The number of people killed in crashes with heavy vehicles in the past year has gone up, and the number of infractions given out has fallen dramatically. Also, this summer, there are fewer road controllers working in Quebec. The number of fines given to truck drivers has decreased by more than 50 per cent in the past year. According to Radio Canada, around 34,000 tickets were handed out in 2024, compared to just over 16,000 in 2025. The big drop is a concern for people working on the road. “That is a lot,” said Quebec Trucking Association CEO Marc Cadieux. “At the same time, it’s a lot of non-control that’s been performing by the government right now.” Controle Routier Quebec has not done random roadside inspections since March 2025. It comes after a decision by a Quebec Labour Tribunal regarding the safety of roadside inspectors. These inspectors will eventually be armed when trained, but for now, they are confined to scales. “It’s very hard for my members to be inside the scale,” said union president Jean-Claude Daignault. The Highway Patrol Officers Association president says while most truck drivers respect the rules of the road, it’s not the case for all. “They will try to play like a cowboy on the road,” said Daignault. According to Quebec’s auto-insurance board (SAAQ), collisions involving heavy vehicles are on the rise. Over 100 people (102) died in crashes involving trucks in 2025, up from 98 in 2024 and 77 in 2023. A 13-year-old girl was struck by a heavy truck on Wednesday afternoon and killed while riding her bicycle. Quebec’s trucking association says they have dealt with the “driver inc.” problem for years now; a business model which transport companies misclassify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees in order to save money on payroll taxes. “We have companies operating under unscrupulous ways and not having fit and well skilled drivers and this is a big concern,” said Cadieux. There is no precise date when roadside inspectors will be back patrolling highways. Many in the industry say they hope it could be sometime during the busy summer season.
