Edmonton: The Alberta provincial government has announced the removal of 20 trucking companies, including Conquer Transportation—a firm involved in a fatal road accident in Brandon, Manitoba—for failing to comply with safety standards. Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen stated that permits were canceled and operations banned due to repeated regulatory violations, emphasizing that the objective is to clean up the sector by eliminating bad actors. The Brandon crash on May 27 resulted in the death of 49-year-old Xiaoyun Zhang after a semi-truck driver ran a stop sign and collided with her vehicle.
Firm Lost Safety Authorization in Manitoba
Conquer Transportation was registered in Alberta in 2022. However, Conquer Transport, a business owned by the same family, had its safety permit revoked in Manitoba in 2021 due to non-compliance with safety standards and regulatory procedures.
In April, just weeks before the Manitoba crash, Alberta-based Conquer Transportation had been identified as one of the province’s highest-risk transport operators.
Crackdown on ‘Chameleon Carriers’
Trucking firms that re-register under a new name or in a different jurisdiction after facing regulatory action in another province are known as “chameleon carriers.” The government specified that 13 out of the 20 banned companies in Alberta fall under this category.
Authorities have additionally blocked operational permits for around 40 non-compliant companies and shut down five illegally operating driving schools.
Demand for a National Database
The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators stated that efforts are underway to develop a national database to curb companies exploiting gaps in interprovincial information sharing.
Manitoba Transportation Minister Lisa Naylor pointed out that although seven trucking companies recently had their safety fitness certificates revoked in Manitoba, there is currently no system to track whether they have resumed operations under new names in Saskatchewan or Alberta. She emphasized the critical need for a nationwide registry encompassing details of company directors, owners, operators, and vehicles.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon also affirmed that the federal government is collaborating with provinces and territories to strengthen road safety, adding that the provinces play a crucial role in effectively enforcing existing laws and regulations.
