APTA testifies before the House TRAN Committee: “Driver Inc. must end”

Source: Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association

This morning in Ottawa, Chris McKee, Executive Director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA), appeared as a witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN).

The committee has launched a national study into the “Driver Inc.” model, which enables tax evasion, labour misclassification, and immigration fraud within Canada’s trucking industry.

“Our message to Parliament was clear: our members are suffering. Rates are being driven to unsustainable levels, eroding profitability for compliant companies. Training and safety standards are collapsing. Governments are losing millions in unpaid remittances, and wages are falling. Those who follow the law are being punished for doing things the right way.” — Chris McKee, APTA

The TRAN Committee’s study will include at least six hearings and will call on key federal officials, including the Minister of Transport, Secretary of State for Labour, and Secretary of State for Revenue, to testify. Findings and recommendations are expected before year-end.

APTA emphasized that this process is a critical opportunity for Atlantic Canada’s compliant carriers to have their voices heard directly by Parliament. The association will continue to push for fair enforcement, consistent national standards, and real penalties for those exploiting loopholes at the expense of law-abiding carriers and professional drivers.

“This isn’t a problem needing more study — it needs action. The solutions are on the table; what’s missing is political will.”