Renting a truck for D road test in Ontario

Wait, wait......something does not make sense here. He has an "air brake endorsement" (as we call it in the states), but no truck license? Is there some odd element of Canadian licensure that permits this to happen? I don't think it's even possible in the states to get an air-brake endorsement on a passenger license....

 

You can get an air brake endorsement in Ontario at an accredited school or by doing the air brake test at a drive test centre. I got my air brake before I ever drove a truck, I was then able to do my driving test in a truck that wasn’t equipped with air brakes, if that makes sense.

 

I believe every province had that. My brother just got his Air and has a class 5 (General License) in Alberta and I know lots in Nova Scotia that has that as well.

 

Yep, in Canada it's not a requirement to hold a commercial license to have the air brake endorsement.

I had my class 5 with Q (air brake endorsement) for years before I got my class 1.

Used it for driving a single drive axle semi that had air brakes pulling a 40 foot trailer with hydraulic brakes.

 

Canada's driver licenses make way more sense than the States. Can't believe they make you guys get a CDL to drive a freaking box truck if it weighs more than 26k.

 

I would hate to get my Cdl in the states you have to do a test for everything, Hazmat,doubles&tripples ,tanker . it’s so much simpler here and now the air brakes is some 30 minute training video where you print off a certificate and take it in and show them at the ministry . The government has also dumbed down the A test so much you don’t need to even study the book . most of my questions were about coupling and uncoupling procedures last year and the same for my fellow co workers .


Worse part is my buddy who has a town works job , he wanted to get his DZ license so he could drive the plow trucks in the winter . The school he went to had all the test question and answers which of course I got and practice those .Then he used a pick up truck with a trailer and got a restricted Az . He can drive a truck and trailer but with out air brakes . i guess the new Canadians have done one good thing for us fellow Canadians because of them the test are way easier to pass now

 

Back in early 90's I did take a college course for my 'Z' only endorsement at the time because my Dad saw that they offended it for Tractor trailer. We both didn't know so I obtained my air brake endorsement with my 'G' license. The following year when signing up to Trucking school they said its irrelevant and made me redo the 'Z endorsement' over. I thought to myself what a waste. Originally I was going for my DZ but after understanding the opportunities that 'AZ' licenses have oppose to just 'DZ' for me it made sense. I remember when you could have you AZ but if you didn't renew it on time you dropped to an Automatic DZ. Now you go right to a 'G'.

 

Well, I happen to think that is overall a 'good' thing, considering how poorly most people with 'normal' licenses drive (particularly in the YEE-HAW states..).

Your laws are, frankly, weird. But then, so is the overall makeup of your dominion, when you think about it; part French, part English. The combinations sounds harder to manage that Belgium or Switzerland!

 

French vs. English isn't our main problem in the past couple of decades.

 

I did this as well, except I got the Z endorsement so that I could train on a tractor trailer (with air brakes).