Alberta’s Provincial Drivers Hours of Service for School Buses

1. Alberta’s Provincial Drivers Hours of Service for School Buses Alberta Drivers’ Hours of Service Regulation (AR 317/2002) Traffic Safety Act Developed in cooperation by the Alberta School Bus Safety Committee and Alberta Transportation for delivery through the Alberta Student Transportation Advisory Council (ASTAC)

2. Disclaimer • Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate at the time of preparation. However, this document is intended to serve only as a guide and is not meant to be a substitute for the Federal and Provincial Regulations. • The Alberta Drivers’ Hours of Service Regulation (and other legislation under the Traffic Safety Act) is available on the internet at: www.transportation.alberta.ca/525.htm

3. It’s been recognized that fatigue related collisions do occur in all transportation industries, including school bus operations These collisions can be reduced or even prevented completely if the driver and their supervisor are fully aware of their legal responsibilities This basic course covers the minimum criteria that a professional driver needs to know The complete presentation should take approximately 4 hours and, to satisfy due diligence expectations, it may include successful completion of an exam to demonstrate learning Purpose 3

4. Alberta’s Provincial Drivers Hours of Service for School Buses Section 1: Overview 4

5. Why the hours of service regulations are in place Definitions: carrier, driver, school bus Commercial vehicles that apply to the Provincial Regulations Commercial vehicles that are excluded from Provincial Regulations What will I learn in this section?

6. Why are the Hours of Service Regulations in Place? • Reduce or prevent collisions • Reduce or prevent fatigue incidents • The Hours of Service regulations are intended to help reduce driver fatigue and prevent the NEXT collision 6

7. Who is a carrier? • An individual or a company who transports passengers by bus • Operates a vehicle for commercial purposes • A “carrier” is the registered owner of a commercial vehicle (e.g. School Board, bus contractor, individual) 7

8. Who is considered a driver? • A “driver” is anyone “who is driving or is in actual physical control of a vehicle” including: • Full-time and part-time drivers • Volunteer drivers (e.g. teacher, parent, etc.) • Spare/casual drivers • Maintenance staff who test drive (mechanics) • Owner/management or administrative staff who drive (e.g. principal, office staff)

9. What is a “School Bus”? • A “School Bus” can be used to transport pupils: • To/from school • To/from field trips or similar functions if trip is authorized in writing by principal and a copy is with the bus driver • For other types of trips, the same vehicle is considered to be a regular “Commercial Bus” (e.g. community sports team, cub group, etc.) • Carriers often have a mixture of regulated vehicles in their name or under contract

10. What is the difference between a ‘Federal’ and ‘Provincial’ Carrier? • A “Federal“ carrier is one who has any regulated commercial vehicle that leaves Alberta for any reason • Such a vehicle includes: • A passenger vehicle originally designed to transport 11 or more persons, including the driver; and • A truck/trailer registered for a combined weight of 4,501 kilograms or more • Note: Once it is determined that federal legislation applies to a carrier, it will apply to their entire fleet, even those operated point-to-point within Alberta.

11. What is the difference between a ‘Federal’ and ‘Provincial’ Carrier? • A “Provincial” carrier is one who has no NSC vehicle that leaves Alberta • Such a vehicle includes: • A passenger vehicle originally designed to transport 11 or more persons, including the driver; and • A truck/trailer with a gross weight of 11,794 kgs or more • Example: if a 12 passenger van registered to a motor carrier leaves Alberta, then their Operating Status must be “Federal” and ALL the school buses (that may be operating only in Alberta) MUST comply to the Federal HOS regulations (i.e. must keep at least “detailed” radius records every day).

12. Commercial Vehicles that Fall Under the Provincial Regulations • Carriers with a Provincial Operating Status (as indicated on the carrier's Alberta Safety Fitness Certificate) • Note: a copy of the SFC must be retained in each bus

13. Provincial Safety Fitness Certificate

14. Federal Safety Fitness Certificate

15. Commercial Vehicles that Fall Under the Provincial Regulations • Truck, tractor, trailer or any combination of these vehicles with gross vehicle weight of 11,794 kilograms or more • Note: service trucks/trailers, such as those used for building and vehicle maintenance, must be considered © Microsoft®

16. Commercial Vehicles that Fall Under the Provincial Regulations • Bus with seating capacity of 11 persons or more, including the driver • This includes 12 and 15 Passenger Vans when registered to a motor carrier © Microsoft®

17. Commercial Vehicles Excluded from the Provincial Regulations • Commercial vehicle with total registered gross vehicle weight of 11,793 kilograms or less (including trailer combinations) © Microsoft® Total Registered Gross Vehicle Weight ≤ 11,793 kilograms

18. Commercial Vehicles Excluded from the Provincial Regulations • Emergency vehicles • Fire-fighting vehicle, ambulance, police vehicle, or other vehicle used during an emergency • Tow trucks are not an emergency vehicle © Microsoft®

19. Commercial Vehicles Excluded from the Provincial Regulations • Commercial vehicle providing relief in a “public welfare emergency” • Fire, flood, drought, storm, earthquake, hurricane, tornado or other natural phenomenon; disease in human beings, animals or plants; or accident or pollution • Drivers must document the emergency exemption when used © Microsoft®

20. Commercial Vehicles Excluded from the Provincial Regulations • Municipality’s public transitservice bus • Travels within 25 kilometres of boundary of a municipality • A Recreational Vehicle © Microsoft®

21. Alberta’s Provincial Drivers Hours of Service for School Buses Section 2: Responsibilities

22. What will I learn in this section? • Driver responsibilities • Employee responsibilities • Motor carrier management responsibilities © Microsoft®

23. What are the driver’s responsibilities? Refuse to drive if: • Driver’s abilities are impaired (by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, health or unknown causes) and it’s unsafe for the driver to drive • Driving risks safety or health of public, driver or other motor carrier employees • Driver who has decided not to drive is protected under the Regulations © Microsoft® © Microsoft®

24. What are the employee’s responsibilities? Raise immediate awareness to management and/or supervisor if you suspect that a: • Driver’s abilities are impaired (by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, health or unknown causes) and it’s unsafe for the driver to drive • Driving risks safety or health of public, driver or motor carrier employees • Driver is not complying with the Provincial Regulations • Note: for provincial carriers this is a “due diligence” responsibility only © Microsoft®

25. What are the motor carrier’s and management’s responsibilities? Refuse to allow a driver to drive if: • Driver’s abilities are impaired (by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, health or unknown causes) and it’s unsafe for the driver to drive • Driving risks safety or health of public, driver or motor carrier employees • Driver is not complying with the Provincial Regulations • Note: for provincial carriers this is a “due diligence” responsibility only © Microsoft®

26. Due Diligence • Need to ask: What would a reasonable person do in the same situation to avoid harm to other persons or their property? • If a reasonable person would not let the driver drive, then the person must not request, require or allow the driver to drive © Microsoft®

27. Alberta’s Provincial Drivers Hours of Service for School Buses Section 3: Driver Activities

28. What will I learn in this section? Duty Status activities classified as: Driving time On-duty other than driving time Off-duty time other than time spent in a sleeper berth Off-duty time spent in a sleeper berth How to use a logbook and time record © Microsoft® 28

29. © Microsoft® What activities do commercial vehicle drivers perform in a day? • Pick up/drop off a load, drive, maintain vehicle, complete paperwork, eat, sleep • Every driver activity can be classified into one of four “duty status” categories

30. What is a “duty status”? Four categories of duty status: • Off-duty time, other than time spent in a sleeper berth • Off-duty time spent in a sleeper berth • Driving time (on-duty time) • On-duty time, other than driving time • Note: there is not necessarily a direct relationship between duty status and a driver’s paid time

31. “On-duty time” • Begins when driver starts work or is required by a carrier to be available for work • Does not include time when driver is waiting to be assigned work (if driver is free to do other things) • Ends when driver stops work or is relieved of allresponsibility by the carrier

32. “Off-duty time” • Any time other than on-duty time © Microsoft®

33. Off-Duty Time, Other Than Time Spent in a Sleeper Berth • Driver has the freedom to do whatever driver wants to do • Driver is relieved of all duty, responsibility and obligation for care and custody of vehicle, its accessories, and any passengers or cargo it may be carrying • Driver has freedom to leave vehicle to do something else

34. Off-Duty Time, Other Than in a Sleeper Berth Examples: • Meal break • Rest break • Sleep • Work performed for an organization other than a motor carrier • Vacation time • Days off (e.g. weekends) © Microsoft®

35. Off-Duty Time Spent in a Sleeper Berth • Driver is in sleeper berth area • Sleeper berth is in the cab or passenger compartment of commercial vehicle • There are specific dimensions and environmental requirements for sleeper berths • Note: School buses do not have sleeper berths!

36. Driving Time • Driver operates or controls a commercial vehicle • Example:- Driving a school bus

37. On-Duty, Other Than Driving Time • Driver performs other activities while on-duty • Inspecting, servicing, cleaning or repairing a commercial vehicle • Waiting to be dispatched (at a motor carrier or shipper facility or in the vehicle) © Microsoft®

38. On-Duty, Other Than Driving Time • Traveling in a commercial vehicle as a co-driver • Traveling as a passenger in a commercial vehicle to a point where the driver will begin driving • Performing any other work for a motor carrier such as completing paperwork, teaching, coaching or attending training

39. What is a logbook and how is it used? • Logbook is used to record driver’s duty status activities • Each page in a logbook records one day’s (24 hours) activities • Obtain logbooks from carriers or purchase them at truck stops, stationary stores or commercial printing companies

40. What is a logbook and how is it used? • Sample log

41. The “grid” is shown here for training purposes Daily grid

42. Daily Grid Example

43. Daily Grid Example © Microsoft®

44. Alberta’s Provincial Drivers Hours of Service for School Buses Section 4: Daily Limits

45. What will I learn in this section? • Definition of a workshift • Driving time limit • Off-duty time requirement © Microsoft®

46. What is a workshift? • Period of time between 2 periods of 8 consecutive hours off duty Core Rest Period ≥ 8 consecutive off-duty hours Workshift Core Rest Period ≥ 8 consecutive off-duty hours © Microsoft® © Microsoft®

47. How many hours can a driver drive in a workshift? • Workshift Driving Time Limit • Workshift On-Duty Time Limit © Microsoft®

48. Workshift Driving Time Limit • No driving after 13 hours of driving in a workshift • Driving periods may start and stop throughout day • Total Driving Time in a workshift ≤ 13 hours STOP DRIVING AFTER 13 HOURS DRIVING

49. Workshift Driving Time Limit

50. Workshift Driving Time Limit Driving Time8:00 – 13:00 5 hours14:00 – 19:00 5 hours20:00 – 23:00 3 hoursTotal 13 hours  Total Driving Time ≤ 13 hours