The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) welcomes the Government of Ontario’s recent announcement of new safety and enforcement measures to address truck safety concerns along the Highway 11/17 corridor.
For the last two years, the OTA has been championing the need for improved truck safety in Northern Ontario, echoing calls from hundreds of concerned truck drivers and locals who travel these routes daily
While these new initiatives and investments represent a constructive step toward addressing the unique highway safety challenges of Northern Ontario, the OTA says the plan still falls short of the more robust commitment which is critical to resolve the region’s out of control truck safety crisis.
Data-Driven Advocacy: Drivers Cite Fear of Other Commercial Vehicles
Responding to escalating concerns about deteriorating highway safety and infrastructure conditions in Northern Ontario, about 700 truck drivers, were nearly unanimous in demanding significant changes for Highways 11/17. Most tellingly, the data showed that professional drivers’ biggest fear was most often the dangerous conduct of other truck drivers on the road. The survey found:
- 80% of respondents identified poorly trained truck drivers as a major concern.
- Over 65% of drivers pointed to the presence of unsafe trucking fleets as a top threat to their safety.
- 84% of respondents identified unsafe passing by other vehicles as their number one safety concern.
- Nearly 96% of drivers believe that highway safety and infrastructure conditions on Highways 11 and 17 are actively deteriorating.
- The move toward 24/7 scales to provide enhanced oversite
“The OTA applauds the province’s commitment to deploying mobile inspection units and increasing enforcement blitzes starting in Spring 2026. However, to achieve the level of scrutiny required for a major national trade corridor, the OTA continues to call for the 24/7 operation of the Thunder Bay truck inspection station,” said OTA president Stephen Laskowski.
As the only scale capable of assessing every commercial vehicle travelling east and west across the province, the Thunder Bay station is the most effective point of intervention to help end this truck safety crisis in Northern Ontario. Moving from periodic blitzes to a permanently staffed, 24/7 facility, would ensure 100% of trucks receive the oversight necessary to protect all road users in the North.
Infrastructure: Balancing 2+1 Pilots with Long-Term Twinning
The OTA remains supportive of the “2+1” highway pilot projects, which offer a practical and immediate way to provide safe passing opportunities.
“This is important addition to the safety toolbox; however, we are seeking further clarity from both the Government of Ontario and the Federal Government regarding the long-term vision for the corridor,” says Laskowski.
It is critical to ensure that the adoption of 2+1 configurations does not signal an abandonment of the “best-case scenario” for safety, through the full twinning of Highway 11/17. As the sole roadway joining Eastern and Western Canada, twinning remains the gold standard for preventing head-on collisions and ensuring the national supply chain remains resilient during accidents or severe weather conditions.
Strategic Alignment with Northern Stakeholders
The OTA is also closely monitoring the positions of regional stakeholders, including the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA). We are interested in NOMA’s advocacy for the corridor’s designation as critical national infrastructure and are committed to working with them to align future positions.
“By collaborating with all levels of government and regional partners, we can have the necessary collaboration to ensure that Highway 11/17 receives the sustained investment and oversight it deserves,” said Laskowski.
OTA will also be working with the Chiefs of Ontario and the Northwestern Ontario Municipalities Association to make road sin the region safer.