The Manitoba Trucking Association extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by the recent fatal collision in Brandon, Man.

Every time Driver Inc. is discussed publicly, the same arguments emerge. “It’s just a tax issue.” “It’s no different than hiring owner-operators.” “Why are trucking associations trying to make this a safety issue?”

These questions miss the point.

At its core, Driver Inc. is a worker misclassification and payroll compliance issue. It occurs when drivers who function as employees are classified as independent contractors, allowing carriers to avoid payroll deductions, CPP contributions, Employment Insurance premiums, vacation pay obligations, and other employer responsibilities.

That alone should concern policymakers, but Driver Inc. has become about much more than payroll deductions.

Today, Driver Inc. has become a warning sign for a broader culture of non-compliance that threatens the integrity of Canada’s trucking industry.

The issue is not legitimate owner-operators. Owner-operators have long been an important part of the trucking industry. They own or finance their equipment, assume financial risk, operate independent businesses, and manage their own tax obligations.

Driver Inc. is different.

When a company driver operating company equipment is classified as an independent contractor, the question is not whether the arrangement saves money. The question is whether it complies with the law. That distinction matters because professional industries depend on standards. Those standards become meaningless if businesses can simply opt out of the rules that govern everyone else.

And that is where Driver Inc. becomes bigger than payroll compliance.

More than a payroll issue

When a carrier is willing to deliberately misclassify workers and avoid employment obligations, it raises legitimate questions about how seriously that carrier views compliance in other areas. Are maintenance standards being followed? Are drivers receiving proper training? Are records being maintained accurately? Are labor laws being respected? Are immigration rules being followed? Is insurance coverage adequate?

To be clear, Driver Inc. does not automatically make a carrier unsafe. Safe drivers can work for non-compliant carriers, and unsafe drivers can work for compliant ones.

But safety is not just about drivers. It is about systems, processes, oversight, and accountability.

The trucking industry has seen enough examples of carriers cutting corners in multiple areas of their operations to recognize a troubling pattern. Businesses that view one set of legal obligations as optional are often more willing to view other obligations the same way.

This is why Driver Inc. cannot be dismissed as “just a tax issue.”

Across Canada, governments, regulators, and industry stakeholders are increasingly confronting issues such as labour trafficking, immigration abuse, carrier fraud, chameleon carriers, and unsafe operators. These are separate issues, but there are often correlations: a willingness to gain a competitive advantage by ignoring the rules.

Immigration has long been important to the trucking industry; however, it does not equate with exploiting workers and immigration abuse. There is no room in the trucking industry for labor trafficking. Visas should not be for sale. Workers should not be denied their wages. Drivers should not be put in trucks without training or even a proper license. 

And yet, all of these things are happening in the trucking industry. 

Carriers who engage in these practices must be held accountable.  

In the latter part of 2025, several roadside blitzes were held in collaboration with agencies such as the RCMP, Manitoba Motor Carrier Enforcement, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and the Workers Compensation Board (WCB). Several issues were identified, including driver misclassification, unpaid wages, overtime violations, and more. As a result, hundreds of charges were laid for a variety of offences, including speeding, seatbelt violations, imprudent driving, and more.

The industry is not asking governments to create endless new regulations. Employment laws already exist. Tax laws already exist. Safety regulations already exist.

Enforce existing rules

What the industry is asking for is simple: enforce them.

The overwhelming majority of trucking companies operate professionally, legally, and responsibly. They invest in training. They maintain their equipment. They comply with employment laws. They meet their tax obligations. They do things the right way because they understand that public trust is earned through accountability.

Yet every day, those responsible operators are forced to compete with businesses that treat compliance as a business decision rather than a legal obligation. That is not a sustainable model.

The good news is that solutions exist. Manitoba’s New Entrant Training program has already demonstrated that stronger standards and greater accountability lead to better outcomes. New carriers with certified compliance officers have shown significantly better safety performance than those without them. The lesson is straightforward: when compliance improves, safety improves.

The next step

Now it is time to take the next step.

Canada needs stronger enforcement against carriers that deliberately engage in worker misclassification and other forms of non-compliance. It needs meaningful consequences for repeat offenders. And it needs tools that prevent bad actors from simply changing names, moving jurisdictions, or reappearing under new operating authorities. Most importantly, Canada needs a national carrier registry.

Today, carrier information is fragmented across jurisdictions, making it easier for non-compliant operators to evade scrutiny and continue doing business. A national registry would improve transparency, strengthen enforcement, help identify repeat offenders, and make it more difficult for chameleon carriers to hide behind new company names or registrations.

The recent accident in Brandon involved a chameleon carrier. That accident should not have happened, because that truck should not have been at that intersection. That company should not have been in business. However, they were able to re-start operations in Alberta after being shut down in Manitoba.

The trucking industry cannot solve this problem alone.

Governments need to hear from carriers, drivers, shippers, and members of the public who believe professional standards matter.

If you are concerned about Driver Inc., worker misclassification, labor exploitation, unsafe operators, or the growing culture of non-compliance in trucking, contact your Member of Parliament and your Member of the Legislative Assembly or Provincial Parliament.

Tell them that existing laws must be enforced, and that enforcement departments need appropriate budgets. Tell them that repeat offenders should face meaningful consequences. Tell them that Canada needs a national carrier registry that improves accountability and prevents bad actors from moving undetected through the system. Most importantly, tell them that Canadians deserve a trucking industry built on professionalism, integrity, and public trust. 

The vast majority of trucking companies already operate that way. It’s time to ensure that everyone else does too.