Transportation authorities announced a sweeping enforcement campaign targeting Alberta’s trucking industry to remove “chameleon” trucking companies and fraudsters from Canadian roads.
Twenty “unsafe” trucking companies have been “removed” from the roads since October 2025, according to an August 6 statement from Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen. These include thirteen “chameleon carriers”—that is, trucking companies that change their names to evade regulatory oversight.
In addition, another 40 “chameleon” trucking companies have been prevented from obtaining their safety fitness certificates as part of the ongoing crackdown.
Transportation authorities have also imposed 443 administrative penalties on trucking companies since October.
Dresheen referred to a fatal accident that occurred on May 27 in Brandon, involving a “chameleon” trucking company accused of reopening for business as Conquer Transportation Inc. after the Government of Manitoba revoked the company’s certification under the name Conquer Transport in 2021.
“In June, Alberta took action against Conquer Transportation Inc. following a fatal collision in Manitoba. An investigation identified deliberate and ongoing noncompliance that posed a serious and persistent risk to the public. Furthermore, it was determined that the trucking company was engaging in ‘chameleon’ practices to evade regulatory compliance and enforcement actions. The enforcement actions included administrative fines totaling $16,500 and the downgrading of the company’s safety fitness rating to ‘Unsatisfactory,’ which resulted in the effective and immediate shutdown of its operations,” Dreeshen said.
In addition to the shutdown of the twenty trucking companies, authorities also announced the closure of five “fraudulent” Class 1 driving schools.
Furthermore, Dreeshen noted that action is being taken against a hiring scheme that, according to him, is putting truck drivers who do not meet safety standards on Alberta’s roads.
“Alberta is also taking action against the driver misclassification scheme known as Drivers Inc., through which companies hire drivers as independent contractors to avoid payroll taxes and social benefits. These drivers often lack adequate training and supervision and have fewer protections. In May, a three-day enforcement operation to verify the status of professional drivers revealed that 20% of the 81 drivers checked were suspected of being misclassified, including several temporary foreign workers,” said Dresheen.
“We will continue to collaborate with industry partners to build on these advances and ensure that only safe and qualified drivers, transportation companies, and training schools operate in the province’s road transport sector,” concluded Dresheen.
