Have you ever taken the time to stop and ask yourself: What would our world be like without any laws or regulations.
No doubt, it would probably be something close to the “Wild West,” where one could do what they wanted—without concern, consequences, or accountability.
While not exactly the “Wild West”, about 45–50 years ago, the concept of road safety and regulation was only marginally addressed and barely enforced or monitored.
Today, things are very different.
Over the years, the transportation industry has become more structured through laws and regulations aimed at ensuring public and carrier safety, protection of road infrastructure, and fair competition among carriers.
Current framework of rules and regulations
| Public and carrier safety | Road infrastructure protection | Fair competition among carriers |
Vehicle safety (maintenance, inspections, repairs, upkeep) |
Vehicle regulation
|
Employment regulations Laws to prevent the controversial employment practice where drivers are misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees. |
Highway safety code (speeding, reckless driving, etc.) |
||
Driving and service hours (Electronic logging devices vs. daily logs) Vehicle safety inspections Driver training and knowledge Driving qualifications (e.g., license class, driving tests) |
Federal enforcement
The federal government and the provinces have created enforcement agencies specific to the transportation sector, complementing police authorities to enforce these regulations and ensure public and carrier safety, protection of road infrastructure, and fair competition among carriers.
Transport Canada has a federal mandate to develop policies, laws, and regulations to ensure a safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation network.
Transport Canada’s role and responsibilities include:
- Inspection and oversight of air, rail, marine, and interprovincial road transport
- Enforcement of laws such as the Railway Safety Act, Aeronautics Act, Canada Shipping Act, etc.
- Management of permits, certifications, investigations, and penalties
Their approach is risk-based enforcement, with graduated measures from warnings to penalties with the aim of creating a transportation network globally recognized for its safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
The CCMTA (Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators) is a pan-Canadian organization composed of representatives from the 14 governments (federal, provincial, and territorial) responsible for motor transport and road safety in Canada.
While the CCMTA does not directly enforce laws, it:
- Coordinates national policies and standards for road transport
- Promotes regulatory consistency across provinces and territories
- Provides recommendations to transport ministries
- Manages technical standards (e.g., electronic logging devices)
- Oversees the National Safety Code (NSC), a set of 16 standards for commercial vehicle safety
Provincial enforcement
Each province manages a carrier safety program through a Carrier Safety Profile, where events related to the behavior of operators, owners, and drivers are recorded. A deteriorating safety profile can lead to additional sanctions, conditions, or, in the worst cases, suspension of operations.
- Quebec: Contrôle routier Québec (CRQ) – a division of the SAAQ – Enforces laws on road transport, heavy vehicles, paid passenger transport, and road safety, etc.
- Ontario: Ministry of Transportation Enforcement Branch (MTO) – Inspects commercial vehicles, enforces road safety laws, permits, and hazardous materials transport
- British Columbia: Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) – Enforces laws on commercial vehicles, loads, safety, and inspections
- Alberta: Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Branch – Enforces laws on heavy vehicles, permits, and road safety
- Manitoba: Motor Carrier Enforcement (Manitoba Infrastructure) – Enforces commercial transport laws, safety inspections, and permits
- Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Highway Patrol – Enforces laws on commercial vehicles, road safety, and inspections
- New Brunswick: Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (Department of Public Safety) – Enforces laws on heavy vehicles, permits, and safety
- Nova Scotia: Vehicle Compliance (Department of Public Works) – Enforces laws on commercial vehicles, inspections, and permits
- Prince Edward Island: Highway Safety Division – Enforces road safety and commercial vehicle laws
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Motor Registration Division – Enforces laws on permits, inspections, and vehicle safety
- Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut: Territorial Transportation Services – Enforce laws on roads, permits, inspections, and transport safety, depending on the province or territory
US enforcement
In the United States, law enforcement for the transport of goods and people is handled by several federal and state agencies, depending on the mode of transport (road, rail, air, maritime).
Key agencies include the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Enforces laws on commercial vehicles (trucks, buses)
- Oversees driving hours, safety, permits, etc.
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
A North American non-profit organization that includes road safety officials from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, along with industry representatives that:
- Develops inspection standards for heavy vehicles
- Defines out-of-service criteria (e.g., faulty brakes, worn tires)
- Organizes international inspection campaigns like the CVSA International Roadcheck, which inspects thousands of trucks and buses annually (see more below)
- Trains and certifies road inspectors
- Promotes consistency across provinces, states, and territories
The most frequently detected defect during CVSA inspections—including in Canada—for over a decade has been service brake defects.
CVSA inspections identify issues such as improperly adjusted brakes, air leaks, or worn-out brake components, which are critical for a vehicle's ability to stop safely.
The road ahead
With this framework of rules and standards in place, that the transportation industry must follow, the industry is much safer than it was just a few decades ago. The structure provided by laws and regulations aimed at ensuring public and carrier safety, protection of road infrastructure, and fair competition among carriers has paved a much safer road forward.
