Brokers to Remain Partners in Driver Testing

Terri Goveia | February 16, 2010

Although MPI is scaling back the number of its mobile driver testing centres in the province, brokers will continue to play a role in test scheduling.

The public insurer is limiting—not discontinuing—its mobile centres, which hosted temporary written driver testing in rural parts of the province, according to Brian Smiley, MPI’s spokesman. After increasing the number of permanent, full service centres from five to 10, MPI will still offer testing in more remote communities, but “may not go into their communities as often,” says Smiley.

MPI regularly sets up mobile centres in 67 rural communities, and “none will see visitations discontinued,” he says. The insurer adjusted the services based on consumer demand and the most efficient use of their mobile staff and site rental costs, he added, noting that one site with capacity to conduct 50 tests, only did one during a recent testing stint.

Quelling concerns

Some brokers in the province had expressed concern over the streamlined testing, with one telling the Minnedosa Tribune that demand is high, keeping brokers busy during mobile testing periods. But Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba (IBAM) CEO David Schioler quelled concerns in an email to CI.

“Service changes in certain regions of rural Manitoba are not expected to significantly--if at all--affect brokers in the Province,” he says.  “There will be changes for consumers with respect to some facets of driver testing services, mainly in terms of the precise locations where certain types of testing will be done. No changes are expected in regard to the scheduling of driver testing, which will continue to be done through brokers.”

MPI has added full time testing sites in Steinbach, Winkler, Selkirk, Beausejour and Arborg.

IBAM will also help let consumers know about the shift in service, Schioler noted. “Given that they are on the front lines, IBAM & its member brokers are working closely with MPI to ensure that all such changes are communicated efficiently & in a timely fashion to consumers.”