Marcel Pouliot likes blueberries, and last year he enjoyed the British Columbia-grown fruit in Alberta through the summer. B.C. blueberries normally head south to U.S. consumers, so he was pleasantly surprised.

The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada’s Western Canada business manager observed that the abundance occurred as freight patterns shift across the country.

Speaking during the recent Alberta Motor Transport Association conference in Calgary, he said fewer north-south movements and increased east-west freight volumes are occurring.

A lot of freight does move between provinces. The folks who live along Highway 11 and 17 in Ontario, will confirm the frequency and number of commercial vehicles on that route.

This is hunky dory for freight that fits in or on 53-foot trailers and is within regulated weight limits. Things start to get complicated as you enter heavier weights, larger dimensions and long combination vehicle territory.

This is understandable because provinces have different terrains, traffic patterns and road networks. Oversize and overweight permitting regulations must be followed.

The price of compliance

Trucking companies that do follow the rules sometimes pay a price. Take Taber, Alta.-based livestock hauler Gateway Carriers for example. Owner and general manager Trevor Currie, pointed to differences in axle configurations, weight limits, and permitting systems that affect how equipment can be used.

He says that cattle keep getting bigger, so he sought permission to use 14-foot-high trailers instead of the regular 13 feet and six inches (4.15 meters). Alberta granted permission and so did B.C. Currie went ahead and purchased a new trailer. After running it for two months, B.C. pulled the permission.

He’s now stuck with the trailer that he can’t run interprovincially but can be used in the United States. He now must be mindful as to where he dispatches it.

Inconsistencies hamstring fleets

These inconsistencies limit the ability of fleets to maximize equipment utilization and compete effectively across regions.

Another fleet that moves goods between Saskatchewan and Alberta must carefully manage fuel levels to remain compliant with weight limits when crossing provincial scales. Drivers arrive with nearly empty tanks to meet legal requirements, then refuel after entering Alberta.

If the trucks were stopped later at another scale, they would not be compliant. This fleet takes the risk to deliver freight, while adding stress and complexity to the driver’s work schedule.

In another case, spring road restrictions and varying municipal permitting systems force carriers to split loads or run partially empty, reducing efficiency and increasing costs.

Alberta launches regulations hub

Municipal permitting processes can also be inconsistent, with some jurisdictions still relying on outdated systems such as faxed applications.

Trying to address these challenges, Alberta has launched the Canadian trucking regulations hub. The online platform centralizes regulatory information from multiple jurisdictions, giving carriers and drivers a single access point to rules.

Fleets often rely on multiple provincial websites, outdated PDFs, and inconsistent guidance.

Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized New Brunswick’s plan to set up a highway toll booth on its boundary with Nova Scotia.

Plan to add a barrier

The toll was included in the province’s 2026-27 budget as a way to raise an estimated $10 million in revenue for road maintenance. 

Stephen Laskowski, president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, has said that the toll was “likely unconstitutional.”

The provincial government has received backlash over the toll, which could end up charging $4 per vehicle without a New Brunswick license plate.

Given the economic headwinds and tight margins, fewer the barriers the better for the trucking industry. There is no question oversize and overweight freight needs permits, but perhaps provinces could discuss and implement pathways to improve processes and speed up timeframes.

Canadian produce, meat and products appearing in local stores across the country will offer consumers more choices, improve competition and hopefully drive down grocery bills. Not to mention more freight for trucks to move across provinces.

This summer, I look forward to throwing a steak on the grill, sipping a beverage and nibbling on fruit from somewhere in Canada. Cheers to fewer barriers!