by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Jul 30, 2025 | BLOG
On International Human Trafficking Day, we shine a light on one of Canada’s most hidden crimes labour trafficking within our trucking sector. Drivers from around the world arrive promising to work hard and build a future, only to find themselves trapped in debt bondage, unpaid overtime, and threats of deportation if they speak up.
The Scope of the Problem
In Manitoba, trucking employers hired 1,467 temporary foreign workers in 2023 a surge of nearly 1,300 percent from five years earlier while training and reporting measures for these vulnerable employees remain critically lacking.
A United Nations Human Rights Council report highlights how Canada’s LMIA process can be exploited by recruiters, training schools, temp agencies, and carriers working in concert. Drivers often incur debts of $40,000–$80,000 in recruitment fees and then endure sub-legal wages and withheld pay to service that debt.
How You Can Help
– Educate your drivers and dispatchers on the red flags: isolation from peers, withheld passports or work documents, unexplained debt and contract changes, and threats of deportation.
– Partner with organizations like Know Human Trafficking, Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement to install posters and helpline information at terminals, rest stops, and training schools.
– Encourage all drivers and dispatchers to complete free training through Know Human Trafficking to recognize and respond to labour trafficking indicators.
– Advocate for stricter enforcement of labour standards by urging provincial authorities to suspend carriers found guilty of wage theft, worker misclassification, or trafficking offences.
Resources & Reporting
– Call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010
– Contact your provincial employment standards branch to report wage theft or forced labour
– Reach out to Know Human Trafficking for support and training materials
Together, we can ensure every individual on Canada’s roads works under fair conditions with dignity, legal protections, and the freedom they deserve.
Top 5 Signs of Labour Trafficking in the Trucking Industry in Canada
1. Confiscation or withholding of identification documents
Victims are often forced to hand over passports, driver’s licences or work permits, with employers claiming they “need” them for processing or to ensure compliance. This tactic leaves workers without proof of legal status and makes it nearly impossible to leave or seek help.
2. Excessive recruitment fees or deceptive job offers
Labour traffickers advertise trucking jobs that promise high pay, then require migrants to pay thousands sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in recruitment or “head tax” fees. Such offers turn out to be bait-and-switch schemes, leaving workers indebted and trapped in exploitative contracts.
3. Threats of deportation, retaliation or reporting to authorities
Employers exploit the precarious immigration status of temporary foreign workers by threatening to report them to immigration or police if they complain, attempt to leave or demand fair treatment. Fear of losing their right to remain in Canada silences many victims.
4. Wage theft, withheld pay or unpaid overtime
Common tactics include withholding paychecks, underpaying hourly rates, refusing overtime compensation and imposing arbitrary fines for minor infractions. Workers discover they’re earning far less than agreed, but risk reprisal if they challenge the abuse.
5. Unreasonable work hours, unsafe conditions and isolation
Trafficked drivers often endure excessive hours behind the wheel without mandated breaks, live in company-controlled accommodations with poor hygiene or safety standards, and have little to no contact with the outside world. These conditions endanger both their physical health and legal well-being.
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 8, 2024 | Career Board
Company Overview
Founded in 2018, Environmental 360 Solutions (E360S) is dedicated to becoming North
Americas leading and most trusted environmental management company. Growing through
acquisition and organic growth, E360S provides environmental and waste management
solutions to municipalities and commercial customers.
Job Description
A great opportunity exists for an experienced DZ TRUCK DRIVER to support our team and
ensure our fleet service standards are met. Working in a team environment all job duties
support the collection and recycling of batteries, and hazardous waste, preparing/packaging of
material for shipment, and loading/ unloading materials.
Position Responsibilities
Operate one or more vehicle types with both automatic and standard transmissions and
collect solid waste, yard waste and/or recyclables on a collection route. Route may vary
daily based on service needs
Complete pre-trip and post-trip safety lane inspections and reports, daily truck report,
route sheets and other documentation requested by the supervisor daily
Communicate vehicle mechanical problems to mechanic and supervisor immediately.
Operate truck and equipment using prescribed techniques to eliminate driver-induced
mechanical failures.
Follow safety standards, equipment checks and precautions in performance of all duties.
Comply with all national, provincial, local and rules on safety and vehicle operation.
Maintain a clean vehicle by cleaning cab interior and exterior of vehicle.
Attend daily safety meetings as per site requirements.
Qualifications and Experience
Valid class DZ drivers’ license (required)
2+ years of commercial driving experience
Clear driver’s abstract
Experience working in safety regulated environments
Ensure safety is a priority
Excellent interpersonal, service skills and ability to develop effective working
relationships
Strong commitment to excellence, accuracy, and attention to detail
Exceptional time-management skills
Demonstrated flexibility in adapting to a wide variety of tasks and functions
Ability to wear protective equipment (metatarsal work boots, ear/eye protection, hard hat,
safety vest/gloves)
Prioritizations skills with the ability to adapt to change
Ability to work in demanding environments (noise, dust, contamination)
Ability to lift 50 kg
What We Offer
Competitive hourly wages with premiums
Company sponsored benefits
Paid training
RRSP/DPSP Contributions
Candidates can email recruitment@e360s.ca and put the name of the job and location in the subject line
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Jul 30, 2024 | Career Board
Wilride Transport Ltd. is looking for experienced AZ cross-border drivers to run east coast, mid-west, south and with good time management skills, and a good understanding of the industry.
The ideal candidate for this job has the experience and has the ability to communicate effectively. If you are looking to join a premier transportation company, and become an integral part of results-oriented team send a resume today we would like to speak with you. Send resume to recruiting@wilride.com
We Offer:
- Competitive wage
- Paid drops/pickups, mileage, border crossing, clean inspection bonus, safety bonus.
- Driver referral bonus
- Group benefits/Pension plan available upon hire, no waiting period.
- Reliable, clean, maintained trucks.
- Passengers permitted.
- No/Limited touch LTL.
- Bi-weekly direct deposit
- Pets permitted
- Out of Country coverage Day 1
- Paid Drops/Picks/Clean Inspection/safety Bonus
Qualifications:
- AZ Truck Driver with a minimum of 2 years of cross-border experience.
- Clean Canada wide criminal search and a Resident of Canada
- Satisfactory road test
- Good references
- Negative pre-employment drug test
- Effective Communication skills
- Punctual and reliable
- A clean driving record
Regional Responsibilities:
- Safely transporting goods to and from specified locations according to company deliver schedules
- Maintaining an accurate logbook of driving activities, detailing the number of hours worked, deliveries completed, and rest periods.
- Properly secure goods to ensure that they are not damaged in transit
- Assist using a forklift on our cross-dock when required
- Obtaining signatures from customers upon completion of each delivery to confirm receipt of goods
- Notifying management of any accidents, parking tickets, vehicle damage, and major maintenance issues
- Ensuring that the company truck is always clean and well-maintained
- Complete a successful road test.
By applying to this position, you are confirming you possess either a Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or work permit.
Located:
77 Arrow Road Guelph, ON N1K 1S8
Website:
www.wilride.com
We are committed to diversity and inclusion and thank all applicants in advance.
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Feb 8, 2024 | BLOG
The System in place currently has been broken for a long time, and solutions offered by Industry have yet to be
acted upon.
(the below is an exert of a communication that was sent by the PMTC to the CCMTA, Transport Canada & The
Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation)
Currently Commercial Motor Carriers who wish to operate a trucking fleet in Canada must apply for a Safety
Fitness Certificate to the Provincial Authority in which they plan to licence their vehicles. If the Provincial Authority
of the base jurisdiction approves the application, a National Safety Code (NSC) will be issued to the Carrier. The
base jurisdiction is then responsible for monitoring the motor carrier for safety and compliance, based on National
Safety Code 14, which is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) all jurisdictions agreed to several years back.
https://www.ccmta.ca/en/national-safety-code
While in theory this process comes across as seamless and consistent, the reality of how carriers are monitored
from one Canadian provincial jurisdiction to the other vary significantly. For instance, if you were to run a Safety
Fitness Certificate from a carrier based in Ontario and then run one from a carrier in Alberta, it would be almost
impossible to compare the safety rating of the two fleets and decipher which one is the safest of the two.
The substantial differences in how one jurisdiction scores a carriers’ provincial safety rating compared to another,
also leads to chameleon carriers simply closing shop in one jurisdiction and opening in another, exploiting the lack
of communication between jurisdictions and simply open again in a different location. In addition, there are many
carriers in Canada, who exploit the lack of a central reporting system, and the lack of checks and balances in place
between jurisdictions. They start several fleets, register each of them in different jurisdictions with different
National Safety Code Numbers. When they face challenges in one jurisdiction, they simply continue to operate in
the others by transferring vehicles over to the fleet in different jurisdictions so they can continue to operate across
the country despite an undesirable safety profile.
The recent case with Chohan Freight Forwarders in British Columbia illustrates the current problem. The fleet had
its operating authority suspended in British Columbia but had another federally regulated fleet operating out of
Alberta. The absence of a coordinated and centralized system has basically allowed this fleet, deemed unsafe by
one jurisdiction, to continue to operate across the country, including into the province that just suspended their
operating authority. A fleet should only be allowed to have one National Safety Code Number. A central reporting
system would alleviate this type of unsafe practice and ensure a proper tracking system across the country.
https://www.trucknews.com/health-safety/b-c-asks-feds-to-reduce-safety-gaps-following-overpass-crashes/1003181013/
To further showcase how the lack of a centralized and uniformed regulated system may cause alarming road safety
issues, a simple internet search by one of our insurance company members demonstrates the seriousness of the
problem. Back in 2022, it was found that 34 Trucking Companies were listed as operating at the same address in
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, while another 54 companies were found to be listed as operating at one address in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Most of the emails associated with these companies were the same, from a consultant in
Brampton, Ontario. A quick check at the time showed no trucks were located in either of these locations, despite
records showing 88 trucking companies being registered at these locations. This is just one example of “jurisdiction
shopping” when trucking companies set up their business in a location to save on operating costs, insurance,
oversight, or can easily “relocate” as a result of being shut down in another jurisdiction.
To rectify this issue, we need a national recognized MOU that is more descriptive than what is currently in place
and has some teeth, to create a standardized Carrier Provincial Safety Rating. We must ensure that all the regions across the country monitor and audit carriers following the same consistent criteria with results easily accessible from a central reporting system/one stop shop. Hence, everyone will be able to see and compare a carriers’ safety rating score regardless of the region from which it has been completed and submitted. A seamless access to results
about the carrier’s compliance/non-compliance must be easily accessible to all, including the shippers who could
then verify the safety of the fleet they are hiring.
To achieve this goal, coordinated and harmonized jurisdictional regulations are needed. The current
inconsistencies in regulations and enforcement from one jurisdiction to another reduces efficiency and increase
burdens and cost to the industry. Sadly, it also leads to some carriers who do not have safety and compliance at
the top of their priorities to go jurisdiction shopping to find the one with the least stringent regulations to register
their fleet in.
The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada has been raising this issue at meetings with governments since 2015,
and the most recent case in British Columbia highlights the seriousness of this issue. It needs to be addressed
promptly by regulators, & the PMTC is ready and willing to work together with regulators on this process.
Questions regarding this article please contact :
Mike Millian President
Private Motor Truck Council of Canada
trucks@pmtc.ca
by Fiona Stone | Oct 19, 2023 | Career Board
Employment Opportunity
Long Haul Truck Driver Needed!!
Watt & Stewart Commodities Inc. located at 4134 3rd Streat East, Claresholm, AB T0L 0T0 is looking for ten (10) Long Haul Truck Drivers (NOC: 73300)
Employer: Watt & Stewart Commodities Inc.
Work location: 4134 3rd Streat East, Claresholm, AB T0L 0T0 & Various routes in Canada and USA
Vacancies: 10 Vacancies
Salary: $34.25 – $35.00/ Hour for 40 -70 Hours / Week (calculated based on mileage and type of rig)
Benefits: Health Benefits: Health Care Plan and Dental Plan; Financial Benefits: Mileage paid, Safety Bonus, High Mileage Bonus, Retention Bonus and Referral Bonus; Subject to wage increase and incentives
Terms of employment: Permanent, Full time, On Call
Start date: As soon as possible
Employment conditions: Day, evening, night, weekend, on call.
Languages: English
Education: No degree, certificate or diploma.
Experience: Experience an asset
Personal Suitability: Reliability, organized
Credentials: Driver’s license (Class 1 or A); Air brake endorsement (Z)
Transportation/Travel Information: Willing to travel cross-border, Willing to travel for extended periods, Valid driver’s license
Security and Safety: Valid passport, Medical exam, Driving record check (abstract), Drug test, Criminal record check, Basic security clearance
Own Tools/ Equipment: Steel-toed safety boots
Tasks: Hauling general commodities using flatbed trailers throughout Canada and the United States; Hauling Lumber, pipe and wide loads; Operate and drive straight or articulated trucks to transport goods and materials; Tarping and ensuring safety and security of cargo; Receive and relay information to central dispatch; Perform break adjustments; Perform emergency roadside repairs; Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled and fuel consumption; Perform pre-trip, en route and post-trip inspection and oversee all aspects of vehicle; Oversee condition of vehicle and inspect tires, lights, brakes, cold storage and other equipment; Load and unload goods; Perform preventive maintenance; Mountain driving expertise; Professionalism in customer service; Communication Systems Experience: Operate GPS (Global Positioning System) and other navigation equipment; Documentation Knowledge: Trans-border documentation, Driver logbook, Bill of lading, Trip reports, Maintenance and repair reports, Accident or incident reports, Inspection report (pre-trip, en-route, post-trip).
Type of Trucking and Equipment: Tractor-trailer, Flatbed
Weight Handling: Up to 13.5 kg (30 lbs)
Transportation/Travel Experience: International, National, Long-Haul
Work Setting: Willing to relocate
Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Physically demanding, Attention to detail, Repetitive tasks, Sitting for extended periods of time
Underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply: Persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, Newcomers to Canada.
How to apply:
By email: cplace@wattstewart.com
By fax: 403-625-4185
By mail: 4134 3rd Street East Claresholm, AB T0L 0T0
