Safety Fitness Certificate

Safety Fitness Certificate FAQ

What is a Safety Fitness Certificate?

A Safety Fitness Certificate (SFC) is issued by the Motor Carrier Safety Program and is the operating authority for regulated vehicles in Manitoba. It carries your National Safety Code number, your legal operating name, and your safety rating, and Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure uses it to monitor your on-road record. Some regulated vehicles require an SFC for a motor carrier to legally operate the vehicles in Manitoba and Canada.

Semi Truck On the Rural Trans-Canada Highway

FAQ

Is my farm truck a regulated vehicle?
When do I need an SFC?

Generally, A6 registrations are for vehicles used for a farmer’s own farm operations and to transport their own farm product to market and an SFC is not required. However, if the farm truck is taken outside of Manitoba, an SFC is required. When a farm truck is taken outside of the province, the farmer is now subject to the federal rules including the need to hold a valid SFC.
What is the 40-hour course?

This is the New Entrant Training (NET) course, administered by the Manitoba Trucking Association. Motor carriers applying for an SFC must designate a compliance officer, and that person is responsible for the carrier’s safety and record-keeping obligations. A new compliance officer must complete the NET course which runs for a full week.
Does my farm need the course?

A compliance officer is not required for farm-plated vehicles. Manitoba has a separate application form for extra-provincial farmers, and on it both the compliance officer section and the NET certification are marked not applicable. Crossing provincial borders does not change the NET course requirement for farmers—farmers remain exempt.
If I register my vehicles commercially, do I need the course?

Yes. The compliance officer can be you, one of your employees, or a corporate officer with management responsibility. A third party (i.e. your neighbour) cannot be designated as your compliance officer. If you have had the same person designated as your compliance officer continuously since December 15, 2022, the course is not required. If the compliance officer changes, the NET course is required.
Which form do I use?

Use the Farm Safety Fitness Certificate Application. It is intended for farmers hauling their own product to markets outside Manitoba, and certain sections remain not applicable. Download it from the Motor Carrier Safety Program’s application page: https://www.manitoba.ca/mti/mcd/safety_monitoring/sfc/pdf/sfcapp-certificate-farm.pdf
What do I submit with it?
The information that must be submitted with the form includes:

Proof of third-party liability insurance (copy of registration card)

Valid Periodic Mandatory Vehicle Inspection certificate

A copy of a driver’s licence (the sole proprietor, and each corporate officer if you’re incorporated)

Estimated kilometres travelled in the past 12 months, in Manitoba and in total

Your principal commodities
What does it cost?
Which of my trucks need an annual inspection?

Truck tractors registered in the farm registration category (A6) with a GVWR of 21,952 kg or greater need a Periodic Mandatory Vehicle Inspection once every 12 months. Farmers must submit a valid PMVI for each of their truck tractors that require an annual inspection.
How long is it good for, and when do I renew?

An SFC must be renewed before your vehicle registration expires, the SFC expiry date is on your certificate. The department sends a renewal reminder ahead of your expiry date. Apply early. The department flags December through March as its peak renewal period with longer processing times.
Who do I contact for more info?

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