The Ontario Trucking Association applauds Ontario Transportation Minister Sarkaria’s announcement to launch a new round of truck safety consultations this summer.
Prior to the election, the minister introduced the Safer Roads and Communities Act, designed to initiate a comprehensive review of commercial drivers to address gaps in licensing and training. The first round of consultations took place just before the writ was dropped in January.
The next round, to begin this summer, will focus on:
- Follow-up on the Class G waiting period proposal
- Proposed changes to Original Non-Reciprocal Driver License Applications
- Residency, legal presence and work authority requirements
- Entry Level Training enhancements
- Standardized curriculum
- A look at Alberta’s new phased approach to training and licensing
“The OTA applauds Minister Sarkaria for his commitment to working with industry to address some of the reasons truck safety has deteriorated in the province of Ontario,” said OTA’s senior VP Policy Geoff Wood. “OTA strongly believes that licensing and training needs a significant shift in approach and oversight. This process will put our vision on the table for consideration.”
A collation of truck safety groups have joined in sounding the alarm on the need to improve truck safety and have been advocating for changes to the regulatory and enforcement systems to respond to a growing number of trucking businesses that operate by circumventing safety, training, labour and tax laws.
Relatedly, Minister Sarkaria has written OTA in response to the Association’s calls to further crackdown on noncompliant behaviour in trucking:
“Our government has recently increased its Transportation Enforcement Officer complement and continues to invest in the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Program to work toward 24-hour operation of strategic Truck Inspection Stations. We will also continue to explore opportunities to work with other partners including those in the regulatory and policing fields to address illegal and criminal activity within the trucking sector. Carrier evaluations, such as facility audits, are an important part of commercial vehicles oversight…MTO continues to modernize audits to minimize risk in the carrier population…My ministry, actively monitors carriers for indicators of labour non-compliance, which may result in a thorough performance review of the business. We will continue to evaluate further opportunities to strengthen oversight of the carrier population and work with our partner ministries and levels of government.”
The minister’s words have been backed by action as Ontario has seen significant increases of enforcement at the scales, with joint involvement by WSIB and ESDC. The efforts have continued to expose the harsh reality that many segments of the trucking industry are out-of-control when it comes to labour and tax compliance and obeying other rules.
“These actions by Minister Sarkaria are significant. He is leading all ministers of Transportation in Canada with real efforts to clean up our industry; but due to the sheer scope of the truck safety problem, the sad reality is that much more needs to be done,” said OTA Chair Mark Bylsma. “But with continued commitment by the Minister, enforcement and allied stakeholders, we believe we can continue to restore order to the training, driver and carrier community.”
The announcement comes off the heels of a major drug enforcement operation in Peel region. Police allege that multiple trucking fleets were engaged in the criminal network, showcasing the need to increase oversight and enforcement in trucking beyond safety.
The recent police actions and ministry announcements illustrate an increased commitment by Government of Ontario and the enforcement communities to restore law and order in the trucking sector.