LETTER: Truckers seek improved safety enforcement, operator training

The following letter was sent to BayToday.com by Travis McDougall, Co-Founder of Truckers for Safer Highways

Winter is upon us and we have yet to see any improvements to the safety enforcement and training of commercial drivers in Ontario. 

We know that winter creates dangerous road conditions. This is concerning considering the quality of training drivers have received to be on our highways today.

With each winter season, the rates of collisions involving commercial vehicles are increasing. Unfortunately, we are seeing many collisions that could have been prevented if drivers were properly prepared to handle the conditions they face. Many new drivers are entering the industry completely unprepared.

See related: Truckers advocate for improved highway safety

To add to the many issues concerning safety and training within the trucking industry the enforcement of the rules and regulations drivers are required to adhere to has fallen below the standards needed to keep our highways safe. 

See previous letters to the editor from McDougall: Major flaws within the licensing of new transport drivers throughout the country 

And: Provincial government appears not to be interested in safer highways

Many of the scales and inspection stations in northern Ontario are closed with concrete barriers and the ones that are not are rarely open. This removes a valuable tool the Ministry of Transportation needs to properly monitor the safe operation of commercial vehicles.

We would like to see the Ontario government make improvements to the training of new drivers and the enforcement of commercial vehicles.

Regards,

Travis McDougall
Co-Founder
Truckers for Safer Highways