CTEA members may choose to participate in a number of programs that offer excellent benefits to CTEA firms and their employees at favourable costs. Benefits offered through CTEA membership are available to all employees.
Under "About Us"/Programs, you will find JOB-FILE® III, Cargo Anchor Points, Generic Parking Brake Test Program (GAB) and Rear Impact Program (RIG)
Under "About Us"/Services, you will find National Saftey Mark (NSM) or Pre-clearance, NSM Review Service. Compliance Label Program, Compliance & Risk Management Workshop Info and Member Benefits
Under "Links"/Canadian Federal Government, you will find the Lists of Registered Pre-clearance & the List of Vehicle Manufactures Registered with Transport Canada (TC), TC Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Regulations
Introducing the CTEA/AETC
The CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION serves its members, commercial vehicle manufacturers (trucks and trailers), their dealers, distributors, component manufacturers and service providers in the Canadian marketplace.
The Association promotes excellence in commercial vehicle manufacturing through the development of standard practices. We also initiate and encourage research and development programs to improve component and vehicle design.
Acting as a spokesperson and liaison between the industry and government ministries, the CTEA promotes public awareness of the industry, its importance to the economy as well as maintaining a complete industry data base and providing a forum for networking within the Industry.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Association consists of nine (9) Directors elected for a two year term and is made up of the President, one (1) Vice-Presidents and seven (7) Member Directors. The CTEA contracts the services of an Executive Director reporting to the Board, to coordinate activities and to manage the business affairs of the Association.
Supplemental Membership Services
Information exchange with related Associations: SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), NTEA (National Truck Equipment Association), TTMA (Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association), HDDC (Heavy Duty Distributor Council), NWRA (National Wheel & Rim Association) & others.
Member: CCMTA (Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators).
CTEA Today magazine and eXpress eNewsletter: membership announcements, feature articles, regulatory news and updates, member profiles, employment referrals, industry and Member news, surveys, technical papers, Member's new products.
Initiate & coordinate industry research & development testing programs.
Monitor Canada & Provincial Gazettes for proposed and new regulations affecting our industry sector.
Organize regional meetings, Annual Meeting & Manufacturers' Business Conference and Technical Fair.
Locate and supply technical papers and reference materials (discounts for members).
Material sourcing and new product referrals.
Training initiatives (ie. Commercial Vehicle Wheel Service Program)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 15:07
CTEA's Services
National Safety Mark/Pre-clearance Guidance
Introduction
Companies that add equipment or "modify" new incomplete trucks/truck tractors, or build new trailers for sale in Canada, or for importation to Canada, are required to register with Transport Canada. Modify means adding axles, changing the wheelbase or changing the GAWR or GVWR. These activities are defined as "manufacturing" by Transport Canada and companies engaged in such work must conform to the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), its standards and its regulations.
Transport Canada's mandate is to ensure that all vehicles using public roads are safe. Transport Canada has taken a proactive approach to accomplish this goal. Manufacturers must register with Transport Canada by submitting specific documentation that demonstrates they understand the requirements of the Act for the class of new vehicles they build or modify.
There are two types of registration.
Canadian manufacturers are issued a National Safety Mark (NSM) number which is used with a maple leaf logo. Used in conjunction with a compliance label, this combined symbol and number signify registration status and safety compliance.
Foreign manufacturers are placed on a Pre-clearance list. This list is used by Canadian customs brokers, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), to verify that the foreign manufacturer is registered to import Canadian compliant vehicles that conform to the Act and its standards.
Most of CTEA's services help companies either become registered or remain compliant while registered. This process usually starts with the initial contact. Staff determine what a callers' needs are and we send information required by email.
Call us at 519-631-0414. We'll help you determine whether you are required to register. If you are, we'll explain why and give you the resources you need to get started.
NSM Application Review Service
This service was introduced in 2004 to help Members fast track their NSM Applications. Our detailed review covers all content, including verification of safety compliance calculations. It reduces the chances that an application will be rejected or delayed due to incorrect information or missing content. This is not a required service. It does offer some members peace of mind when they are in a hurray to get registered.
In 1998 the CTEA created a cost-effective Certification Label Program. This two-piece label system, developed by 3M, has helped to standardize the vehicle identification process. The labels contain a "tamper-indicating" feature. It voids the label so it can't be placed on a different vehicle. Manufacturers are required to affix labels on every vehicle they manufacture (or alter). Whether you build trucks or trailers, our diverse selection will meet your needs. Want custom labels? We started printing them in 2000. Want to print your own? Purchase blank stock. It works on laser printers. Sell vehicles in the USA? We have labels meeting American label requirements as well.
Please note: Canadian labels are sold to companies that meet the following criteria: have a valid National Safety Mark (Canadian manufacturers) or have received Transport Canada Pre-clearance (foreign manufacturers).
These regional workshops are open to Members and non-members. This intensive 7-hour session addresses the fundamentals, such as: the importance of partnerships, limiting liabilities, what the compliance regulations cover, the importance of compliance calculations, record keeping, and compliance labeling. Participants are given an overview of the National Safety Mark application, documents and registration process, a review of the CTEA JOB-FILE® Manual contents and a demonstration of CIE-TECH's LoadXpertTM software.
Since 2004 the CTEA has delivered 29 regional workshops, in 17 different cities in 8 provinces, to 590 participants.
CTEA Commercial Insurance Facility
Marsh, the world's leading risk and insurance services firm, has helped the CTEA to develop a comprehensive Insurance Facility exclusively available to our Members. Due to the nature of their businesses, CTEA Members may face increased exposure to product liability, product recalls, environmental impairment, theft and fire/explosion. This requires a wide range of coverage including: • Property: including building, stock, and equipment; • Business Interruption; • Commercial General Liability; • Products Liability; • Crime Insurance; • Commercial Auto; • Boiler & Machinery; and • Garage Liability.
Participation in most of the programs and services listed above involve an additional cost. The following benefits are all included in our yearly Membership fee. Please read this list carefully to get the fullest value for your investment.
Federal and Provincial Regulations: We monitor federal and provincial regulatory activity. All content of interest to Members is communicated by email, in our print publications and online. In addition, we link both federal and provincial vehicle weights and dimensions on this website. Also refer to Lobbying and Consultation services.
Regulatory Updates: Whenever a regulation change is proposed or made that can possibly affect our industry the CTEA posts all the related documents on our web site. We also include article and summaries in our CTEA Today magazine, and eXpress eNewsletter.
Lobbying: The CTEA plays an advocacy role on behalf of Members. We monitor federal and provincial government policy makers for topics or issues that might have an impact on the industry. When there are formal consultations, the Association coordinates feedback from interested/affected Members. Sometimes a group will collaborate on a response and speak to the issue in person. Manufacturers get to explain to government officials what the implications of their legislation or policies mean to the affected businesses. Talk about democracy in action! Such dialogue can be an eye opening experience for policy makers.
Consultations: The Association often acts as a sounding board for proposed policy or legislation because our Members represent the affected or targeted constituency. In these cases the Association acts as a communicator, coordinator and facilitator. A recent example includes Ontario's safe, productive and infrastructure friendly vehicle reforms and the transition from liftable to steerable axles on some trailers. The result was a collaboration that included performance testing of actual steerable axle trailers. This outcome ensured that the new regulations were an enhancement to trailers, not just a compromise. Urgent industry issues often are brought to us for resolution. For example, in the 1990s a rash of wheel separation incidents, causing accidents and fatalities in Ontario, prompted the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) to seek the Association's help. We organized a volunteer committee composed of Members building axle components to meet with the OTA. The end results were a training course and a provincial regulation requiring wheel and rim system installers and service providers to be certified.
Industry Database: The Association maintains a comprehensive database containing over 10,000 industry records. Access to this resource is just a call away for Members. Tell us who or what you are looking for. If your answer is there we'll find it. If it isn't, we can access a network of other organizations to expand the search. It'll just take longer. We aren't stumped too often so give us a try. The office number is 519-631-0414.
Buyer's Guide & Directory: Members provide basic contact information and a detailed description of their business activities, products and services when they join. This information is recorded in the industry database. We frequently update the online Directory using this Member information,
Technical Information: The CTEA is a member of most of the organizations and listed can pass on their member prices to publications they sell to our Members. We have alliances with organizations such as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE); Truck, Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA), The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC)/American Trucking Association, The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC), the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and others.
CTEA TODAY: Our four colour magazine covers Association news, events and activities; proposed and final regulations (federal and provincial); industry news; feature articles addressing topical issues; new product offerings; personnel changes; mergers and acquisitions; technical information; and other industry content. This free Member service is a must read.
CTEA eXpress eNewsletter: This electronic bulletin is published as required. It provides a summary of breaking Association and industry news. It only takes a few minutes to read. When you want to know more, the source material is just a mouse click away. And it's delivered directly to Members' email box - giving them the information they need when they need it.
Manufacturers'Conference and AGM: This annual event is held each fall in different parts of Canada. We bring industry experts together to deliver technical seminars and executive reports on topics of current interest. Our Technical Information Fair provides a networking opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers alike. Conference veterans look forward to meeting old and new friends. Not a member? Join us and see what you're missing. Non-Members are welcome to Register. Call and we'll ensure you received a Registration for in late August or September.
Last Updated on Monday, 23 August 2010 08:34
Why Join the CTEA?
The CTEA is the only not-for-profit trade Association in Canada that addresses the specific needs of commercial vehicle manufacturers. Our Member's products are primarily heavy duty vehicles (80%) with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) exceeding 14,970 kgs or 33,001 lbs. The remaining 20% have a GVWR of 4,537 kg or 10,001 lbs. We play a number of key roles on behalf of our Members. Please refer to Programs and Services for more detail.
Our funding is generated from annual Membership dues and the delivery of fee-generating programs and services. Our programs and some services are tailored to enhance Member's manufacturing capabilities and/or help them conform to the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA) and its Regulations and Standards. While the CMVSA is our primary focus, the Association also helps Members comply with other legislated requirements. Examples include: vehicle weights and dimensions, load security, wheel end safety, and suspensions (liftable / steerable axles) to name just a few.
About Our Members
The CTEA membership is composed of 540+ companies concerned with most aspects of the commercial vehicle manufacturing industry including:
- truck chassis / body, van, trailer, and specialty vehicle manufacturers (80.4 %);
- truck and trailer dealers/distributors (3.5 %); and
- other vital companies providing products/services to the industry, such as:
- Component Suppliers (12.8 %);
- Consultants to the Industry (1.8 %); and
- Engineering Consultants (1.5 %).
Our Membership base consists of about 80% Canadian and 20% American companies.
The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association was created as the Canadian Truck Body Equipment Association (CTBEA) in 1964 in London Ontario. A few years later we adopted our current name. Up until 1990 the organization was run by volunteers. In 1991 the first employee was hired.
The 1990s were the formative years of the CTEA. A series of regulatory challenges made it necessary for CTEA staff and volunteers to focus on ways to collectively respond. Government safety regulations were either being enforced more vigorously or were being updated.
The Association's responses lead to the development of programs and services to help our Members. All this activity increased the CTEA's profile and importance within the industry. This, in turn, generated a rapid growth in membership. For example our 30 members in 1990 grew to 167 in 1995 and 315 in 2000. Our current membership is at 500+.
An essential component of the Association's development of programs of most value to Members is our use of generic cooperative testing.
The Association recognized that many small-volume manufacturers lacked the engineering and/or financial capability to perform their own compliance testing to meet safety standards. In these situations it becomes advantageous for trade associations to perform what is known as cooperative testing.
Cooperative testing typically involves the development of a generic design and then performance of the tests necessary to assure compliance with the applicable standard. Individual companies then take this information and use it to assist in their design development, CMVSS compliance analysis and ultimately in the manufacture of compliant systems or components for their vehicles.
In this scenario manufacturers typically build specialty vehicles in their own local markets. Their project partners are generally not their direct competitors. If a group of manufacturers is large enough, and willing to pool their resources, the result is a win-win situation. The costs of conducting the testing, creating supporting documentation (drawings, specifications), etc. are divided by the number of participants. Compliance is assured at a reasonable cost.
Cooperative test projects usually involve the following steps:
- A survey of affected manufacturer Members to determine interest/support (who and how many will participate);
- Distribution of a Request for Proposal to qualified test agencies/facilities;
- Approval of agency/facility test and documentation schedule;
- Collection of money from Member investors;
- Completion of testing and documentation by test agency/facility; and
- Results are delivered to investors, typically consisting of a report on the design development, the test report and design drawings and often a CD-ROM containing AutoCad drawings, design application guides and test reports.
Large high-volume manufacturers are often reluctant to wait for the generic solution to be organized. It can take several months, if not longer, for the results to be delivered. So they often go it alone to keep ahead of their competition. However, lately some larger manufacturers have seen the risk management benefit of having a third party design and test a solution that they can use. Since the CTEA always has Transport Canada's involvement in every generic project and will ensure they will accept the results, there is no doubt the proof of compliance will be acceptable.
Interested in an in-depth history? A History of Service and Innovation was published in our magazine, CTEA Today in the Fall of 2008, to celebrate our 45th Anniversary.
Last Updated on Thursday, 19 August 2010 08:21
Our Mission
The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association is designed to organize the Commercial/Vocational Vehicle Manufacturing sector including their Dealer Distributors, Component Manufacturers and Associate Service Providers and in their mutual interest to serve the Canadian Marketplace.
Our Mission
1. To foster excellence in Commercial/Vocational Vehicle Manufacturing and the development of standard practices.
2. To act as a spokesperson and liaison between the Industry and Federal/Provincial Government ministries.
3. To initiate consortium testing programs that could lower the cost of meeting Compliance regulations.
4. To provide a forum for Networking within the sector by hosting an annual manufacturers technical conference.
5. To organize regional technical workshops to make the benefits of membership available to key employees.
6. To act as a resource centre for the membership.
7. To communicate with the membership: ie. the hosting of a web site, E-mail, and the publishing of a newsletter.
8. To maintain an Industry database, conduct studies and contribute to the development of Industry statistics.
9. To promote public awareness of the Industry sector, its importance to the economy and its career opportunities.
10. To develop and maintain strategic alliances with related Industry associations.
