Dear editor:
As a co-founder of Truckers for Safer Highways, I am writing to you with updates on our work to improve the trucking industry.
We have been working to improve the trucking industry and the safety of all those who use our highways for the last 14 months. Our main focus is to see drastic improvements in the training of new drivers and the enforcement of the drivers already in the industry and operating on our highways.
In recent months we have gained the support of eight northern Ontario NDP MPPs as well as the support of federal conservative MP Mellissa Lanstman. We are also discussing with several other safety groups how we could collaborate to make a substantial difference for change within the industry.
The responses we have received from both the federal and provincial ministers of transportation have not been productive. The federal government views these issues as a provincial matter therefore out of their jurisdiction. The provincial government views the Ontario highways as quite safe and not requiring any improvements.
We have reached out to both levels of government on several occasions.
We look forward to working with any member of parliament and government at any level to ensure that our highways can be as safe as possible as well as to ensure the operators of all commercial vehicles are the safest drivers on our highways.
Regards,
Travis McDougall
Truckers for Safer HIghways
Kitchener, Ontario
