July 14, 2025
The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) and its members are calling for a nationwide change to key issues that negatively impact the transportation industry. These matters aren’t new; however, our latest invitation to address them is – and more pertinent than ever.
Transport Canada has invited us, along with other advocates and stakeholders, to connect with Deputy Ministers of Transportation across the country and discuss ways to reduce trade barriers within the trucking industry. In order to move freight from one jurisdiction to another, we need to remove regulatory barriers, address inconsistencies, and be unified with long-term, permanent solutions when it comes to MELT, ELDs, permits, allowances, and more.
In preparation for this meeting, the PMTC consulted with its Board of Directors and membership to create the following list of discussion points for consideration:
Inconsistencies with Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT)
In 2020, jurisdictions across Canada committed to, and celebrated the importance of, implementing a standardized Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) program for professional drivers entering the field. Fast forward five years, and there are still three jurisdictions that do not have a standardized MELT program in place; meanwhile, there are inconsistencies with the training hours, instructor qualifications, and program curriculum throughout other provincial MELT programs.
If we want to have a national training program, we need to ensure that all jurisdictions embrace and enforce a national standard that is consistent across the country. This includes proper auditing and ensuring that schools / instructors are operating within compliance of the program requirements.
Fragmented Carrier Safety Ratings
Due to the accessibility and inconsistent auditing efforts of jurisdictions, there are unsafe, non-compliant carriers that are successfully bypassing enforcement and operating throughout the country. With multiple National Safety Code numbers behind their operation, these carriers have the capacity to go ‘jurisdiction shopping’ and operate ‘under the radar’ of enforcement. This problem, alone, erodes trust amongst carriers, shippers and the industry as a whole, and makes our roads unsafe.
Rather than approaching this problem individually, province-to-province, we should create a national NSC database that records, scores and posts carrier records across the country in one central location– creating a consistent, reputable, transparent and fair reporting system throughout the industry.
Rest Areas
We need to have more rest stops available to the public. There are stretches of rural and northern areas where a driver can travel 200-plus kilometers and not find a place to rest. This plays a significant role in driver safety and fatigue management; without having access to a proper rest stop, let alone a place to pull over and park, a driver is at risk of getting injured or being in an incident – both on and off the road.
There should be a standard where a rest stop is available every 80-plus kilometers on major trade routes. At the minimum, we need to work together to ensure that our main Trans-Canada Highway has publicly available parking spaces, placed at a regular frequency, to support the needs of drivers and overall fleet management.
Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Standards
Currently, road clearing standards are determined by each province and territory. How our roads are rated – determining how often and quickly they are cleared – is based on the levels of traffic, not trade. So, if a part of the Trans-Canada Highway – the only route that connects our country coast-to-coast – doesn’t see as much traffic as Highway 401 in Toronto, it won’t be cleared as quickly. We need to prioritize clearing standards for main highways, including the Trans-Canada Highway, that are vital for trade.
Another point is the lane markings on every highway in the country. If you travel from one province to another, let alone one municipality to another, you’ll see that the type of paint used for lane markings is drastically different – and in some cases, doesn’t visually withstand to rain, sleet or snow. This may sound like a small detail; however, if you’re travelling into an area you’re unfamiliar with, this can quickly escalate into a big problem.
Oversize / Overweight Permits
In September 2024, a pilot program was launched to mutually recognize regulatory requirements throughout the trucking sector – specifically when it comes permit applications for wide loads – across Canada. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), shared amongst the participating jurisdictions, was a promising start towards removing trade barriers and enhancing the movement of goods across Canada; however, not all jurisdictions have signed on. Without complete harmonization across the country, trade barriers still exist.
In the long term, we want to go beyond signing a MOU (a short-term, ‘band-aid’ solution): we want all provinces and territories to create a permanent permit application process as well as harmonized regulations that are recognized across all jurisdictions.
Weight Allowances
In addition to the previous point, there is an MOU on weight allowance for each jurisdiction that has been agreed upon; however, there are still major variances in weight and axle configurations from one jurisdiction to another.
We recommend that each province and territory expand the number of vehicle configurations included in the MOU so travel province-to-province will incur lower costs, with removed barriers.
ELD Mandate
Since 2023, the ELD Mandate has been enforced and requires all federally regulated commercial drivers to use ELDs to track their hours of service; however, three provinces continue to not enforce it for provincially regulated carriers. This disconnect creates disparities amongst drivers and carriers, and results in issues with driver safety and fatigue management.
We’re advocating for national harmonization of this mandate with the support of data-sharing protocols for regulators to track, analyze and report on ELD usage and violations.
Labour Mobility & Credential Recognition
Our industry deals with inconsistencies with education and training, certifications, and safety credentials across all jurisdictions: an issue that is a direct hinderance with attracting, let alone retaining, drivers.
The PMTC is advocating for a national framework of standardized education and training, provided by approved educational institutions and instructors. Whether this framework is Red Seal Certification (or something similar), there needs to be a system in place where education and training programs are recognized, recorded and presentable via a portable passport system.
Temporary Foreign Worker Programs & Immigration Fraud
Unfortunately, when it comes to hiring immigrants, we have seen rampant abuse of the Federal Government’s Temporary Foreign Work Program, and by extension immigration fraud, through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Jurisdictions across the country need to be aligned on this matter and create a system that supports and protects foreign workers entering our industry. For example, the Province of Nova Scotia has partnered with the Trucking Human Resource Sector Council (THRSC) Atlantic to run a program that vets and approves carriers who wish to access the Foreign Worker Program. Approved carriers are compliant with labour laws; they have systems in place to support training / mentoring; and abide to safety rules and regulations. While the program is not mandatory, carriers who participate in the program are placed at the front of the line to access the program and workers.
We would like to see all other jurisdictions adopt and implement this program into their operations, and ideally make it mandatory for participation in the TFWP>
Next Steps
Our meeting with Transport Canada and the Deputy Ministers takes place on July 15, 2025, and we are honoured to have a seat at this table. Having the opportunity to connect with all jurisdictions at the same time, in the same room, will hopefully align our wishes with their actions to remove trade barriers and create harmony in our industry. A huge thank you to our Board of Directors and members for your valuable input in putting these points together. We look forward to sharing the outcomes of this meeting, and what the future holds for our industry.
Mike Millian
President, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
