The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is calling on the province to take stronger enforcement measures to restore compliance and safety standards in the trucking industry. This includes tightening oversight of immigration, revamping licensing and audit processes, and introducing changes to the way truck inspection stations operate.
The appeal follows the beginning of the federal hearings earlier this month examining the state of the trucking industry and the role of the Driver Inc. model in labor abuse, tax evasion, and safety risks.
“OTA recognizes the strong steps and leadership taken by Minister Sarkaria and Minister Piccini in helping address the labor abuse and increase of unsafe carriers in the trucking industry; but, unfortunately, it’s not close to enough to deal with the crisis,” OTA president and CEO Stephen Laskowski said in a news release. “We have proposed a plan to the ministers [that] we strongly believe will help ensure all carriers operating on public roadways are held accountable to meeting their required safety and labor obligations.”
One of the association’s proposal includes a 12- to 18-month suspension of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) for trucking until ‘sustainable controls’ are in place. And while OTA reiterates its position that immigration will be one of the key pieces needed to solve the labor puzzle, it wants to ensure the system is not subject to the abuse of new people to Canada.
“Now is the time to review how the program is working and implement the necessary oversight to ensure newcomers are only being hired by legitimate, compliant carriers who will treat them fairly and set them up for long-term success,” said Jonathan Blackham, OTA director of policy and public affairs.
Another suggestion is to eliminate the “satisfactory-unaudited” carrier rating, with mandatory regular audits for new and existing fleets. OTA also wants truck inspection stations to operate 24/7, staffed by federal, provincial, and law enforcement officials. The association is also proposing to revamp the commercial licensing system to a vocational endorsement standard based on vehicle configuration types.
“The trucking industry has changed, and not for the better,” said OTA senior vice-president of policy Geoff Wood in the release. “Currently, close to 90% of trucking fleets operating have never been audited by MTO officials. This needs to change quickly. Every restaurant in the province is inspected to ensure compliance and to protect the health of Ontarians; and we need at least that level of oversight brought to trucking operations.”
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