Alberta has revoked the licences of five commercial driver training schools and shut down 13 trucking companies after a months-long investigation into unsafe practices across the industry.
Devin Dreeshen, transportation and economic corridors minister, told trucknews.com the crackdown followed a surge in highway incidents, including bridge strikes involving trucks with high loads.
“It was that rash of accidents that really had us look into wanting to do this major investigation within the trucking industry,” he said. “Whether it be the driver training schools or the commercial carriers themselves … we wanted to make sure that we did all the due diligence before we went public.”
The province’s Driver Training and Oversight Unit spent six months investigating schools, uncovering fraudulent reporting and record-keeping that allowed students to bypass required classroom and in-cab training hours. “That type of fraud was the biggest recurring issue,” Dreeshen said.
The investigation led to 39 disciplinary letters, more than $100,000 in administrative penalties, six corrective action plans, 12 revoked instructor licenses, and four warning letters to driver examiners.
Targeting ‘chameleon’ carriers
On the carrier side, 13 companies were removed from Alberta’s roads due to poor performance, unsafe equipment, or failure to meet safety standards. Seven were identified as “chameleon” carriers – firms that evade oversight by changing names, creating new entities, or shifting operations across jurisdictions.
“Chameleon carriers were a particular focus,” Dreeshen said. “It takes a lot of collaboration with other provincial ministries to make sure we could catch these bad actors, because it ultimately just gives the trucking industry a bad name.”
Alberta has since increased engagement with schools through workshops designed to raise standards and strengthen oversight. Dreeshen said closer monitoring of examiners and instructors will be key to restoring trust.
Don MacDonald, operations manager at CCA Truck Driver Training and interim chairman of the Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada, said in a news release that elevating training standards to the level of a designated trade, with the eventual goal of Red Seal recognition, represents an important step for the industry. He added the move will not only improve safety but also bolster professionalism and integrity across the sector.
Labor issues
Beyond training and equipment safety, Dreeshen pointed to ongoing labor issues, particularly the misclassification of drivers as contractors rather than employees. He said he will continue to advocate on the issue and plans to raise it at the next meeting of federal, provincial and territorial transportation ministers.
His message to those still cutting corners was blunt: “Follow the rules.”
At the same time, he commended operators already meeting expectations. “Albertans rely on truck drivers and the goods they deliver every day,” he said, adding that the province wants more people to view trucking as a rewarding career and to take pride in the profession.
