Trucking and logistics sector sheds 25,000 jobs in Q1, but truck drivers spared

Canada’s trucking and logistics industry saw a sharp decline in employment during the first quarter of 2025, shedding 25,000 jobs year-over-year — but none of the losses were among truck drivers, according to new data from Trucking HR Canada.

This marks the first time the sector has posted such significant job losses without affecting the transport truck driver workforce. While the broader Canadian economy posted a 1.9 per cent employment gain in the quarter, the trucking and logistics sector continued a troubling trend, following even steeper losses in Q1 2021 and Q1 2023.

The hardest-hit occupations included management, administration, finance and human resources roles, which saw a 17 per cent decline — amounting to 16,400 jobs. Shippers and receivers lost 6,900 positions (down 6.7 per cent), while courier and delivery drivers dropped by 3,600 jobs (three per cent).

In contrast, employment among transport truck drivers increased marginally by 1.5 per cent, or 4,800 workers. However, the number of unemployed drivers also rose by 1.6 per cent (5,500), suggesting a growing labour pool.

Despite the employment churn, the sector’s overall unemployment rate remained relatively stable. But with both employment and unemployment falling overall, Trucking HR Canada warned that the total supply of labour in the sector is shrinking — likely due to workers exiting the industry or the workforce altogether.