When farmers drive a truck or tractor onto a public road or highway, they are often driving a commercial vehicle and must follow applicable legislation. “Sometimes this gets overlooked,” says Ryan, Health and Safety Consultant with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), reminding farm operators that farm licence plates are commercial licence plates.

“If a farm operator asks a worker to take the truck and bring some hay bales up the road, and that road is a public one, the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) both apply,” says Ryan, referring to the requirements for commercial vehicles and the employer’s responsibility to maintain equipment in good working order. “For example, following the legislation, drivers should complete circle checks before each use and employers should keep records of regular maintenance,” says Ryan.

Self-propelled implements of husbandry

There are some exceptions to the legislation: self-propelled implements of husbandry (SPIH). These are vehicles designed specifically for farming operations, such as combines, harvesters, and sprayers. Whether they are newly manufactured or converted to an SPIH, these vehicles can operate on highways, but under specific conditions.

“Once a vehicle has been modified to become a SPIH, it can travel on a public road only to go from farm to farm. It can only be used in the specific function it was modified or manufactured for, and only from one field to another,” explains Ryan. “You cannot drive an SPIH on a public road to another destination, such as the grain elevator, unless it has commercial plates.”

You also cannot transport people with an SPIH. “The days of farm workers hopping into the back of a wagon are behind us. Workers must be transported in a proper coach with passenger seating and seatbelts,” says Ryan. “Tractors are not for moving people.”

When driving an SPIH on a public road, be sure to follow these legal requirements. 

• The vehicle must:

• • not be capable of exceeding 40km/hour when operated on a highway.
  • have clear, unobstructed views through the windows.
  • display a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign at its rear.
  • have proper lighting, including forward-facing white or amber lights and a rear-facing red light.
  • be accompanied by an escort vehicle if it is before dawn or after dusk and it can’t safely operate without additional warning to other drivers.
• The driver must use signals to indicate turns. If the operation may affect other vehicles, plainly visible signals can be given by hand or arm to indicate turns.
• If you are transporting material, it must be secured.
• If the vehicle/equipment exceeds the length or width specified in the legislation, it must be accompanied by an escort vehicle.
• Have fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and the emergency addresses of the locations where the SPIH is going in the vehicle.

Ryan also points out that, although a license is not needed to drive an SPIH, drivers must be at least 16 years old to be on the road. “And training is still required under OHSA,” he says, referring to the employer’s responsibility to provide workers with training on the safe operation of any equipment they are expected to use.

Avoid left turns

“The law requires operators to take every reasonable precaution to protect others on the road,” explains Ryan. “Making left turns with a self-propelled implement of husbandry has the potential to become hazardous to the operator and other vehicles on the road, so it is best to avoid them. Three right turns and driving an extra half a kilometre is safer than crossing traffic to make a left turn.”

When you are driving a slow-moving vehicle, other cars on the road will catch up to you very quickly, sometimes more quickly than you realize. “The road may be clear when you start your left turn, but by the time you are halfway through the turn, another car could suddenly appear,” explains Ryan. “You must ensure that you can see clearly past the implement behind you.”

Motor-vehicle incidents are one of the leading causes of occupational injuries and fatalities in Ontario. Whether you are driving a commercial vehicle or an SPIH on public roads or highways, follow the law and safety procedures to keep everyone safe.

Free Resources

• Rural Road Safety Videos - Traffic incidents can occur in an instant. Watch this collection of Rural Road Safety videos created to keep both equipment operators and drivers safe on the roads.
• Canadian Agricultural Safety Association – Rural Road Safety Resources 
• Driving tips for inclement weather - Watch this short video to get prepared for inclement weather while driving.
• Wildlife Vehicle Collision Prevention - What drivers need to know to adopt safer driving behaviours and prevent wildlife collisions. Courtesy of the Ministry of Transportation.

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.