The Ontario Trucking Association says that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has an obligation to show initiative and lead efforts to improve compliance and safety enforcement in trucking, as governments across Canada renew their focus on addressing non-compliance tied to the Driver Inc. model.

Speaking after a recent meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety in Vancouver, Geoff Wood, OTA’s senior vice president, policy, noted in a news release that Ontario sits at the centre of the country’s trucking activity and should take decisive action that could influence other jurisdictions. He added that stronger provincial measures would help manage growing safety and compliance risks facing the industry.

The OTA said commitments made by ministers to coordinate enforcement of labor, tax and safety rules align closely with recommendations it has repeatedly raised with Ontario officials. The association is urging the province to expand enforcement at commercial vehicle inspection facilities by keeping them open around the clock and ensuring multiple federal and provincial agencies are present to target illegal activity.

Another priority for the association is eliminating Ontario’s satisfactory-unaudited safety rating category. OTA argues the classification allows most fleets to operate without ever undergoing an onsite inspection by ministry officials. The group is calling for a compliance-verification regime that would see carriers reviewed regularly at their place of business, similar to oversight models used in the food service sector.

“Taking strong action on both these asks would be a huge step forward and proactively manage the safety and compliance risk in trucking,” Wood said, adding that the ministry could move on the measures immediately.

Preventing commercial driver license fraud

During testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities, OTA also outlined several other areas where it believes Ontario should act. The association called for stronger safeguards to prevent commercial driver license fraud, along with dedicated provincial resources to support enforcement against illegal truck parking and unauthorized storage yards.

OTA further urged governments to introduce known-employer models within immigration programs tied to trucking, arguing such measures could help reduce worker abuse and forced-labor risks. The group said labor-compliance checks should also be required for Crown corporations and government-funded projects that hire trucking services, to ensure drivers are properly classified and meet tax and employment obligations.

Review insurance requirements

In addition, OTA is asking the province to review insurance requirements tied to trucking facilities and make corrections where needed.

Wood said it is “illogical” for enforcement to remain limited while many fleets continue operating without ministry officials having conducted onsite reviews, adding that broader reforms alongside driver-training changes already underway would help restore order across the sector.