Yesterday, in Caledon East, a municipality in the Region of Peel located northwest of Brampton, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stopped a truck from a driving school for several significant violations.
According to a post shared on social media, the truck lacked proper company identification, did not have the required inspection documents, and had other compliance issues. Both the driver and the driving school were charged.
This intervention is part of a broader effort by authorities to address safety violations. Earlier this month, Peel Regional Police’s Road Safety Services conducted an inspection of another driving school vehicle, uncovering alarming issues: tires worn beyond legal limits, multiple air leaks, a broken air tank bracket, and front tires making contact with air lines. These serious violations led to the removal of the truck and trailer’s plates, and charges were filed against the driver and the school.
Questionable Practices in the Truck Driving School Industry
These incidents highlight systemic problems within Ontario’s truck driving school industry. Promotions for Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) programs advertised at $3,000 or $3,500 on social media raise concerns about the quality of training provided at such low prices. These rates are simply not realistic when considering the actual costs of operating a proper training program.
The result of such cut-rate practices? Poorly maintained vehicles and inadequately trained drivers, posing significant risks to all road users. In densely populated urban areas like Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon—home to many of these schools—these dangerous trucks are accidents waiting to happen, endangering pedestrians, including schoolchildren.
Critical Conditions in Northern Ontario
Meanwhile, in Northern Ontario, concerns are growing over road conditions and insufficient training for commercial drivers. During Question Period at Queen’s Park, Cochrane NDP MPP John Vanthof condemned the dangerous state of highway 11 and 17, which are frequently closed due to multiple accidents. He emphasized the lack of training tailored to the harsh winter driving conditions in the region.
Vanthof, alongside other Northern representatives, reminded the government that road safety is a fundamental responsibility. He called for concrete measures to ensure all drivers, particularly commercial ones, receive proper training. However, the government has been slow to act, despite mounting fatalities on these critical routes.
A Long Way to Go
While efforts by the OPP and Peel Regional Police are commendable, they are not enough to tackle the widespread issue. Truck driving schools that neglect their responsibilities continue to jeopardize public safety, and Northern Ontario’s roads remain treacherous for families and professional drivers alike. Poorly trained drivers, unfortunately, are not just an Ontario problem—they threaten road safety across Canada.
