Under regulations, all commercial vehicles (trucks/power units) with a registered gross vehicle weight more than 11,794 kg, buses with a seating capacity of more than 10 people, and any trailers or semi-trailers being towed, must be inspected by the driver or a qualified person once in every 24-hour period while the vehicle is in use.

This inspection must be conducted in accordance with the applicable inspection schedule:

• Schedule 1 – Applies to trucks, tractors and trailers or combinations of them exceeding a GVW or RGVW of 11,794.
• Schedule 2 – Applies to buses designed, constructed and used for the transportation of passengers with a designated seating capacity of more than 10, including the driver, but excluding the operation for personal use, and also applied to any trailer towed by a bus.
• Schedule 3 – Applies only to a motor coach equipped with air ride suspension, air brakes and automatic brake adjusters. Any trailer towed by a motor coach must be inspected in accordance with Schedule 2.
• Schedule 4 – This schedule applies only to a motor coach equipped with air ride suspension, air brakes and automatic brake adjusters. The inspection must be conducted while the vehicle is positioned over a pit or raised in a manner that provides adequate access to all applicable components by a person who holds the appropriate technician certificate or qualification. Must be conducted every 30 days or 12,000 km.

Each inspection schedule lists minor and major defects for each inspection item. Minor defects must be repaired before the next trip inspection. If a major defect is found, the commercial vehicle cannot be driven until the defect is repaired.

All details of the inspection, including any defects, must be recorded on a trip inspection report form, either on paper or electronically. The regulations do not state what type of form must be used; however, whichever form you choose, it must include the following information:

• licence plate or unit number of the vehicle and any trailers being towed by that vehicle
• odometer reading of the vehicle
• carrier or company name
• inspection date and time
• inspection location
• name of the person conducting the inspection (printed legibly)
• declaration signed by the person conducting the inspection and the person driving the vehicle (if different from the person conducting the inspection) stating that the vehicle, and any trailers being towed, have been inspected in accordance with the applicable requirements

See Appendix A for a sample trip inspection report form.

Commercial vehicle operators are required to carry a copy of a completed trip inspection report for both the current and previous day, and the applicable inspection schedule. You must produce both of these documents at the request of a peace officer.

Please refer to The Trip Inspection Regulations for more information about trip inspection requirements. For copies of the applicable inspection schedules, please refer to Standard 13 of the National Safety Code.

Note: There are some exemptions to the regulations. For more information contact the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure at 1-866-933-5290.