By Ahsan Ali
Thunder Bay — Alberta is shaking up the trucking industry, shutting down schools, banning unsafe companies, and rolling out tougher training rules for drivers. The goal is simple: make highways safer and stop reckless operators from putting families at risk.
Why This Matters for Northwestern Ontario
Most of Canada’s freight moves along the Trans-Canada Highway, running straight through Northwestern Ontario. Alberta’s tougher standards could mean fewer crashes, safer trucks, and more reliable shipments for Thunder Bay businesses that depend on steady deliveries.
What’s Happening in Alberta
The province has tightened oversight of truck driver schools, trucking companies, and examiners. That means more inspections, audits, and targeted investigations to catch unsafe practices.
“Our families’ safety won’t be put at risk by reckless operators… we will not allow a few bad actors to undermine that trust,” said Devin Dreeshen, Alberta’s Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors.”
What’s Been Done So Far
- Five truck driver schools shut down
- 39 disciplinary letters issued
- Over $100,000 in fines handed out
- Six corrective action plans ordered
- 12 instructor licenses revoked
- Four warnings given to driver examiners
- 13 trucking companies banned for unsafe practices
- Seven flagged as “chameleon” carriers—companies that change names or move to avoid penalties
Stopping “Chameleon” Carriers
Alberta isn’t fighting this alone. The province is working with federal and provincial partners to build a national database. This would stop companies from escaping punishment by simply rebranding or moving their operations.
Industry Leaders Back the Move
Don MacDonald, interim chair of the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada, said the changes are important:
“Raising driver training standards toward a Red Seal designation is a big step forward. It builds professionalism and integrity across the industry.”
Cracking Down on Misclassified Drivers
Alberta is also targeting the “Drivers Inc.” scheme. This is when companies misclassify drivers as independent contractors to avoid paying taxes and benefits. A review in July 2025 found that about 20% of 195 drivers stopped—many of them temporary foreign workers—were likely misclassified.
New Training Rules: Class 1 Learning Pathway
On April 1, Alberta launched stricter rules for driver training, called the Class 1 Learning Pathway. These include:
- 125–133 in-truck training hours (much higher than the national minimum)
- Stricter licensing requirements for schools
- Mandatory safety equipment standards
- Closer monitoring of instructors
- A stronger complaint system for students
What’s Coming Next
By the end of 2025, driver records will follow drivers instead of companies. This change will help employers and insurers see an individual’s driving history no matter where they work.
Alberta is also investing $54.1 million over three years to fund training, recruitment, and retention programs. The money will help bring in more drivers and diversify the trucking industry.
The Bottom Line
Alberta’s crackdown is raising the bar for trucking safety. By shutting down unsafe schools, banning reckless companies, and setting tougher training standards, the province hopes to make highways safer. For drivers and businesses in Northwestern Ontario, that could mean fewer accidents, fewer delays, and a stronger, more professional trucking industry.
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