HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-41-91 L'"""' TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
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MEETING: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
DATE: APRIL 22, 1991
REPORT #: WD-41-91 FILE #:
SUBJECT: USE OF PUBLIC WORKS TRUCKS TO OBTAIN "Z" ENDORSEMENT LICENCES
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report WD-41-91 be received;
2 . THAT the Fire Department's firefighters be permitted to use a
Public Works Department truck, with air brakes, for the purpose of
taking their tests for their "Z " endorsement licence.
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REPORT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1. 1 DZ Licence Required to Drive Fire Department Vehicles
The majority of the Fire Department vehicles are equipped with air
brakes . In order to drive such a vehicle, the Highway Traffic Act
requires that the driver have a D Licence with a "Z " endorsement.
In order to obtain a "Z " endorsement, a driver must receive
training on driving a truck with air brakes .
2.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT
2 . 1 Some Part-Time Staff Do Not Have a DZ Licence
All of the full-time firefighters, have a D licence with a "Z"
endorsement. About 45 part-time firefighters have DZ licences and
about 80 do not.
REPORT NO. : WD-41-91 PAGE 2
2 .2 Training
The Fire Department can provide the required training for a "Z"
endorsement using fire department vehicles . However, the testing
site for the tests by the Ministry of Transportation is presently
at the truck weighing station on the north side of Highway 401 at
Bowmanville. The Fire Department cannot take their vehicles out of
service for testing.
2 . 3 The Problem
The problem is that in order to take their test for a "Z"
endorsement, the part-time firefighters would have to rent a truck
with air brakes . In practice 8 to 10 firefighters would arrange
to take their test on the same day and rent a truck with air brakes
for the day.
This is quite costly and there is a limited supply of trucks with
air brakes available to rent.
2 .4 The Solution
The solution to the problem is to make a Public Works Department
truck available to the firefighters on the day(s) that they are
taking their tests for the "Z" endorsement.
The tests will be taken during the summer months . A truck would
be required for about 6 days per year.
Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation
to th ommittee,
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AChief r --------------
Walter A. Evans, P.Eng. , seff,
Director of Public Works ative Officer
,RZ pectfully Submitted,
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Michael G. Creighton,
Fire Chief
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April 11, 1991
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