Contestant Eligibility Rules

These are the Provincial Championship Eligibility rules, taken from the National Professional Truck Driving Championship Driver's Kit & Rule Book (with some minor changes). Please note that, with some exceptions, drivers cannot directly enter the Provincial Championship. Drivers must compete and qualify (first, second or third) in a regional or company event to advance to the Provincial. If the driver is not in area served by a regional, and does not have a company event, here please contact Betty Taylor at 1-877-242-4827 ext. 2422 for information.

These apply to the Regional event as well.

In order to be eligible to compete in the competition:

1. You must be legally licensed to operate the class of vehicle for the event in which you are competing;
2. You must compete in the jurisdiction in which your license was issued;
3. During the 12 months preceding the date of the competition, you must:
   • Have performed the duties of a full-time professional truck driver for at least eleven months. Days off and vacation time to which you are entitled by your employer do not count against you.
   • Not have been employed by more than 2 employers.
   • Not have had any preventable collisions. The definition of "preventable" in the Transportation Health and Safety Association of Ontario Defensive Driving Course Manual will apply (definition below). (This rules applies to both personal vehicle accidents and commercial vehicle accidents);
   • Not have had your license suspended.
4. During the 5 years preceding the competition, you must not have had any Criminal Code driving convictions registered against you;
5. You may participate in only one Provincial / Regional Driving Championship in any year, and you compete in only one class of competition (i.e., straight truck, tandem-tandem, etc.)
6. A driver whose principal employment is for the movement of vehicles on private property, and who is generally referred to as a Spotter, Hostler, Switcher, Yardman or other similar description is eligible to compete.
7. The Provincial or Regional Professional Driving Championship Committee reserves the right to check all applications and disqualify any driver who does not meet the above requirements, or who is deemed to be guilty of conduct detrimental to the Championship or to the trucking industry. A 2/3 majority decision is required, and the decision of the Committee is final.
8. Contestants shall operate only the equipment authorized and supplied by the Provincial / Regional Driving Championship
9. No contestant will practice on a course laid out for this competition.
10. Owner Operators and/or Second Drivers are subject to the same rules regarding eligibility as company drivers.
11. Every contestant must complete, sign and cause to have witnessed the official entry form and submit same to the Provincial / Regional Driving Championship.

THSAO Definition of Preventable Accident - "One where the driver failed to do everything reasonably possible to prevent it".

Ed. note - THSAO defines a defensive driver as one who drives so as to prevent accidents in spite of the incorrect actions of others and adverse conditions.