Alberta cracking down on bad actors in trucking industry

The Alberta government says it’s cracking down on what it believes are bad actors in the trucking and commercial training school industry who are cutting some corners.

The province said Friday it’s increasing the number of inspections, audits, and investigations to increase oversight on carriers and schools.

Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says work is already underway.

He said in a release 13 trucking companies were taken off the road for poor driving performance, unsafe equipment use and failing to meet safety standards.

Dreeshen adds the government has handed out more than $100,000 worth of penalties, ordered the shutdown of five driver training schools, revoked 12 licenses, sent out disciplinary letters, and given out warnings.

They are also working with federal and territorial partners to address what are called “chameleon carriers.”

Those are companies that use loopholes to avoid regulatory oversight by changing their name, relocating their operations or creating new entities.

This comes as the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators is working to develop a national database to address the loophole, which has been used to exploit gaps in interprovincial data sharing and enforcement.

Don MacDonald, the interim chairman of the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada, says the ultimate goal of achieving a Red Seal designation for the industry is a “positive step forward.”

“This initiative is supported by the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada (PTTAC) and will not only contribute to safer roadways but also foster greater professionalism and integrity across all sectors of the industry,” he said.

Additionally, the province says it’s targeting a misclassified driver scheme known as “Drivers Inc.,” where companies hire drivers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and benefits.

“These drivers often lack proper training and oversight and are vulnerable to exploitation,” the news release reads.

Twenty per cent of 195 drivers stopped during a week-long status and classification check stop in July were suspected of being misclassified, including several temporary foreign workers, the province claims.

With files from Mike Gazzola