Hearst inspection station replacement and Highway 11 safety work
Announced October 1, 2026: Ontario is replacing the Hearst truck inspection station and adding 14 kilometres of passing lanes on Highway 11. This is an inspection-infrastructure and road-safety update; it does not announce a new driver licensing, hours-of-service or inspection-document rule.
What changed and when
The station project replaces the weigh scale and existing building. Completion is expected in December 2026; this is a project target, not a confirmed opening date or a new regulatory effective date. The new Highway 11 passing lanes are intended to help faster traffic pass slower vehicles safely. Do not assume the planned lanes are already open.
Who is affected
Truck drivers and carriers travelling through Hearst and using Highway 11 in Northern Ontario should account for the work in their trip planning.
Practical driver actions
- Check Ontario 511 before departure for current construction, closures and road conditions.
- Follow posted inspection-station directions and temporary traffic controls. Construction does not provide permission to bypass an inspection when directed to enter.
- Confirm your daily inspection is current and report defects before departure. Use the minor and major defect guide and pre-trip checklist.
- Build time into the trip for potential inspections or construction delays without exceeding your permitted hours of service.
Official Ontario announcement: Northern highway safety improvements ↗
New Ontario Class A licence and training changes
Status: Ontario announced the changes on September 21, 2026. One date is confirmed; the final start date and complete details for the new curriculum have not yet been published.
What changed
- Six-month waiting period: effective January 1, 2027, a driver must have held a Class G or higher licence for at least six months before attempting the Class A road test.
- New entry-level curriculum: Ontario says every truck-driving training organization will be required to use one standardized Class A curriculum of more than 103 hours. Implementation is expected in early 2027.
- Planned subjects: the announcement identifies fatigue management, northern and rural driving, human-trafficking awareness and mandatory air-brake training as areas under development.
- More Highway 11 and 17 enforcement: Ontario also announced additional enforcement officers, expanded blitzes and two mobile inspection support units.
Who is affected
The confirmed waiting period affects future Class A applicants who plan to take the Ontario road test on or after January 1, 2027. The planned curriculum affects new Class A students and Ontario training providers once the province publishes the final implementation requirements. The announcement does not say that currently licensed Class A drivers must retake training.
Practical next steps
- Check how long you will have held a Class G or higher licence on your planned Class A road-test date.
- Before paying a school, ask which curriculum applies to your start date and verify that the provider is approved.
- Do not rely on “early 2027” as an exact date. Recheck the official Ontario page and DriveTest requirements before booking.
- Use the Ontario AZ study guide and pre-trip preparation as practice aids, then confirm every requirement with official sources.
Official Ontario announcement: New training requirements for truck drivers ↗
Official Ontario guide: Get a truck driver’s licence ↗
Daily inspections
Ontario states that a required daily inspection must be completed within 24 hours before driving. Requirements depend on the vehicle and applicable inspection schedule.
Official Ontario source: Commercial vehicle safety requirements ↗
Electronic logging devices
Ontario states that drivers who were required to complete a daily log before June 12, 2022 generally must use a certified ELD, subject to listed exemptions. Confirm that the device appears on the federal certified-device list.
Official Ontario source: Electronic logging devices ↗
DriveON inspections
Ontario uses DriveON for applicable commercial-vehicle safety and emissions inspections. The official page explains covered vehicles, timing and inspection centres.
Official Ontario source: Commercial vehicle inspections ↗
CVOR responsibilities
Ontario’s CVOR program applies to operators of certain trucks and buses. Operators must keep information accurate and comply with commercial-vehicle safety requirements.
Official Ontario source: CVOR program ↗
Our update standard
We summarize official information and link to the original source. Proposed or developing requirements are clearly separated from rules with confirmed effective dates.