OTTAWA — Not all litter along the highway comes from commercial vehicles, but many provincial associations are hearing about the trash that does.

As a result, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is teaming up with the provincial associations to and the provincial trucking associations work together to put a stop to this behaviour which it says is inappropriate, unhygienic and harmful to the industry’s image.

The number one complaint fielded by the associations is the problem of bottles filled with bodily fluid waste being tossed onto the sides of roads and highways and/or in parking lots. They concede that the shortage of decent rest stop facilities in Canada, soft shoulders which make pulling over difficult and truckers’ own personal safety are legitimate concerns which might be used as a contributing factor in the perceived increase in the problem.

Moreover, CTA believes that the problem is not solely caused by truck drivers and that a relatively small number of truck drivers are likely involved.

Nevertheless, the CTA and the provincial associations believe that this is a problem which can not be rationalised or excused and are calling on: all carriers to advise their drivers to always properly and safely dispose of any litter or waste in appropriate receptacles and facilities; all truck drivers to report this and any other forms of littering by anyone – motorist or trucker – to local authorities; and for local authorities to enforce litter laws, regulations and by-laws.