OTTAWA, Ont. – The Canadian Trucking Alliance is urging Canada’s Premiers to make progress on promises made more than six months ago that would strengthen domestic trade between provinces and territories by reducing barriers to trade flows. Last August, Canada’s Premiers announced they would be working to harmonize transportation regulatory codes and eliminate those standards and regulations that are “unjustifiable” barriers to trade in the transportation sector. The Premiers instructed ministers responsible to do this work by July.

CTA initially welcomed the news, having long argued that since trucking is primarily regulated by the provinces, the industry is subject to a patchwork quilt of provincial regulations and standards. With the July deadline fast approaching, CTA is looking to see some progress and has written to the Council of the Federation (whose membership is made up of the provincial Premiers).

CTA says that the lack of harmonization in trucking regulations is most harmful in three key areas: the National Safety Code (NSC) for trucks, truck weights and dimensions standards, and taxes on new tractors and trailers.