Commercial truck drivers to face harsher measures for bad driving

Class one tractor-trailer drivers with bad driving records can soon expect harsher measures in Alberta.

The Alberta government outlined harsher measures for commercial truck drivers on Wednesday in an effort to crack down on bad driving.

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Commercial carriers will be required to provide driving records for Class 1 tractor-trailer truck drivers when they move to another job, which means the driver’s record will follow the driver instead of the company.

Officials said in a news release that this will allow drivers to be recognized for clean records, and “bad truck drivers” to be held accountable for violations like bridge damage and reckless driving.

“The new measure will add transparency by having an individual trucker’s driving experience ensure a driver’s record follows them, so companies know exactly who the good and bad drivers are before they get behind the wheel,” Devin Dreeshen, the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors in Alberta, said in a statement.

Five fraudulent driver training schools were shut down, 13 unsafe carriers were removed, 12 instructor licences were revoked, and more than $100,000 in penalties were issued to those who did not meet safety standards within the past year, the province said.

Insurance companies will also be able to access the driving records, which government officials say will provide opportunities for more affordable insurance options to commercial carriers.

“It will help experienced drivers get recognized and insured fairly while improving overall safety, and support a stronger, more competitive trucking industry in Alberta,” Chambers Transportation Group President Ryan Chambers said in a statement.

The new measure will be phased in starting Dec. 1, and full compliance is expected from carriers by June 1, 2026.