As you may know, CB radios were planned to be taken out of all Ontario cabs by January 1, 2018. However, it looks like that deadline has been extended by three years.

According to Today’s Trucking, “Drivers in Ontario can hang onto their CB radios for a little while longer, thanks to a temporary reprieve from a law that would have permanently silenced the units in the new year.”

Ontario has claimed that the radios are a dangerous distraction to drivers, and have moved to make it illegal in moving vehicles.

Another article by Truck News has explained that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has moved the deadline to January 1, 2021 because of “the pervasive use of these devices among commercial drivers” in order to “phase out and allow for the development of hands-free, two-way technologies. At the time, MTO stated that should not be a suitable alternative to replace CBs within that timeframe, it would consider expanding the exemption.”

Once the new exemption expires, “the radios will be off limits for everyone except law enforcement officers, firefighters, and provincial offenses officers.”

Today’s Trucking article went on to explain how “The continued exemption will allow the radios to be used by roadside assistance and service vehicles, taxis, street cars, delivery and courier vehicles, and drivers of construction or commercial motor vehicles. It applies to radios mounted on dashboards or worn on clothing.”

In response to this movement, the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has requested that “the exemption be made permanent, or extended for seven years, arguing that CBs still play a crucial role in trucking.”

OTA president, David Bradley, says “the CB remains an important safety and social communication tool for thousands of truck drivers” and commends MTO for “choosing a regulatory path specifically for these devices that encourages the development of a suitable, readily available hands-free technology down the road but in the meantime, is not disruptive to the everyday operations of countless truck drivers.”

It looks like for now, Ontario drivers can hold on to their CBs. We are interested to see what happens in the years to come.

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