Greg Arndt, who just concluded his chairmanship of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, used his final address to the CTA Board to reflect on two years of organizational change and industry advocacy, while urging the Alliance to maintain its focus on restoring integrity and professionalism across Canada’s trucking industry.
Arndt said one of the most significant accomplishments of his tenure was the work undertaken to reorganize and strengthen the Alliance, creating a stronger foundation for CTA to represent the industry over the long term.
He credited CTA’s officers, Board members, governance committee and staff for their contributions.
“Canada is a big country. Our markets and businesses are all different. But when it comes to the fundamental issues affecting our industry, we need one voice,” Arndt said.
He pointed to CTA’s ongoing campaign against Driver Inc. as a major example of what can be accomplished through sustained advocacy, public engagement and industry unity.
Arndt said those efforts have contributed to significant commitments and changes in enforcement by the Canada Revenue Agency and Employment and Social Development Canada, while further progress is expected as governments move toward greater coordination of tax, labour and highway-safety oversight.
As incoming chair Scott Tilley moves into the role, Arndt said the next two years should focus on completing the work already underway, including developing a coordinated national approach to strengthening tax, labour and highway-safety enforcement, border security and supply-chain protection, and ensuring that foreign-worker programs cannot be exploited by operators engaging in non-compliant or exploitative practices.
“Doing the right thing can never, ever, be a competitive disadvantage,” he said.
As he concludes his term, Arndt said he is confident the Alliance today is stronger, more unified and better positioned to confront the challenges ahead.
