ADVOCACY

Representing our members is the most important service our Association provides. With their input, we deal with federal, provincial and municipal government representatives to promote regulations and policies that are necessary, effective, fair, enforced consistently, and don’t impose unreasonable financial or administrative burdens on motor carriers.

Below are APTA initiatives to date:

safety

Electronic logging device mandate: The ELD enforcement mandate scheduled to take effect June 2022 has been delayed another 6 months to January 2023. It seems some provinces don't feel industry is fully prepared therefore those provinces (BC, PQ, NS and NL) want to continue with education and awareness until the new year. CTA continues to push for the June 2022 deadline at least for the provinces that are ready to enforce. APTA is taking the same position as CTA. We need to start enforcing the use of ELD's. The US is going into their 5th year of ELD enforcement.
Carrier Profile uniformity across Atlantic: The Atlantic Provinces need to review their carrier profile algorithm and how they treat certain things such as accidents. the point system is different in every province therefore is not necessarily creating a level playing field and also could be a significant issue in insurance cost. APTA's position is to advocate the 4 Atlantic Government to review this item and make changes so its a level playing field for carriers.
Rest areas and parking: We have been advocating the NB and PEI government to develop some rest areas or parking in these provinces. This has been on-going for a few years now and it is becoming a real concern for the industry and drivers. APTA will continue to put pressure on Provincial Government to have these done more rest areas developed.

InfrastructuRE

Twinning of Highway 185: This has been identified as a priority for the last several years at the provincial and federal level of Government. This project is set to be completed in 2025. APTA's position is to continue to challenge the province of Quebec to finish the twining of this highway on time or earlier.
Off ramps in NB: Some off-ramps need to be improved/widened to accommodate LCV’s in the Province of NB. The more pressing is the one for Caledonia industrial park on Harrisville blvd. APTA has sent numerous letters to government on this issue and will continue to do so until these get done.
Tolls for Cobequid Pass: APTA is advocating to remove the tolls for all trucks not just the NS plated trucks. Everyone paid the tolls over the years, not just NS trucks.

Environment

New generation wide-based single tires: Convinced NB and NS to amend the regulations to allow the use of NGWBST in 2019.
Heavy Truck GHG Regulations: CTA provided comments on a Clean Fuel Standard discussion paper to Environment and Climate Change Canada, maintaining the position that any mandate must consider accepted, market-proven technologies that complement Canadian operating conditions and standards.
Environmental Protection Act: Received acknowledgement of three key CTA recommendations (technology should be tested and proven, consultation on the extension of “limp” mode, include penalties for tampering) in a report of the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

taxes

Federal excise tax refund: APTA supported a campaign by the Canadian Trucking Alliance to convince the federal government to retain the excise tax refund for diesel used to generate electricity from temperature-controlled trailers, power take-off units, auxiliary power units, and in-cab heaters. Although the campaign did not succeed, it achieved notice in a report by the opposition to the Finance Committee, specifically regarding anti-idling devices.

cross border

Cabotage: CTA has been working with the Canada Border Services Agency to develop guidance for CVSE staff to better recognize cabotage as well as a process to involve CBSA where further investigation or enforcement is required.
Cabotage part II: CTA is working with US partners to address the cabotage rule and amend it to better accommodate the movement of goods and give the ability to Canadian carriers to re-position trailers in the US. this would bring efficiencies to the supply chain.
eManifest Release Notification System: CTA worked with CBSA regarding issues related to the deployment of eManifest system updates in March 2017 without sufficient warning that affected RNS and eManifest notices. Providing guidance to members for changes and assistance for those receiving Administrative Monetary Penalty System fines related to the change.
CBSA system outages & AMPS: Supported CTA in encouraging CBSA to address continued system crashes as well as mitigation of outage impacts, including a 90-day truck turnaround plan for trucks arriving at the border without notice as an alternative to issuing AMPS fines and a review of all fines potentially related to outages.

human resources

Impending cannabis legislation: Following a member survey about the challenges cannabis represents for industry workplaces, the Canadian Trucking Alliance and Trucking HR Canada developed tools and resources to help members address potential medical or recreational use by employees.
Mandatory entry level training: Still advocating all four Atlantic Provinces to adopt Mandatory entry level training for truck drivers such as all the other Canadian provinces did over the last few years.
Overtime: Engaged local Employment and Social Development Canada officials following a poorly designed and implemented trucking industry overtime survey that does not accurately reflect industry practice.
10 paid sick days: The Federal Government has passed the legislation on 10 sick days for employees working for a federally regulated employer. In 2022, the government will begin consultations on how this legislation will be applied in the workplace, along with who pays for these days. CTA’s has had numerous discussions with the Feds on this issue and the impacts this will have on our already short handed industry.
National Occupational Classification: Advocated for amendments to the federal NOC for the truck driver occupation to more accurately reflect the skills, duties and tasks of transport drivers.

Driver Inc

Driver Inc.: Huge advocacy campaign by the CTA on this issue, APTA supports their efforts by working with provincial governments to intercept carriers that want to establish in our provinces and are identified as Driver Inc. companies. The problem is growing across Canada and ESDC has committed to expend their reach across Canada policing Driver Inc.
APTA's does not support companies that have Driver Inc. models.

For More Information

red tape & regulations

The motor carrier industry is highly regulated. APTA monitors whether regulations or policies make sense and are consistently applied, and, as appropriate, provides support for compliance. We’re also always on the lookout for red tape and ways to eliminate or reduce it for labour, time and cost savings.