Trucking groups call for action on Driver Inc.

TEAMSTERS CANADA, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), and the Association du camionnage du Québec (ACQ) have joined forces to call for urgent federal action to put the brakes on the growing Driver Inc. crisis in the country’s trucking sector.

Driver Inc. refers to truck drivers who incorporate, often at the request of dishonest employers who want to pay lower taxes and avoid other payroll deductions. But in reality, these drivers are indistinguishable from regular employees, lacking truck ownership, route choice, or any real independence or financial risk.

Truckers engaged in Driver Inc. are not only missing out on essential protections like workers’ compensation and employment insurance, but are also being duped into believing they’ll have higher earnings, said François Laporte, president of Teamsters Canada.

The trucking industry and labour unions are urging the federal government to increase investment in enforcement and penalties for those involved in the Driver Inc scam. In addition, they call for a coordinated effort between the CRA, the Labour Program, and provincial governments to protect truck drivers and preserve the integrity of the trucking industry.

“None of this is legal, and they could end up losing tens of thousands if they are audited. Because they lack information about rights and obligations in Canada, new Canadians and temporary foreign

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“The trucking industry is facing an existential crisis due to a labour abuse and tax avoidance scheme. We need the Canada Revenue Agency and the Labour Program to tackle these issues with the enforcement resources this crisis needs,” said Stephen Laskowski, president of the CTA.

“We need substantial audits on carriers involved in the Driver Inc scam. The laws are already in place, they need to be enforced before it’s too late!”

According to Marc Cadieux, president of the ACQ, Driver Inc. is costing governments at least $1 billion annually

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By Emily