Twenty ‘unsafe’ trucking companies shut down by Canadian government

Transportation officials announced sweeping enforcement action targeting Albert’s trucking sector to remove chameleon carriers and fraudsters from Canadian roadways.

Twenty “unsafe” trucking companies have been “eliminated” from the road since October 2025, according to an August 6 statement from Alberta’s Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen. This includes thirteen “chameleon carriers,” or trucking companies that change names in order to avoid regulatory oversight.

An additional 40 chameleon carriers were prevented from obtaining their safety fitness certificates as part of the ongoing crackdown.

Transportation authorities have also issued 443 administrative penalties to trucking companies since October.

Dresheen pointed to a fatality crash that took place on May 27 in Brandon that was tied to an accused chameleon carrier that reopened as Conquer Transportation Inc. after the government of Manitoba revoked certification for the company under the name Conquer Transport in 2021.

“In June, Alberta took action against Conquer Transportation Inc. following a collision resulting in a fatality in Manitoba. An investigation identified wilful and sustained non-compliance that posed serious and ongoing risk to the public. It was further determined that the carrier was engaged in chameleon practices to evade compliance and enforcement. Enforcement actions included $16,500 in administrative penalties and downgrading the carrier’s Safety Fitness Rating to Unsatisfactory, effectively shutting down its operations immediately,” Dreeshen said.

In addition to the twenty trucking company closures, officials also announced the closure of five “fraudulent” Class 1 trucking schools.

Further, Dresheen said that action is being taken against an employment scheme that he says is placing unsafe truck drivers on Alberta’s roads.

“Alberta is also targeting the misclassified driver scheme known as Drivers Inc., through which companies hire drivers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and benefits. These drivers often lack proper training and oversight and have fewer protections. In May, a three-day commercial driver status check stop revealed that 20 per cent of the 81 drivers stopped were suspected of being misclassified, including several temporary foreign workers,” said Dresheen.

“We will continue to work with industry partners to build on this progress and ensure that only safe, qualified drivers, carriers and training schools operate in the province’s trucking sector,” Dresheen concluded.