The ministry traces its roots back over a century to the 1890s, when the province began training Provincial Road Building Instructors.

The MTO is responsible for: Early roads in Ontario were cleared when needed for local use and connections to other settlements.

Campbell held the position of Provincial Instructor in Road-Making from 1896 to 1900 and Director of the Office of the Commissioner of Highways from 1900 until 1910.

These instructors worked to establish specifications for the almost 90,000 kilometres (56,000 mi) of county- and township- maintained roads.

The department was renamed the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in 1972 as part of a government wide reorganization.

ATCs, if they are approved for tender, will cover all maintenance operations now performed by AMC contractors, but will also include annual pavement maintenance and replacement work, bridge rehabilitation, minor capital construction programs and corridor management.

Driver hours of service, cargo securement, dangerous goods transportation, weights and dimensions, and vehicle maintenance and roadworthiness are the predominant focus of TEO inspection activities.

Transportation Enforcement Officers inspect commercial vehicles, their loads, and driver's qualifications and documentation.

Blitz-style joint force operations are periodically conducted in concert with provincial and municipal police.

TEOs hail from various backgrounds including driver licensing examination, automobile repair, commercial truck driving and other law enforcement services.