Mark Bylsma, president of Beamsville, Ont.-based Spring Creek Carriers, was named chairman of the Ontario Trucking Association for a two-year term. The announcement was made today at the OTA’s annual general meeting.
Bylsma, a long-time supporter of the OTA, served for years on the OTA board of directors and executive committee, most recently as first vice-chairman. He succeeds James Steed as chair.
Bylsma launched his company 30 years ago with long-time business partner Calvin Bergman.
Without any previous knowledge or experience in the transportation industry, and with a little help from “the school of hard knocks” and their industry peers, they have grown Spring Creek Carriers to over 40 power units and over 60 trailers, as well as a brokerage division aptly named Spring Creek Logistics Inc.
In addressing the Board today, Bylsma said he was first attracted to the OTA because it reflected the same values he was determined to instill in his own company – safety, accountability, service, honesty, respect and giving back to community.
“I am proud the OTA reflects many of the same values and standards we as responsible businesses hold dear – driven by performance within the confines of responsible and fair competition; honour; being safety conscious and considerate of the motoring public with whom we share our workplace,” he said. “We contribute to our industry and our communities to promote their positive images; and finally – to have fun and genuinely enjoy our places of work and this industry, which has been so fruitful too many of us and so generous to our families.”
One of Bylsma’s goals as chair will be to continue guiding OTA along its current path of equaling the competitive playing field for compliant, responsible carriers in areas of truck and highway safety, tax law and environmental rules.
“Our number one issue is the fact we as compliant, responsible carriers are forced to compete with an underground economy that is fueled by misclassification, PSB fraud and tax evasion. The unscrupulous carriers that undermine our industry, essentially get a free pass from governments. This needs to end,” he said. “This is an existential issue for our industry. I am eager to continue the fight until our concerns are seriously addressed by decision makers.”
Relatedly, Bylsma said he also looks forward to continuing the work started by OTA staff and James Steed on truck driver training and licensing reform in Ontario. While OTA is encouraged that Ontario Transportation Minister Sarkaria has committed to reviewing driver training and licensing, the industry needs the reform process to be prioritized and expedited.
Other issues Bylsma says will be top of mind in the coming years, include: the long-waited opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge; the renegotiation of the CUSMA trade agreement; the continued rollout of DriveON and upcoming GHG regulations for heavy trucks.
“OTA is the voice of trucking in Ontario over almost 100 years,” he said. “I look forward to continuing this tradition. We must all work together to raise the bar in our sector and demand government works harder to maintain the high standards we have diligently achieved over many decades for the Ontario trucking industry.”