If you operate a commercial vehicle in Ontario, you must have a valid CVOR certificate. Keep your information up to date and carry your certificate (or a copy) in each commercial motor vehicle operated under the CVOR certificate. You will be required to show your certificate to enforcement or police officers during an inspection.
In this article, I have highlighted Pick-up trucks because in my experience, many pick-ups operate without a CVOR, that should have one. Since they are not properly licenced, an insurance company can deny a claim.
Who needs a certificate?
If your vehicle is plated in Ontario, the United States or Mexico, you need a CVOR for:
Trucks with a registered gross weight (RGW) over 4,500 kg, including trucks with farm licence plates
Pick-up trucks registered to a business or with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating over 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
Pick-up trucks:
That are carrying or towing a trailer carrying commercial cargo or tools, or equipment of any type normally used for commercial purposes.
Are used for compensation.
Has a modified box that does Not duplicate the manufacturers original box.
See weight rules under Trucks towing trailers.
Buses with a seating capacity of 10 or more passengers.
Concrete pumps and mobile cranes (not including off-road mobile cranes)
Tow trucks, including:
Vehicles with a flatbed that can tilt to load and are used exclusively to tow or transport other motor vehicles.
Any motor vehicle designed, modified, configured or equipped to tow another motor vehicle.
Registered gross weight
Gross weight is the combined weight of a vehicle and everything it is carrying. When you register your vehicle with Service Ontario and get your licence plate, you must declare a registered gross weight (RGW) that will be used to determine your registration fees. Your RGW cannot be higher than the manufacturer gross weight rating for your vehicle.
When you register your vehicle, you should select a RGW that is high enough to account for the heaviest load you plan to carry (remember to account for the vehicle, its load and a trailer if applicable).
It is illegal to operate a vehicle with a gross weight that is higher than its RGW. If you need to carry a load that is heavier than your vehicle’s RGW, you will need to visit a Service Ontario centre to update your vehicle’s registration.
Determine your vehicle’s gross weight
If you don’t know the gross weight of your vehicle and load, you can bring it to a truck stop or municipal facility that can weigh it and determine the weight on each axle or axle grouping. Be sure to contact them ahead of time to make sure they can accommodate you.
You may need to make multiple trips to ensure your gross weight does not exceed your vehicle’s RGW, since you can face charges at a truck stop if it does.
Trucks towing a trailer
A trailer and its load are considered part of your vehicle’s gross weight if together they weigh more than 2,800 kg (6,171 lb). If the trailer and its load weigh less than 2,800 kg then your gross weight is only the weight of the vehicle and its load (including the driver, passengers, fuel, equipment, tools, cargo, equipment and other items in the truck).
Follow these steps to determine your total gross weight with a trailer:
Weigh your trailer and its load together (weight A).
Weigh your vehicle and its load (weight B).
If the trailer and its load (weight A) is more than 2,800 kg (6,171 lb), then your vehicle’s gross weight includes the trailer, the vehicle and their loads (weight A+B).
If the trailer is 2,800 kg or less then your vehicle’s gross weight is only the vehicle and its load (weight B).
For questions about the CVOR program or to submit your application and requests, please contact:
Telephone:
1-800-387-7736 (within Ontario) or 416-246-7166
Email:
CVOR@ontario.ca
Mail:
Ministry of Transportation
Commercial Safety and Compliance Branch
301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2R 7R4
Recreation Business Insurance 