CTOA Urges Policymakers to Consult Directly with Canada’s Small and Mid-Sized Trucking Fleets
The Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA) says governments and policymakers must look beyond headlines and listen directly to the drivers, owner-operators and small-to-mid-size fleet owners who make up the backbone of Canada's trucking industry.
The advocacy group recently hosted a comprehensive Member Information Session in Brampton to address critical operational pressures including driver wellbeing, cargo theft, training standards, insurance risk, and fair enforcement. Federal industry data highlights the necessity of this outreach, as truck transportation in Canada remains overwhelmingly dominated by small operations; in 2025, 83.4 percent of employer establishments in the sector were micro-businesses with fewer than five employees, while small establishments accounted for another 16.1 percent.
"That means the people most affected by new policy, enforcement actions, insurance pressure and public narratives are often small business owners, family-run carriers, owner-operators and drivers," said Tejpreet Dulat, spokesperson for the CTOA. "If we are serious about fixing problems in trucking, we need to listen to the people living the reality every day." A key focus of the event targeted commercial driver training standards and driver school oversight. Philip Fletcher, President of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario, emphasized the critical need for stricter standards and verification checks for driving schools to ensure professional readiness and public confidence across the heavy-duty sector.
Commercial auto crime and rising cargo theft trends were detailed by Stefano Peca of the Peel Regional Police Commercial Auto Crime Bureau, who provided fleet operators with tactical prevention practices to better integrate with law enforcement partners. During the session, the CTOA formally welcomed British Columbia's recent mandate requiring outward-facing dash cameras for commercial trucks, citing it as an essential step for road safety and investigation accountability. The association suggested that Ontario and other provincial regulators review the B.C. framework to adopt similar dash cam measures while maintaining proper privacy safeguards.
The regional agenda concluded with risk management and workplace fitness insights from Chris Wilkinson, CEO of Nordrux Inc., who discussed occupational substance testing, and Jamie Beaudoin, Risk Control Consultant with Intact Insurance, who outlined commercial liability management strategies. Amidst rising operational overhead, the CTOA is urging provincial and federal governments to engage directly with real fleet stakeholders before drafting incoming policy. "Responsible operators support safety, compliance and fair enforcement," the CTOA stated. "But responsible operators also deserve to be heard. Many small carriers are facing rising insurance costs, diesel prices, equipment costs, compliance pressure, repair costs and delayed payments. These businesses keep Canada moving, and they need practical solutions, not just public blame."
