Authority for the harmonization of regulations and safety standards has been delegated to the provinces. There are different and incompatible safety regulations among provinces. The current reality for the industry is that there are eleven bosses to report to, including the federal Minister of Transport. It takes forever to get anything done. There is no end in sight after thirteen years of trying to develop a National Safety Code.
Carriers operate in a balkanized system.
The solution is for the federal government to show leadership. Further, a national database of carriers with clearly defined safety objectives should be created and funded by registration fees or fuel taxes. Foreign carriers are not audited at all. The trucking industry is very competitive. The lack of enforcement allows carriers to cut corners and creates an uneven playing field.