CALGARY, Alta. — Dave Marson, the president and last founding member of the troubled Owner-Operators’ Business Association of Canada (OBAC) has resigned.

In an e-mail to the board of directors, Marson said “After careful consideration I am officially offering my resignation from the Owner-Operators’ Business Association of Canada. I am the last founding member to offer my resignation. This association is not serving the interests of the Canadian Owner/Operators and/or drivers.”

The group, which was launched in September at Truck World in Toronto, has been plagued with controversy since its inception.

Another founding member, Bill Wellman, resigned shortly after the group’s creation, leaving it in the hands of its board. He then had a falling out with some members of the board when the group took a direction he didn’t approve of.

There were other resignations as well. Truck News’ Owner/Operator of the Year, Hank Rensink, was recruited by the board, but he resigned before the ink had time to dry.
B.C.-based owner/operator, Don Robertson, is another member who has also stepped down in recent months.

The association got off on the wrong foot when its accountant disappeared last September. Some of the association’s money, and most of its financial records also went missing.

The latest blow leaves the association’s future very much in doubt. After spending most of its start-up funding (more than $175,000 provided by Industry Canada) in the first month, the association has been waiting to see if further funding would be forthcoming from the Province of Ontario.

But OBAC failed to meet the criteria set out by the province, leaving the future funding hanging in the balance.