On Sept. 26, a new pilot program was launched to mutually recognize regulatory requirements throughout the trucking sector. One of the big wins is regarding permit applications and other requirements for oversize loads across Canada.

The program was introduced by Dominic LeBlanc, minister of public safety, democratic institutions, and intergovernmental affairs, and Anita Anand, president of the Treasury Board and minister of transport. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador will co-chair it. Since the announcement, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (among others) have expressed their support of the program.

On behalf of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) and its members, we’re thankful to ministers LeBlanc and Anand for leading this coalition of participating jurisdictions: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

The PMTC is one of the industry associations that consistently points out the lack of uniformity in our industry and how regulations are a major hindrance to trade across the country and to carriers that transport goods from coast to coast.

Establishing mutual recognition through our industry’s patchwork of regulations is a tremendous start in removing trade barriers and enhancing the movement of goods across the country.

With this pilot program in place, drivers will no longer need to stop at each provincial/territorial border (with the current exception of B.C., Quebec and New Brunswick) and change things such as signage as each participating jurisdiction is committing to recognizing each other’s wide load permit requirements, allowing drivers to pass through without delay. However, carriers still need to apply for permits for all jurisdictions.

Remaining provinces must join

This leads to a pertinent comment: the transportation industry – and individuals, families, communities and businesses across Canada – will not fully benefit from this program without the support of B.C., Quebec and New Brunswick.

If you’re traveling west, you can’t go from Nova Scotia to Ontario without driving through New Brunswick and Quebec. And when going east, you can’t travel to the Atlantic provinces without going through Quebec.

You naturally hit a hard stop whether you’re entering or leaving B.C. On behalf of all Canadians, we need 100% support in this pilot program to remove barriers and streamline the transportation of goods throughout our country.

This step forward in mutual recognition is, hopefully, the beginning of a new wave of support that will give our industry and economy a boost. According to CFIB, the steps taken to eliminate internal trade barriers through mutual recognition could boost the economy by $200 billion annually.

As for us, this has the potential to resolve other inconsistencies, including — but not limited to — hours of service, trip inspections, and how our industry audits and monitors carriers on the road, and reviews oversight.

Inconsistent carrier safety ratings

Currently, carrier ratings vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, meaning that their safety records will be reviewed and rated differently – depending on which jurisdiction they operate out of. This pilot program shines a prominent light on the harsh reality that our provinces and territories need to be unified in how these issues are recognized, approached and resolved, no matter which jurisdiction we’re in, especially if you are a federally regulated carrier. You should be treated the same no matter which jurisdiction you are based out of.

The PMTC vows to continually point out these inconsistencies (and how they cripple trade and our industry at large) and work with our allies – Transport Canada, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), and each jurisdiction across Canada – to create harmonization, improve oversight, and resolve industry matters.

Looking ahead, we sincerely hope that B.C., Quebec and New Brunswick will join us in taking this step forward to better serve and support our industry and country.

Calling all PMTC members: join us in the movement for change across Canada! If you have a particular issue you’d like us to raise with legislators, please get in touch with me at trucks@pmtc.ca or our Western Canada business manager, Marcel Pouliot, at marcel@pmtc.ca.