Trucking’s Front Lines Are Changing — And It’s “Wild,” Says Industry Leader

Source: ACC and Ontario Trucking Association

Toronto, July 31, 2025 — What’s happening in trucking right now is unprecedented. “It’s wild,” says Stephen Laskowski, president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), during an interview with CBC. The industry, he warns, is being rocked by rising tax evasion, safety concerns, and weak enforcement on illegal contractor use.

The CTA is urging the federal government to crack down on the widespread use of independent contractors — a model often compared to gig work that allows some employers to bypass labour protections and tax obligations. “We’re not targeting legitimate owner-operators,” Laskowski clarified. “We’re targeting those abusing the system.”

Navi Aujla, Service Director at Labour Community Services of Peel, says she sees the human impact of these abuses daily. She helps vulnerable truck drivers file labour complaints, many of whom are unaware of their rights. “It’s a system that often leaves workers isolated, underpaid, and misclassified.”

As the debate over worker classification grows louder, the trucking industry finds itself at a crossroads — one that could reshape the rights and protections of thousands of drivers across the country.