As the Province of Ontario continues to address significant challenges and irregularities within its commercial truck driver training and licensing regime, the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) continues to urge the government to accelerate the process to end lawlessness in the trucking industry.
OTA understands the Ministry of Transportation continues to issue letters to Class A license holders, notifying them of a 90-day suspension of their license. The letter reportedly states the suspension is due to “their dishonesty during the Class A test and or/training process” and “further communication related to this matter will be forthcoming.”
“Trucking is one of the few industries that shares its workplace with the public. It comes with added responsibility to meet the highest safety standards – something most truck drivers and company owners willingly accept as part of doing business,” said OTA president Stephen Laskowski. “Drivers who received this letter would never be allowed to drive a truck a few feet in an OTA member’s yard, let alone move loads on public highways; yet there are way too many companies that allow such drivers to share the road with the public. OTA questions how many fleet owners were aware or unknowingly participated in these licensing scams to access low-cost labour at the expense and risk to public safety.”
Laskowski continued: “Minister Sarkaria and Premier Ford have taken a leadership approach to these safety issues. The Province of Ontario must now understand we need new approaches, accelerated timelines and more dedicated resources to removing the lawlessness in the trucking industry. This is now clearly a critical matter of public safety and integrity of the supply chain that moves Ontario’s economy.”
A CBC investigative report last year exposed how some aspects of truck driver testing in Ontario has been compromised by “bribes, forged documents and rigged testing.” Even prior to that report, OTA and the province have been working towards improving truck training, licensing and the level of compliance in the industry.
The association called for the formation of Operation Deterrence and increased MTO presence and commercial vehicle inspections at key locations as well as the formation of working group to review Ontario’s approach to truck driver training and licensing.
Relatedly, OTA staff members were subpoenaed earlier this summer to an Ottawa court to provide a community impact statement as part of the sentencing process for a case related to truck driver training and testing. The sentencing is expected to conclude this fall.
“OTA hopes a strong message is sent to the industry by the courts that this type of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly,” added Laskowski.
“It’s time to begin mandatory audits for all driving schools and the trucking industry in this province to end the lawlessness,” says Laskowski. “The restaurant industry undergoes this easily and effectively to protect consumer safety. We need at least the same level of oversight to protect Ontarians from the lawlessness and recklessness we’re witnessing on the highways every day. And this process needs to begin immediately.”