CTOA says racial tensions, targeted enforcement could disrupt supply chain
The Canada Trucking Operators Association (CTOA) is warning that growing driver shortages in the longhaul trucking sector could begin affecting supply chain reliability if workforce pressures persist.
And it says increased racial tension in the industry and what it believes to be targeted enforcement against South Asian carriers could cause more drivers to leave the industry.
The association said member carriers and brokers are reporting driver capacity shortfalls of up to 15%, as fleets struggle to recruit and retain qualified drivers.
CTOA also said workforce retention is being further strained by reports from racialized and newcomer drivers who have experienced racism, online hostility, and concerns about uneven application of enforcement and compliance measures.
New Canadians make up a significant portion of Canada’s trucking workforce, the association noted, and negative industry sentiment or perceived unfair treatment risks discouraging new entrants while accelerating driver attrition.
“If we keep losing drivers, the impact will be felt everywhere,” said Tej Dulat of CTOA in a news release. “Food and essential goods do not move without a stable workforce. When capacity tightens, costs rise and Canadians pay the price.”
The association is calling on federal and provincial governments to work with industry to address workforce shortages, investigate reports of discrimination, and ensure enforcement and compliance processes are applied consistently and fairly.
CTOA added continued labor shortages could strain the movement of essential goods, reduce service reliability, and ultimately increase costs for businesses and consumers.
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There is no shortage, rates to haul freight are not sustainable for compliant carriers. If we all do things the right way, rates will go up and driver pay will increase. Long haul has a turnover issue, especially among fleets who dont pay their drivers properly or treat them correctly. Attention starts to come on some non compliant fleets and we scream racism, classic. I dont care what color, race or religion you are, what I care about is if you are safe, compliant, treat your drivers fairly and comply with your tax obligations. If you are doing all of that you should have zero concern about being audited or having your compliance verified…….
Oh no! The sky might fall if we can’t continue with “business as usual”, like using Driver Inc scams, abusing drivers imported under questionable government programs, operating chameleon carriers, and crying about racial profiling every time there is enforcement. Oh no!
How about cleaning up business practices, ELP education, setting standards instead of lowering them, and not having the default position of playing the victim? Admittedly, the bar is pretty low, but come on people! Do better.
Of course the CTOA is going to complain. Their continued use of Driver Inc (which is ILLEGAL!!!) is what supports their undercutting of the legal operators. Who are they hiring? Mostly immigrant drivers who don’t know their rights. The cases of these drivers being taken advantage are neverending. Multiply the enforcement to eliminate that and there will be drivers available legally as employee’s.
As a small gravel trucking company owner, I see a lot of drivers in various industries on the roads here in B.C. I don’t believe for the most part that racism is a big problem what is a problem is drivers from other countries not being able to speak our language and not being trained properly, and this training is lacking with Canadian born citizens also. These new drivers expect the same wages that experienced competent drivers earn. In many years past new drivers had to spend a lot of time in the cab with a experienced driver at a lower wage rate. Perhaps we should return to this method of driver training.
Here we go again with the mythical driver shortage. That’s the reason this industry is such a mess.
Consider the source of this DIRE WARNING (!). Kicking the can down the road and avoiding the consequences of long-ago (Covid started 6 years ago), BAD decisions has led to the industry mess we have now.
We need more ENFORCEMENT (not less!!!) and an end to the IGNORANCE that all actors treat our roads and our business communities (insurance, safety/inspection compliance, proficiency in one of two OFFICIAL languages) with RESPECT.
TRUST is earned with credibility, good experience and fairness for industry tenure. Last time I checked, decades-long, proven-clean driving record delivered lower rates.
Stop pretending that Public Relations is meaningful action to creating a better trucking industry, long-term.
Again there is a surplus of truck drivers not a shortage. IF want to bring foreign truck drivers for 8 months of the year from April to Dec bring them in from Cuba to a max of 600 drivers and 1500 mechanics and pay a proper wage on payroll. When see truck drivers being offered less than $30 per hour and no medical we have a surplus