Ottawa, ON – October 2025 — Fed up with rampant lawlessness throughout Canada’s trucking industry and years of disregard from Ottawa and several provinces, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has launched Stop Illegal Trucking, a national campaign to end illicit schemes destroying Canada’s trucking sector, exploiting workers, enabling human trafficking, threatening road safety, and costing Canadians billions of dollars.
For too long, the lack of enforcement and coordination across jurisdictions has allowed an underground economy to flourish. At the heart of this issue is Driver Inc., a scheme that allows companies to misclassify employee drivers as independent contractors — avoiding payroll remittances, benefits, and other employer obligations.
The result: exploited workers, unfair competition, and lost tax revenue that should be supporting Canadians in challenging economic times.
Alarmingly, the erosion of truck safety and driver licensing standards and the rise in collisions nationwide are linked to this illegal model.
“Companies that routinely cut corners on tax and labour compliance will almost certainly do the same in safety — putting unfit equipment and poorly trained drivers on the road,”
says Marco Beghetto, VP, Communications, CTA.
“This lawlessness is an existential threat to our industry and puts Canadians at severe risk. It must end immediately.”
CTA emphasizes that no new laws are needed — only the enforcement of existing ones that responsible carriers already follow.
“This isn’t just an industry fight; it’s a public safety and fiscal crisis,” says CTA Chair Greg Arndt. “Lives and livelihoods are at risk. The federal government must act now to end this systemic lawlessness.”
The Stop Illegal Trucking campaign builds on CTA’s previous “Stop Tax and Labour Abuse” initiative, expanding its focus to reflect the broader crisis in safety, border integrity, and labour standards.
Supporters can visit stopillegaltrucking.ca to learn more and demand federal action.
Quick facts about Driver Inc.:
- Misclassified drivers are denied protections such as workers’ compensation and statutory benefits.
- Carriers exploiting Driver Inc. operate with up to 35% lower payroll costs, creating unfair competition.
- The scheme costs the federal government over $5 billion annually in lost taxes and benefit contributions.
- The CRA’s moratorium on T4A enforcement has allowed illegal practices to spread unchecked.
- Driver Inc. undermines safety, fosters immigration fraud and human trafficking, and in some cases, fronts for organized crime.
“Responsible carriers pay their taxes, follow labour laws, and prioritize safety — yet they’re being punished by a system that tolerates cheating,” says Greg Arndt. “Canada can no longer afford to stand by. The lawlessness must end now.”