The House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met to study the changing landscape of truck drivers in Canada. Witnesses appearing were Stacey Horlings (owner, 6S Trinity Transport Ltd.), Michael Ludwig (operations manager, Ludwig Transport Limited), Jeff Hall (president, J&R Hall Transport Inc.), Réjean Breton (chief executive officer, Association des professionnels du dépannage du Québec), Vince Tarantini (president, Carmen Transportation Solutions Ltd.), and Mike Burstall (vice-president, Association des professionnels du dépannage du Québec).
Stacey Horlings testified that freight brokers operating domestically are not required to carry a surety bond, allowing bad actors to collect payment from customers, disappear without paying trucking companies, and then dissolve and reincorporate under a new name. She recommended a federal framework mandating surety bonds for freight brokers, arguing this would establish credibility, protect carriers and shippers, and enforce accountability, similar to U.S. requirements and standards in other Canadian industries.
Michael Ludwig described Driver Inc. as the misclassification of employees as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes, which has become a dominant operating model. He said this harms compliant carriers, drivers who lose CPP/EI and workers' compensation, and government revenue, while fragmenting safety accountability. He called for predictable, early and coordinated enforcement by the CRA, labour authorities and transportation regulators, with real consequences for deliberate misclassification.
Jeff Hall reported that six out of 10 job applicants at his company seek Driver Inc. arrangements, and that theft of his trucks went uninvestigated by police. He highlighted a lack of safe rest areas in northern Ontario, poor winter road maintenance, and the need for a graduated licensing system and 24-7 scale operations. He urged the committee to stop talking and take action, as non-compliant carriers drive down rates and threaten his family business.
Réjean Breton stated that 78% of heavy vehicles towed in Quebec are from Driver Inc. operators, with unpaid towing invoices totalling $3.8 million over two years. He recommended a payment guarantee mechanism for towing companies, holding shippers accountable, and a partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada to allow on-the-spot insurance verification. He warned that towing companies may stop renewing agreements with police, creating a road safety crisis.
Vince Tarantini testified that driver licensing and training are broken, with licences obtained through informal networks and drivers lacking basic skills. He noted that facility insurance is abused by unsafe carriers, and that enforcement focuses on roadside checks while business-level non-compliance goes undetected. He called for increased federal collaboration, better agency coordination, and a mentoring and escalation process for driver training.
Mike Burstall added that enforcement officers in Quebec are tired of checking Driver Inc. vehicles because it is too complicated, so they instead inspect compliant companies. He said that when his company tows a wrecked Driver Inc. truck, it is nearly impossible to find the owner, leaving him to pay for environmental cleanup. He supported the ability to verify insurance on the spot.
The committee adopted a motion, as amended with unanimous consent, to invite the president of Canada Post to appear within 15 days to testify on possible links with companies practising the Driver Inc. model, with a summons to be issued if the invitation is refused.
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