This morning, three major voices in the trucking industry came together in Montreal, Quebec, for a joint press conference against the Driver Inc. scheme.
The Association du Camionnage du Québec (ACQ), the Association des professionnels du dépannage du Québec (APDQ), and the Teamsters Union joined forces to demand urgent action from Premier François Legault to address the pressing issue of “Driver Inc.”
Serious Consequences for the Industry and Society
Held at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Montreal, the conference shed light on the numerous negative impacts of this illegal practice. “Driver Inc.” is based on the misclassification of drivers as self-employed incorporated workers, despite their ineligibility for such a status. This scheme, widely used by unscrupulous companies, allows them to bypass source deductions, social contributions, and labor standards, to the detriment of Quebec’s economy, road safety, and workers’ rights.
François Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada, stated:
“Driver Inc. practices exploit vulnerable workers and create unfair competition not just in Quebec but also in Ontario, where honest workers are also affected. It is critical for the Ontario government to align efforts with Quebec to put an end to this scheme.”
Representatives from each organization detailed the economic, social, and fiscal consequences of this practice while emphasizing its effects on safety and working conditions for drivers.
Marc Cadieux, President of the ACQ, explained:
“Fraudsters are increasingly conducting their illegal activities with impunity in Quebec. They threaten not only the economic health of our businesses but also the safety of road users. The Legault government must act faster and more decisively on this public-interest issue.”
Environmental and Operational Impacts
During the conference, Réjean Breton of the APDQ highlighted a pressing issue related to “Driver Inc.”: trucks being stranded for hours or even days due to non-payment for towing services. Local towing companies, faced with unpaid invoices, often refuse to intervene, leaving vehicles immobilized and compounding challenges for the transportation industry.
Breton also stressed the environmental risks associated with these delays. When trucks remain stranded for extended periods, leaking fuel tanks or other hazardous spills can occur. These prolonged inactions exacerbate environmental damage and underscore the urgent need for measures to prevent such incidents.
He added:
“Our companies are incurring millions of dollars in losses due to unpaid invoices, all while complying with their legal obligations. Since the primary requesters of these roadside assistance services—the Sûreté du Québec and Contrôle Routier Québec (SAAQ)—are government agencies, the APDQ is asking the government to implement a guaranteed payment mechanism to protect these businesses.”
A Call for Immediate Action
The three organizations urged Premier François Legault to take swift action to end these practices and safeguard the integrity of the industry as well as workers’ rights. It’s not the drivers who are being targeted, but the companies exploiting the “Driver Inc.” scheme.
Jean Chartrand, Special Advisor to Teamsters Canada, concluded:
“By failing to act, the Legault government is enabling the loss of thousands of well-paying, unionized jobs. This is unacceptable. We must protect these jobs that support Quebec families and our province’s economy.”
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This text was translated with the assistance of an AI translator.
