Members of the trucking industry in Ontario are expressing concern over a growing number of companies, educational institutions, and drivers that fail to meet the minimum professional standards. In numerous instances, they also ignore laws and regulatory requirements.
A statement issued by a coalition including the Ontario Safety League, Ontario Trucking Association, Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada, Teamsters Canada, and Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada asserts, “It is alarming to recognize that safety and compliance standards are deteriorating swiftly within our sector.”
The stakeholders contend that the Ontario trucking landscape is increasingly influenced by carriers that operate on a model defined by widespread non-compliance and exhibit a minimal commitment to the safety of drivers and their vehicles, as well as environmental considerations.
The release also highlighted a lack of respect for labor standards, disdain for employee and contractor classifications, and a willful neglect of their role as responsible corporate citizens contributing to Canada’s social systems.
Referencing the closure of Humber Polytechnic’s commercial truck driving program, they pointed out that firms devoted to maintaining high training and compliance standards are put at a disadvantage by those who face no repercussions for ignoring industry standards and regulations.
Inadequate Training
An official statement from Humber Polytechnic indicated that “market conditions” and a “substantial increase in program delivery costs” rendered the commercial training program “not viable anymore.” The stakeholders interpreted this statement as evidence that the institution had no alternative but to shut down due to its inability to compete with many schools providing inferior training at lower prices.
While reputable carriers acknowledge that graduates from these subpar institutions lack road readiness, “the unfortunate reality is that many other companies quickly place them behind the wheel and send them out on highways,” the statement remarked.
The stakeholders emphasized that the industry cannot risk the closure of more high-quality training schools, allowing fraudulent and inferior training practices to take their place.
