Trucking groups raise concerns over safety, compliance and media portrayals

Two national trucking organizations are raising alarms over safety, compliance and public perceptions within Canada’s trucking sector, as federal lawmakers continue examining the controversial Driver Inc. model.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says regulators in both Canada and the United States are increasingly noticing Canadian fleet owners engaging in practices that threaten highway safety and may be tied to illegal cross-border smuggling. The group wants Ottawa and Washington to explore updating or developing new security programs to ensure cross-border carriers are compliant, safe and free of criminal associations.

“After 9/11, cross-border trucking changed with the development of security programs focused on potential terrorist activity and support of these activities involving the trucking and trade industries,” said Stephen Laskowski, president and CEO of the CTA. “We believe it’s time that industry and both governments work to explore programs that would screen all cross-border carriers and drivers to ensure they are safe and compliant and do not endanger Canadian and U.S. citizens on our roadways.”

Laskowski noted that truck safety enforcement and training remain a “complicated jurisdictional issue” shared between the federal and provincial governments. He said Transport Canada and provincial deputy ministers are working on potential national measures, with announcements expected in early 2026.

“We hope this response will assist in resolving the lawlessness and truck safety crisis in Canada,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Truck Operators Association (CTOA) is criticizing recent media coverage that it says misrepresented immigrant truck drivers, particularly Sikh drivers, and relied too heavily on the perspective of a single lobby group.

The CTOA said the article in question used language that tied safety concerns to the cultural background of drivers and failed to reflect the diversity of the industry or the realities of licensing and safety compliance.

The group argues the coverage “unfairly associated Sikhs and immigrant drivers with fraud, danger, or broader industry problems,” without presenting evidence or consulting multiple organizations, regulators or safety experts.

It also cautioned against conflating tax-compliance issues such as T4A or Driver Inc. classifications with road safety.

“A T4A or Driver Inc. classification does not cause accidents, failing to meet safety standards does,” the association said.

The CTOA is calling for fact-based dialogue from political leaders and the media, warning that misinformation stigmatizes communities and distracts from real safety improvements.

“Fair and accurate reporting is a core responsibility of the media,” said the CTOA. “It is inappropriate to attribute industry-wide issues to cultural identity or newcomer status. Such portrayals mislead the public and have real consequences for workers and communities.”

The CTOA, Canada’s newest trucking association, said it remains committed to working with governments, associations and safety experts to strengthen compliance and road safety across the country.