AMTA Bulletin: Manitoba NSC# Requirements
Manitoba Moving Forward with NSC# Marking Requirements on Trucks – What Alberta Carriers Need to Know
The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) is advising members that the province of Manitoba has officially confirmed, effective July 1, 2025, all trucks operating into and through Manitoba will be required to display their National Safety Code (NSC#) number — and that includes out-of-province vehicles, such as those from Alberta.
In a letter received by our colleagues at the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) and shared with the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), Manitoba Transportation confirmed that this requirement will apply to all regulated vehicles, regardless of where the carrier is based.
What This Means for Alberta Carriers
Any Alberta carrier operating into or through Manitoba after July 1, 2025, will need to have:
- Their NSC number (or equivalent, such as CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration ) or NIR (Numéro d'Identification du Régistration)) clearly marked on both sides of the power unit (truck or tractor)
- A distinctive mark or graphic that readily identifies the registered operator, also displayed on both sides
- The markings must be at least 5 cm tall and 5 cm wide and must contrast with the vehicle’s background to ensure they are visible.
It’s important to note that this requirement only applies to power units — semi-trailers are exempt.
Why Is This Happening?
Manitoba’s move is part of a larger national effort through the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA). The focus is on strengthening Carrier Safety Fitness Certificate oversight — something AMTA has consistently supported to create a more level playing field for compliant carriers and ensure all operators are held to the same safety and compliance standards across Canada.
This requirement is also closely tied to broader efforts, long supported by the AMTA and CTA, to address interprovincial trade barriers and improve transparency, oversight, and enforcement within the trucking industry.
What’s the Goal?
At roadside, having the NSC number clearly visible gives enforcement officers an immediate way to identify the actual carrier responsible for the vehicle and its operations. This makes it harder for non-compliant operators to hide behind questionable lease agreements, fake owner-operator setups, or other paper-based schemes designed to disguise who’s truly in control of the vehicle.
This is just one of several precision enforcement tools that AMTA, CTA, and other provincial trucking associations have been encouraging governments to adopt. These efforts are aimed at rooting out non-compliance and improving overall accountability across the country.
This isn’t a standalone initiative — the review and strengthening of National Safety Code Standards 7, 14, and 15 are also part of this broader process. AMTA, in collaboration with CTA, continues to actively participate in these discussions to ensure Alberta’s commercial carriers are well-represented and that regulatory changes enhance safety while ensuring fair, consistent enforcement for all carriers operating across provincial borders.
What’s Next?
AMTA will continue working closely with Manitoba, CTA, CCMTA, and Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to ensure that Alberta carriers have clear guidance on how to meet these requirements, and that any cross-border compliance issues are addressed proactively.
We’ll provide further updates and resources to help your fleet prepare as the July 1, 2025 implementation date approaches.
If you have any questions about this upcoming change or need help ensuring your fleet is compliant, contact the AMTA Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (CRA) team.