The strike by Ontario driver test examiners isn't over, but for some drivers the weeks of waiting for a licence ended Thursday.

Managers from Serco DES Inc., the privately owned company that handles driver examinations in Ontario, have started offering tests to certain groups of applicants such as commercial truckers and those with licences from outside of the province.

That's welcome news to the thousands of Ontarians who have been unable to drive since Aug. 21, when unionized testers walked off the job over wages and job security. The network of driving-test offices that on average had 4,000 people pass through its doors daily was effectively shut down.

Now, managers from Serco will administer tests in Brampton, Toronto Port Union, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Kitchener and Ottawa.

According to the official Drive Test website, however, only individuals who "require licences for employment or who are registered for driver training will be allowed to take tests."

People who fall into either of those categories will have access to written tests and road tests for commercial licences, out-of-province and out-of-country licences only, the website said.

Serco officials haven't said when other drivers can expect to do road tests.

Shortage of truckers

Picketing Serco employees have promised not to deter Ontarians attempting to take tests. Still, long lines may prove a more powerful deterrent, as drivers can expect long wait times, given the three-month test backlog.

Gus Rahim, president of Ontario's Truckers Association, said the number of students going through his school has dwindled significantly over the past three months. There is a shortage of truck drivers, but the strike has left his students in limbo, unable to secure work or even graduate in some cases.

"It's really difficult," he said. "We're not asking for any handouts or stimulus packages. We just need road tests, and up until now we haven't had anything."

Rahim still worries that not all of his students will receive licences, especially since he's vowed not to cross any picket lines. He will only allow examiners to perform driving tests at schools. It's a move that he understands will make union members angry, but something he must do.

"We would never cross the picket line to do road tests, but if a choice is offered to us, we'll do it. We'll take it because there is no other choice for us. It's either that or close our doors."

Union local rejects 'final offer'

The strike will continue for at least one more week, according to union president, Jim Young. On Nov. 11, about 78 per cent of United Steelworkers Local 9511 members voted "no" to a new contract that company Serco DES inc. claimed was a "final offer."

"The picket lines will continue, and the citizens of Ontario will not get the service they deserve, until Serco presents a reasonable offer," said Young in a press release.

Young says that opening a small number of sites across the province does a disservice to Ontarians. "Right now they're operating with minimal staff and management are performing the scab work," he said. "I've heard complaints about bad customer service, abrupt management and such."

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has not intervened in the dispute so far.

"[The] ministry has always believed that it's up to the two parties to come to an agreement," said spokesman William Lin over the phone.

Brian Patterson, president of the Ontario Safety League, doesn't see an upside for anyone in this predicament regardless of who intervenes, because businesses and the public are paying the cost.

"It's problematic for new Canadians and it's problematic for new drivers." About 300,000 tests and recertifications have been put on hold because of the strike he said. It's a "crisis" he believes that could take as long as 90 days to resolve if all offices were to open tomorrow.

"There's no win for anyone in this."