Canada needs more cohesive national regulations covering the trucking industry, according to a government report.

The Canada Transportation Act Review Panel last week released a report called the current trucking regulatory system "fragmented," with each province setting its own regulations on hours of service and types of trucks allowed on the road.
The report suggests that Canada should look south for inspiration to the United States, where the federal government sets such regulations. Some western provinces put no limit on the number of consecutive days a trucker can spend working full 15-hour shifts, the report notes. It also points out that fierce competition has left owner-operators struggling for very low wages.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance was pleased that the panel called for a stronger federal role in Canadian truck safety. However, it expressed concern that the panel recommended a weight-distance tax to help pay for a national highway infrastructure investment agency.