“Our government is continuing to take tough enforcement action to improve safety across the trucking industry. We are applying vigilant oversight of carriers and driver training schools through inspections, audits and targeted investigations.
“Since October, we’ve issued 443 administrative penalties and eliminated 20 unsafe carriers from Alberta’s roads, 13 of which were “chameleon carriers” – companies that try to avoid regulatory oversight by changing names, creating new entities or relocating operations across jurisdictions. In the past year, six carriers have been removed from the International Registration Plan (IRP) for misrepresentation of their jurisdiction.
“In June, Alberta took action against Conquer Transportation Inc. following a collision resulting in a fatality in Manitoba. An investigation identified wilful and sustained non-compliance that posed serious and ongoing risk to the public. It was further determined that the carrier was engaged in chameleon practices to evade compliance and enforcement. Enforcement actions included $16,500 in administrative penalties and downgrading the carrier’s Safety Fitness Rating to Unsatisfactory, effectively shutting down its operations immediately.
“We continue to work with our federal and provincial/territorial partners to strengthen enforcement across jurisdictions including addressing chameleon carriers. Work is also underway by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators to develop a national database to address the loophole that carriers currently use to exploit gaps in interprovincial data sharing and enforcement. In Alberta alone, 40 chameleon carriers were prevented from obtaining their safety fitness certificates through documentation review.
“Alberta is also targeting the misclassified driver scheme known as Drivers Inc., through which companies hire drivers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and benefits. These drivers often lack proper training and oversight and have fewer protections. In May, a three-day commercial driver status check stop revealed that 20 per cent of the 81 drivers stopped were suspected of being misclassified, including several temporary foreign workers.
“To date, we have shut down five fraudulent Class 1 trucking schools. Since April 1, 2025, 95 per cent (53 of 56) of licensed Class 1 driver training schools have been inspected. Alberta’s government maintains a commitment to ongoing oversight of all driver training schools throughout the province.
“Alberta is working with other provinces to advocate for Red Seal certification for commercial drivers to elevate driver training standards, and it is the first province to begin work on a trade designation for commercial drivers.
“We will continue to work with industry partners to build on this progress and ensure that only safe, qualified drivers, carriers and training schools operate in the province’s trucking sector.”