Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Oct. 6, 2025:
- How one Canadian province is addressing safety.
- A Canadian fleet is expanding its U.S. footprint with a recent acquisition.
- Large trucking organization begins search for new leader as current president announces retirement.
Canadian province shuts down trucking schools, fleets for unsafe practices
With the United States putting attention on states’ non-domiciled CDL issuance practices in an effort to improve highway safety, our neighbors to the north have set their sights on CDL schools and trucking companies.
The province of Alberta announced Oct. 3 that it’s “cracking down on unsafe commercial driver training schools and bad actors in the trucking industry to keep roads safe.”
Through inspections, audits and targeted investigations, Alberta’s government has ordered the closure of five truck driver training schools and has issued 39 disciplinary letters, more than $100,000 in administrative fines and six corrective action plans. It's revoked 12 instructor licenses and sent four warning letters to driver examiners.
[Related: DOT hopes to force 194,000 non-domiciled CDL holders out of trucking]
Additionally, 13 commercial trucking companies have been removed from Alberta’s roads due to poor on-road performance, unsafe equipment or failure to meet mandatory safety standards, the provincial government said. Of those 13, seven were identified as “chameleon” carriers that tried to avoid regulatory oversight by changing names, creating new entities or relocating operations across jurisdictions.
Alberta said it’s working with federal and provincial/territorial partners to strengthen enforcement across jurisdictions, including addressing chameleon carriers. Work is also underway by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators to develop a national database to address the loophole that carriers currently use to exploit gaps in interprovincial data sharing and enforcement.
[Related: DOT initiates audit of FMCSA's CDL skills-testing oversight]
Alberta is also targeting the misclassified driver scheme known as Drivers Inc., where companies hire drivers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and benefits.
“These drivers often lack proper training and oversight and are vulnerable to exploitation,” the Alberta government said. “In July 2025, a week-long commercial driver status and classification check stop revealed that 20% of the 195 drivers stopped were suspected of being misclassified, including several temporary foreign workers.”
[Related: Washington admits mistake in issuing Harjinder Singh and 685 other non-citizens full-term CDLs]
Trimac expands with acquisition of Gulf Coast chemical hauler
Trimac Transportation has acquired Houston, Texas-based Service Transport Company (STC). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A provider of chemical hauling services with 16 locations and four tank wash facilities across the U.S. Gulf Coast, STC is one of the largest chemical tank carriers in the region, with a fleet of nearly 290 tractors and 750 trailers and more than 300 drivers.
“Service Transport Company has built a reputation for safety, reliability, and customer service, and we are thrilled to welcome them into the Trimac family,” said Matt Faure, president and CEO of Trimac. “Their expertise in chemical hauling aligns perfectly with our long-term growth strategy, and together we will strengthen our ability to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient transportation solutions.”
Founded in 1965, the company serves a portfolio of chemical producers, including shipments of hydrogen peroxide, acrylic acid, solvents, surfactants, and other specialty products. These commodities are also core to Trimac’s service offering, reinforcing the strategic fit and enabling both companies to deliver enhanced value to customers across North America.
“Service Transport has been dedicated to safe and reliable service in the chemical sector for six decades,” said Wade Harrison, President of STC. “Together with Trimac, we can deliver even greater value to the customers who have trusted us for decades.”
[Related: Trimac acquires Canadian flatbed, heavy-haul fleet]
TCA President Jim Ward announces retirement
Truckload Carriers Association President Jim Ward will retire in the coming months, TCA announced Oct. 2. In addition to serving as TCA President, Ward was previously the president and CEO of D.M. Bowman.
Jim Ward
Since becoming TCA President in 2022, Ward has played a pivotal role in strengthening the Association’s influence, expanding its programs, and deepening its engagement with members, the association said, adding that his leadership also helped position TCA as a respected and united voice for the truckload sector across North America.
“This decision has been in the works for some time, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” said Ward. “TCA is strong, its future is bright, and I look forward to watching the Association continue to grow and flourish in the years ahead.”
In preparation for this transition, TCA has established a search committee tasked with identifying Ward’s successor. The committee is committed to selecting a leader who will carry forward TCA’s mission and values, while advancing growth, strengthening relationships in Washington and embracing innovation and technology.
“Jim’s leadership has had a lasting impact on TCA and the entire truckload industry,” said Karen Smerchek, TCA Chairman and President of Veriha Trucking. “This transition reflects the next step in a carefully considered succession plan, and we are deeply grateful for the stability and strength Jim has brought to the Association.”
The search process is now underway. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit resumes and cover letters to [email protected]. The job description and additional information can be found here.
