Harjot Singh, a 22-year-old truck driver from Brampton, Ontario, has been sentenced to one year in jail following a hit-and-run collision that caused serious injuries.
The incident occurred in July 2023 in Sainte-Hélène-de-Bagot, Quebec. Singh failed to stop at a mandatory stop sign at the intersection of Rang Saint-Augustin and 5th Avenue, causing a minivan to crash directly into the side of his truck.
A family of five was inside the minivan, including three children. The impact was so violent that both parents were ejected from the vehicle in front of their children. The father suffered multiple fractures and a head injury, while the mother was left in a coma.
An Inexperienced and Panicked Driver
Singh had obtained his commercial driver’s licence only a few months earlier, and this was his first trip between Montreal and Quebec City. According to testimony translated from Punjabi during the trial, he panicked after the crash and fled the scene without offering help. He drove nearly 10 kilometers before being stopped by Quebec provincial police. At the time of his arrest, his phone had been in a video call for 26 minutes, covering the time of the collision. The Crown had requested a sentence between 12 and 24 months; the judge ultimately imposed a full one-year jail term.
A video captured the moment a truck driver unknowingly passed Singh on the highway shortly after the crash—unaware Singh had just been involved in a serious collision and was fleeing the scene. The trailer was misaligned with the truck and showed clear signs of a collision. He was arrested shortly after by authorities : https://www.facebook.com/truckstopquebec/videos/634597619349272
Lack of Proper Training and Oversight
This tragic case highlights growing concerns about the lack of proper training among new truck drivers. In Quebec, around 5,800 new commercial drivers get their heavy vehicle licences each year, yet the theoretical exam pass rate is only 32%. Several driving schools have been flagged all over the country for offering incomplete or non-compliant training. Yet, some continue to issue licences, particularly in Ontario, where many drivers hit the road without mastering basic maneuvers, often without ever having driven in winter or taken a practical test from an employer.
“Driver Inc.”: A Model That Fuels the Problem
Singh’s case is also tied to a wider issue in the industry: the “Driver Inc.” model. This practice involves classifying truck drivers as independent contractors, thereby denying them access to basic labor protections. This scheme has led to a $2 billion tax loss over 12 years. While this approach can cut operating costs for companies by 20% to 50%, it puts vulnerable workers at risk—often new immigrants with limited training and few legal resources. This system undermines compliant companies while allowing those that exploit the loophole to continue operating with little consequence. These companies that exploit the system often show zero regard for road safety — for them, profit comes before lives.
Limited Road Enforcement
Meanwhile, Quebec’s highway enforcement officers — Contrôle routier Québec — are facing serious limitations. A ruling by the province’s Administrative Labour Tribunal prevents them from conducting active patrols unless they are armed, and since CRQ officers do not carry firearms, they are restricted to stationary inspection points. As a result, many trucks with violations go unchecked. Some even drive past open weigh stations without stopping, ignoring the flashing inspection lights. In some cases, drivers wave at officers as they go by, knowing they won’t be pursued…
A Broken System in Urgent Need of Reform
Harjot Singh’s prison sentence sheds light on serious weaknesses in the trucking industry. Sadly, this case is not isolated. It reflects a larger systemic failure—where economic pressure, insufficient oversight, questionable business practices, and inadequate training create a dangerous mix. Without firm government action, undertrained drivers will continue to share the road with responsible professionals and families, putting everyone at risk.
Recent investigative reports by journalists Francis Halin and Denis Therriault have exposed the presence of thousands of “Drivers Inc” on Canadian roads, poorly trained, underpaid, and often operating unsafe vehicles, posing a real threat to public safety.
Anyone who travels along Highways 11 and 17 in Northern Ontario can see the extent of the problem. Truckers on the Trans-Canada Highway and local residents are witnesses to these daily risks, and sometimes, victims.
The Tragic Case of André Luneau
One such victim was André Luneau, 57, a driver for Transport Christian Forcier, a Quebec company. In January 2025, he was killed on Highway 11 near Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario, when another truck veered out of its lane and hit him head-on. His death illustrates the daily risks faced by truck drivers and other road users due to poor hiring and training practices.
While jail time is imposed in some cases, punitive measures are not enough unless the root causes are addressed. Without serious reform to training, regulation, and enforcement in the trucking sector, tragedies like this will continue. Innocent lives will remain at risk, and it won’t just be negligent drivers with blood on their hands. The problem is well documented, yet political inaction and lack of courage continue to delay the solutions that could prevent future disasters.
Read More :
Ontario’s Highway 11-17: Crashes, Broken Lives… and Government Neglect
Deport him after jail