Trent Vehicles

Information for Trent Drivers & Supervisors of Trent Drivers/Vehicles

Please review the RMO 010 Vehicle Policy reviewed February 1, 2018.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

How often do I have to fill out a Driver Agreement & Info Form? 

The driver agreement forms need to be filled out annually, normally in April. Trent University will not insure G1 drivers. 

Do I have to fill out more than one Driver Agreement & Info Form if I am driving more than one Trent owned vehicle?

NO, one form is sufficient for the year even if you start to drive additional vehicles part way through the year.

Why do you need a copy of my driver's licence?

A copy of your driver's licence is required as proof that you have a current and valid licence.

What if I do not want to give Risk Management a copy of my driver's licence?

If you do not want to give a photocopy of your driver's licence to Risk Management you and your supervisor will have to fill out and submit the Licence Verification Form along with the Driver Agreement & Info Form.

Employees/students/volunteers that I supervise who submitted a Driver Agreement & Info Form are no longer driving Trent owned vehicles do I need to inform Risk Management?

Yes, please inform Risk Management so that our driver list is kept up to date as it is taken into consideration by our Insurer to calculate our insurance premiums.

I have an out-of-province or another country driver's licence, can I drive a Trent owned vehicle?

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that his/ her licence is valid.  Please consult the Driver and Vehicle Licensing info line at: 1-800-387-3445 and/or the MTO info line at 1-800-268-4686 to discuss your individual situation or visit the MTO website.

I am using my personal vehicle for Trent University business am I covered under Trent's insurance program?

No, the university's insurance program does not insure employee vehicles, even if they are used for work purposes. You are required by law to maintain insurance on your personal vehicle. If you are using your vehicle regularly for work purposes, we strongly recommend you consult your insurer to determine if they require you to take out business insurance. The Trent insurance program does not cover privately owned vehicles.

My department is interested in purchasing an 11 passenger van for field trips do you recommend this?

No, purchase of a van that seats more than 10 people is not recommended.  If the vehicle has a seating capacity of 11 or more passengers and even if there is only one passenger in the van besides the driver it is classified as a bus and needs to be licensed as a bus and anyone driving it must have an F licence. When you license the vehicle as a bus there are a number of other laws and legislation that come into play such as daily inspections, log books, semi annual inspections etc.

How do I rent a car?

Please refer to the Purchasing website.

As a supervisor, how do I determine if I am willing to accept the individual as a driver?

The driver's supervisor is to determine whether the individual will be required to conduct driving operations that pose more risk than those envisioned by the normal G licensing process i.e. driving a regular passenger vehicle on public roads.  Examples of higher risk driving operations include (but are not limited to) operating a commercial vehicle that needs a special licence, operating a passenger transportation service, snow removal operations, routinely driving on pedestrian pathways on campus and off road operations, especially in isolated areas.  In such cases, the supervisor is to review the information provided and conduct a risk assessment of the individual’s driving record to determine whether the individual should be authorized to drive Trent owned/leased vehicles in higher risk operations.  The supervisor should consider the cause, frequency, severity and recentness of any charges and accidents and any contributing factors such as a medical condition.  The supervisor may consult with the Risk Management Office to determine appropriate risk control measures, such as driver training, to reduce the risk to tolerable levels.

As a supervisor, I would like to offer some of my employees/students/volunteers some driving improvement courses, are you aware of any for already licensed drivers?

Young Drivers of Canada offers different driver improvement programs that may fit your needs.  You can contact them at Phone: (705) 748-9820 Peterborough@YoungDrivers.com there are a number of other driving schools in the Peterborough area.  Please look for an MTO approved centre. 

The links below provide additional information to help you stay safe while operating any motor vehicle.

Driver Safety Tips

The Ministry of Transportation and Transport Canada's road safety page provide a number of driver safety tips. 

Ontario Road Conditions

Driver Fatigue

Drowsy drivers put themselves and other road users at risk. Fatigue affects our ability to drive by slowing reaction time, decreasing awareness and impairing judgment. The driver fatigue website hopes to shine a spotlight on the problem of fatigued drivers. 

Vehicle Safety and Winter Conditions

Being alert and driving defensively will prevent vehicle accidents. The Vehicle Safety and Winter Conditions document outlines the main precautions that can be followed in order to minimize the occurrence of accidents, and increase driver safety.

Winter Driving

Winter Driving can be risky, so be prepared. Prevent problems before they occur. Below is Transport Canada's "Top 10 Safety Tips". Transport Canada's Winter Driving Brochure provides useful safety information as well.

  1. Get your vehicle ready for winter in the fall.
  2.  Install four matching winter tires.
  3. Pack an emergency kit.
  4. Learn and practice winter driving techniques before you need them.
  5. Plan your trip, check road and weather conditions.
  6. Remove all snow from your vehicle before each trip.
  7. Give yourself extra travel time in bad weather.
  8. Avoid using overdrive and cruise control on slippery roads.
  9. Travel with a fully charged cell phone.
  10. SLOW DOWN and wear your seatbelt.

The Ministry of Transportation also outlines excellent winter driving tips along with with links to current road conditions.  Please visit the MTO winter driving website for additional information.

Winter Tires

Are your tires the right ones for winter driving? Do you drive where there's a lot of snow? The condition and type of tires you use are important for safety. Transport Canada's winter tire page and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario provide helpful information about winter tires.

Vehicle Emergency Kit

The following items are suggested for a basic motor vehicle emergency kit:

  • road maps
  • battery jumper cables
  • ABC fire extinguisher
  • properly inflated spare tire, jack, wheel wrench, and tools
  • windshield washer fluid
  • flashlights
  • first aid kit
  • drinking water
  • non-perishable food items

The following additional items are recommended for safety and survival in winter:

  • snow shovel
  • traction mats or kitty litter
  • tow chains or tow straps
  • gasoline antifreeze
  • extra clothing, gloves or mittens, headwear and footwear
  • sleeping bag and survival blanket
  • waterproof matches, survival candles and road flares

Safe Towing

Trailers come in many shapes and sizes. Pulling a trailer requires extra care and attention. A trailer puts extra weight on your vehicle and increases the space you need to drive and stop safely. Trailer safety involves some simple and important rules. For more Information on towing a trailer safely please visit the safe towing website.

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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