The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says it is making headway in its fight against the misclassification of drivers, under a scheme it refers to as Driver Inc.

Three key provincial and federal agencies — Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) – gathered at the Whitby, Ont., inspection station in March to explore the issue and raise awareness.

In addition to inspecting trucks for their weights and safety fitness, the organizations also checked drivers to ensure their carriers are obeying labor laws. The OTA says that, beyond enforcement conducting dozens of Level 3 inspections, ESDC handed out information about drivers’ labor rights, while identifying companies deserving of a potential audit.

And WSIB also provided education about labor laws, by handing out stickers containing a QR code directing them to further information on their rights. WSIB, too, identified potential violators that will potentially receive audits, OTA adds.

OTA and the Canadian Trucking Alliance say the initiatives build on a recent information sharing agreement between ESDC and Canada Revenue Agency, announced in March.

“When you consider the establishment of the ESDC misclassification team, their increased audit activities, interventions at roadside, increased coordination with provincial authorities – along with the new CRA-ESDC information sharing agreement –the stakes for companies and drivers participating in Driver inc. and associated illegal activity are as high as ever,” said CTA and OTA president, Stephen Laskowski.  

“Governments are taking an interest in the underground economy, road safety issues; and are concerned about tax evasion, worker abuse, and crime. They are also sharing information and working together like never before. If companies don’t abandon this model now, after many years of education, they won’t be able to say they didn’t know about the consequences.” 

OTA chairman Mark Bylsma also thanked the agencies for their increased attention to the matter. 

“We remain optimistic they will remain committed to upholding our nation’s laws and that fair competition will be restored to the industry,” he said. “While this is a good start to cracking down on the underground economy, we will continue to hold governments at all levels accountable to enforcing the laws they have on the books.”