Transport Canada’s recent meeting with trucking industry leaders and deputy ministers of transportation from provinces and territories to discuss issues most concerning to fleet operators focused on productivity and competitiveness.

“This was a historic meeting of the industry and the deputy transport ministers from across Canada,” Greg Arndt, Canadian Trucking Alliance chairman, said in a news release. “CTA and participating members sent a clear message to the deputies across Canada that Driver Inc. is destroying the productivity and competitive landscape of our sector, and their departments play a major role to help significantly address the crisis.”

The CTA delegation raised multiple issues contained in its recent trade barrier report, but the focus was on how truck safety, and the abuse and neglect of safety regulations by fleets are at the root of the problems facing the industry, the release stated. 

These are policy and enforcement areas in which the deputies have control over. By addressing and prioritizing them, governments can have an immediate impact on restoring order to the industry. 

“We were able to provide the deputies with precision solutions they can implement regarding driver licensing, licence plates, special permits and NSC safety certificates, which would have an immediate, real impact to curb the rampant spread and addiction to Driver Inc.,” Geoff Wood, CTA’s senior VP, policy said in the release.