Truck driver training, highway safety concerns in northwestern Ontario rev up ahead of election

Every time Travis McDougall gets into his transport truck, he wonders whether he'll make it home safely.

His growing concerns about highway safety, particularly in northwestern Ontario, prompted him to create Truckers for Safer Highways alongside fellow driver Jeff Orr in 2023.

Highway safety has been a major concern in the region for years, as single-lane highways surrounded by trees, rocks and water aren't so forgiving during a wrong move behind the wheel.

"There's no back road or way to change your direction to avoid a 12-hour closure," said McDougall, who lives in Ayr but drives across Canada.

"It really impedes the locals and it impedes the economy when these roads are shut down for several hours because of these collisions."

There were 21 fatal collisions on the region's highways last year, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) North West Region, resulting in 25 deaths and 213 injuries. Of these, 13 involved tractor-trailers.

Advocates and local leaders are calling on the provincial government to make a number of changes — and with an election campaign wrapping up Thursday, the stakes are all the higher.

"We gotta expect there to be consequences for poor choices," McDougall said. "[The] industry needs to know that enforcement officers are out there."

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in Ontario receive training from private truck driving schools in the province. To receive licences, they undergo testing through DriveTest, which is operated by parent company Serco.

A recent investigation by CBC's Marketplace explored a number of concerns with Serco, including the role of bribery and forged documents .A list of responses from Serco and involved provincial ministries can be found here.

McDougall said the Marketplace investigation validated concerns he'd had for years. He's received copies of scripts given to drivers in training by truck driving schools, indicating "what they need to say to a drive test examiner in order to pass the test."

"You're supposed to go into these examinations with the knowledge, not because you memorized the right words," he said.

His organization wants a public inquiry into Serco and the contract it provides to the province.

Highway 11/17 runs through the town of Nipigon. Mayor Suzanne Kukko sees the impact of collisions in that corridor first hand and wants to see CMV testing done by Ministry of Transportation (MTO) officials rather than private companies,