Most people start looking for a traffic control provider when a permit or a site supervisor tells them they need one, usually with a start date already booked. That’s a bad time to find out what separates a good provider from one that gets your job shut down.
If you’re working out how to choose a traffic control company, the websites won’t tell you much. Everyone says they’re safe and compliant. The answers to the questions below will. Ask them on the phone, ask for paperwork where it applies, and notice how quickly and clearly you get answers.
1. Do you design your plans to the current OTM Book 7?
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7 sets out how temporary work zones should be laid out, from sign spacing to taper lengths. The current edition came out in April 2022. A provider still working from older layouts can leave you with a setup that an inspector or municipal reviewer flags on day one. Ask which edition their plans follow and who in the company signs off on them.
2. Who writes the traffic protection plan, and will it be on site?
Under Ontario’s construction regulation (O. Reg. 213/91), the employer has to develop a written traffic protection plan, keep it at the project and show it to an inspector or worker who asks for it. Find out whether the company prepares the plan, whether it’s specific to your site, and who holds the copy in the field. “We’ll sort it out when we get there” is the wrong answer.
3. How are your traffic control persons trained?
The same regulation says a worker can only direct traffic if they’re competent and have been given written and oral instructions in a language they understand. Ask what training their traffic control persons complete, how often it’s refreshed, and whether you can see records for the crew assigned to your job. A good company won’t hesitate.
4. Do you know where flaggers can’t legally work?
This one catches people out. In Ontario, a traffic control person can’t direct traffic where the normal posted speed limit is more than 90 km/h, and they can only control one lane of traffic in one direction. Faster roads need other methods, like lane closures protected by truck-mounted attenuators, or temporary signals. If a provider offers to put flaggers on a 100 km/h highway, keep looking.
5. What equipment do you own, and what do you rent?
Companies that own their fleet can usually respond faster and keep better control of maintenance. Ask how many arrow boards, message signs and attenuator trucks they have available, and whether those trucks are tested to MASH, the current crash-testing standard for roadside safety hardware. If most of their gear is rented as needed, ask what happens when a unit isn’t free on your start date.
6. Who supervises the site?
Crews follow the plan. Supervisors make sure the plan still fits once the job starts changing. Ask whether a supervisor will visit your site, how often, and whether they have the authority to adjust the setup when staging moves forward or an inspector raises a concern. On multi-phase or overnight work, this matters more than almost anything else here.
7. Can you send a WSIB clearance certificate and proof of insurance?
In Ontario, if you hire a contractor who isn’t paying their WSIB premiums, you can be held liable for what they owe. A current clearance certificate protects you. Ask for a certificate of insurance at the same time, and check that the coverage and named parties match what your contract or permit requires.
8. What does your safety record look like?
Ask about their incident history, their written safety program and any third-party verification they hold, such as IHSA’s Certificate of Recognition or prequalification through platforms like ISNetworld or Alcumus. You can see how we handle this on our traffic control safety and compliance standards page, which covers crew training, hazard assessments and daily site documentation. A company that can’t show you something similar probably doesn’t have it.
9. What paperwork will I get after each shift?
Signed daily reports, photos of the setup, sign-in logs and equipment inspection records aren’t busywork. If a collision or complaint comes up months after the job, that paper trail is how you show the work zone was set up and maintained properly. Ask to see a sample report before you sign anything.
10. How is your quote broken down?
A single lump-sum number makes it hard to compare providers. Ask for labour, the traffic plan, equipment, and any permit or paid duty coordination to be listed separately, along with minimum shift lengths, standby time and cancellation terms. Quotes that look far apart often end up close once those details are lined up.
Before you sign
Lay the answers out next to each other. Pay the most attention to which company sent documents without being chased and asked you real questions about your site, like the posted speed, work hours and pedestrian traffic. Those details are usually a good sign of how the job itself will run. If you’d like to put these questions to us directly, Salus Traffic Solutions provides OTM Book 7 compliant traffic control across Ontario, and we’re happy to walk you through our answers before you book anything.
