A number of shippers and carriers are concerned about the recent changes to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (TDG Act). Their concerns are centred around how they are to comply with ERAPs, security plan and security clearances sections of the TDG Act.

As Tranport Canada has not written any regulations for the changes to the Act, then there is nothing for shippers and carriers to comply with. The reasons these changes have been implemented are the upcoming Vancouver Olympics and the G8 summit next June to be held in Huntsville, ON.

The Act does provide for the Minister to issue interim orders. An interim order has been issued which states that anyone who has knowledge of the loss, theft or otherwise unlawfully interfered with dangerous goods must notify their local police and CANUTEC.

So until regulations are written and published in Gazette II or another interim order is issued, there is nothing for shippers or carriers to do. But seeing what is in the changes to the Act, it would be prudent for a company to start preparing if it has not already done so.

The province of Ontario has announced that October 26 is the implementation date of the new regulation forbidding the use of electronic devices while driving. That’s good.

Now, can the enforcement authorities do something about some of the other distractions? For example, bus drivers that read the newspaper while at a stop, coming to a stop and/or starting up. Or bus drivers that drive to the end of a right turn lane and expect other drivers to let them in when they are no longer in the bus bay. How about enforcing the speed limit on the motor coaches?

How about the truck driver making a left turn at an intersection with a coffee in one hand and a smoke in the other?

If I’m seeing these examples while driving, then the enforcement officials must as well. So how about a little more action and less talk?