CCMTA Announces Steps to Restore Safety Confidence, Law and Order in Trucking

Source: CCMTA

The fight against the Driver Inc. scheme is moving into a decisive phase. In July, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) urged deputy ministers of transportation from across Canada to dramatically increase enforcement against carriers engaged in misclassification, tax evasion, and, most importante, blatant disregard for public safety.

This week, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), which reports directly to the deputies, announced three days of meetings with industry stakeholders. The goal is to develop an action plan, propose amendments to National Safety Code (NSC) Standards 7, 14, and 15, and present recommendations to the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety in February.

“With the proper plan, timeline and resources, this could be a defining moment for the trucking industry,” said CTA President and CEO Stephen Laskowski. “Oversight reforms will help regain control over the damage caused by Driver Inc. and restore public safety confidence.”

The CTA is calling for a coordinated national enforcement strategy, including permanent involvement of federal departments such as ESDC and CRA at truck inspection stations operating 24/7, with additional policing resources to combat illegal and unsafe practices. CTA Senior VP Policy Geoff Wood highlighted Ontario’s Operation Deterrence as a model for tougher, nationwide enforcement.