Province ramps up inspections, audits, and investigations; targets “chameleon” carriers and misclassification schemes to boost highway safety
Thunder Bay – Alberta has announced new rules, audits, investigations, and other measures to crack down on the transport truck sector, including driver training.
Why This Matters for Northwestern Ontario
Stronger enforcement in Alberta affects freight moving across the Trans-Canada Highway into Northwestern Ontario. Safer carriers and better-trained drivers in Western Canada can reduce collision risk and downtime along key corridors used by Thunder Bay businesses.
What Alberta Announced
Alberta’s government is taking tough enforcement action across the trucking sector with heightened oversight of driver training schools, carriers, and driver examiners through inspections, audits, and targeted investigations.
“Our families’ safety won’t be put at risk by reckless operators… we will not allow a few bad actors to undermine that trust.”
— Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors
Enforcement Outcomes (to date)
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Five driver training schools closed
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39 disciplinary letters issued
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$100,000+ in administrative penalties
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Six corrective action plans ordered
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12 instructor licences revoked
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Four warning letters sent to driver examiners
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13 commercial trucking companies removed from Alberta roads for poor on-road performance, unsafe equipment, or failure to meet standards
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Seven identified as “chameleon” carriers—firms that rebrand, create new entities, or relocate to dodge oversight
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National Coordination Against “Chameleon” Carriers
Alberta is working with federal, provincial, and territorial partners to tighten cross-jurisdiction enforcement. The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators is developing a national database to close loopholes in interprovincial data-sharing and stop carriers from evading sanctions by changing names or moving operations.
Backing from Industry
“Elevating driver training standards… toward a Red Seal designation is a significant step forward… fostering professionalism and integrity across the industry.”
— Don MacDonald, CCA Truck Driver Training Ltd.; Interim Chair, Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada (PTTAC)
Tackling Misclassification: “Drivers Inc.”
Alberta is targeting the Drivers Inc. scheme, where companies misclassify drivers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and benefits—often leaving workers without proper training or oversight.
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A week-long status and classification check in July 2025 found ~20% of 195 drivers stopped were suspected of being misclassified, including temporary foreign workers.
New Training Standard: Class 1 Learning Pathway
Launched April 1, Alberta’s Class 1 Learning Pathway raises the bar for entry-level training:
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125–133 in-truck hours (well above the national MELT minimum)
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Tougher licensing requirements for training schools
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Mandatory safety equipment standards
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Enhanced instructor monitoring
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Improved student complaints process to ensure consistent, high-quality training
More Changes Coming in 2025
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By late 2025, driver experience records will follow the driver, not the company—improving transparency for hiring and insurance decisions across Canada.
Ongoing Investments & Oversight
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$54.1 million over three years for training and transferability grants to support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and industry diversification.
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Routine audits, inspections, and investigations ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct and Ethics.
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Non-compliant schools, instructors, and examiners face remedial directives, re-education, fines, suspensions, or licence cancellations.
The Bottom Line
Alberta’s crackdown aims to lift safety standards, weed out bad actors, and professionalize commercial driving. For shippers and motorists in Northwestern Ontario—where national freight flows converge—these steps could mean safer highways, fewer service disruptions, and more credible training pipelines for new drivers.
