is granted authorization to operate heavy trucks in the province. The measure follows a May report by Ontario’s auditor general, which identified significant deficiencies in training and oversight within Ontario’s trucking sector, explicitly pointing to Quebec’s regulatory framework as a standard for improvement.
This initiative is part of a broader provincial effort to address road safety concerns. In the summer of 2025, two fatal accidents involving heavy trucks prompted Quebec officials to review and implement more rigorous licensing protocols. In addition to these changes for inter-provincial drivers, the auto insurance board has announced plans to tighten safety standards for temporary foreign workers entering the trucking industry.