OTA ready to take on key trucking issues in 2024
The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has been the voice of trucking at Queen’s Park for close to 100 years. The nature of trucking has obviously changed over that time – and, of course, there have been many challenges we’ve worked to overcome – but the role of OTA carriers as responsible leaders whose goals of industry-wide professionalism, uncompromised safety, and respect for its drivers, has been a constant.
We have had a positive working relationship with the Doug Ford government. As the current chairman of OTA, I have witnessed the collaborative efforts of the OTA, member carriers, various ministers and their staffs who serve them.
However, the job of supporting the industry and creating a fair environment in which conscientious and responsible carriers can thrive continues. As we move into 2024, our mission is as important as ever. Among the issues that are a priority for OTA, include:
- Bringing strong provincial enforcement on the misclassification and labor abuse scheme known as Driver Inc. While Ontario has been a leader in cracking down on these unscrupulous carriers and temporary service agencies, we look forward to more targeted enforcement from WSIB, Employers Health Tax audits, and other mechanisms. This effort also includes assisting the Canadian Trucking Alliance in its lobby campaign to end Driver Inc. through increased CRA and ESDC enforcement.
- The issue of driver training is personally close to my heart. It’s imperative we continue improving the licensing and training systems that create new drivers. As part of that, I look forward to working with OTA and stakeholders to build support for new world-class training institutions in Ontario, that ensure the future growth of commercial drivers and heavy-duty diesel mechanics, as well as institutionalizing training dollars to assist fleets in creating professional, safe, road-ready drivers.
- The safety and security of truck drivers and the traveling public in Northern Ontario is of paramount importance, especially as we enter some of the more perilous months of winter driving. We are currently gathering data from a province-wide survey of carriers and truck drivers which will help us propose and implement some strategies.
There are many other initiatives I could list here– among them, continuing support for critical infrastructure projects that make moving goods more efficient (like building Hwy. 413 and the Bradford Bypass), also making day-to-day operations and administration more effective, and working with government to improve services for permits and IRP plates.
Get involved
These are just a few things our organization is tackling. It’s been said many times before, but whether you agree with every position or project undertaken, any company that does an assessment of OTA’s work – at the border, at Queen’s Park, dealing with shippers and other supply chain stakeholders on issues like driver welfare – the ancillary benefits to the industry at large are undeniable.
But key to our effective lobbing effort is you – the responsible, honorable carriers who want to see these industry improvements. We will all benefit if the competitive playing field is restored. So, in the end, our success comes down to your involvement.
As the owner and operator of a small, family-run carrier, I know how busy you are. Perhaps you view many of the issues mentioned in this article as the responsibility of the association. And you would be largely right. But in this hyper-politicized environment, the reality is that lobbying is most effective when all voters – including you and me – make their voices heard.
Connect with decision-makers
It’s our job, as industry leaders, to get personal with our MPs and MPPs. Reach out and arrange to meet with them. Take the time to express your concerns. As economic cogs, service providers and employers of constituents, you have influence.
This is how we ensure that those who want to rob our children and grandchildren of future social infrastructure, through schemes like Driver Inc. – won’t succeed. This is how we gain strength and make a legacy for an industry we can be proud of as Ontarians and Canadians.
Have your say
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In the past 5 years I have seen many sick and injured drivers families that came over on work or students permits become homeless. In the past 8 months alone over 5 000 truck drivers families have left Canada to go back or to the United States. This is because truck drivers wages are not high enough to secure housing in Ontario or many other parts of Canada. The Ford gov has left many types of medical treatment in ont not available in a timely manner or no longer covered by O H I P
I would like to see the O T A step up with a plan on transport of sick or injured truck drivers and medical supplies and certain care when company drivers or lease ops of members get sick. When health care workers pushed for 11 paid sick days . We got 10. I did not see the O T A or the C T A helpful or trying to come up with a plan to make sure that ( payroll) drivers ) get proper medical care in ont or paid sick days while waiting for this care .
If there has ever been a Highway intersection of concern and attention it is Hwy 5 and Hwy 6. This location has in recent times really become an awesome nuisance especially to Driver’s heading North turning left towards the Quarry. Constantly Trucks are lined up back of the Crest of Clappison Cut awaiting there Left Turn. This has to be the Busiest Intersection in Ontario. My question is what in God’s Name is the reason the Ontario Government isn’t addressing and acting on this horrible Intersection and constructing the once planned Cloverleaf just North of Highway 5. It’s long Overdue, come on OTA, let’s get some attention to this Site.
Bruce Doyle
Hamilton
As far as road conditions in Northern Ontario goes the TransCanada should be twinned from MB border all the way to Nipigon. They started by doing 6 kms by MB border. That’s a small start although 10 years too late already. That stretch of highway is extremely dangerous to drive in winter due to the people behind the wheel of semis nowadays. Every time you get a snow fall you have serious accidents and fatalities. And a few in between yet. It comes from fleets sending trucks through there with tires made for Texas use and people operating them that have been given ZERO training in winter driving conditions. The current driver training curriculum is at best a nuisance to the people that were naturally born to operate trucks and equipment and to the people that just don’t comprehend how a machine operates it gives them the freedom to hurtle one of those semis down the road at speeds far beyond their ability to control. There is absolutely NOTHING like as educational as buddy driving with a veteran for your first 6 months. Classroom time won’t teach you the tricks of the trade. And the requirements to become a trainer need to become much stricter also. I know of people officially training that have only held a truck licence for 6 months. Go figure.
We need to protect trucks drivers and not allow cheaper foreign drivers to come in a sub par wages that resulted in many then turning to become lease ops as way to feed their children. I did not see any plan to look after sick or injured transport workers
We have too many trucks. We need to limit increase of numbers of trucks in Canada until we fix the truck parking and truck drivers family housing crisis