Month in Review – October 2025
Maritime
October 1: Port of Montreal Updates Schedule for Expansion Project at Contrecœur – Maritime Magazine
The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) on October 1 unveiled an updated construction schedule as well as key environmental compensation measures for the Port of Montreal’s Contrecœur expansion project.
In keeping with the conditions attached to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s (IAAC) Decision Statement issued in March 2021, the MPA announced that work, which could have begun as early as September 29, is now expected to start in the coming weeks. This will be possible once the final details of the contractual agreement with the consortium responsible for water works, including preparatory activities, are completed.
“To finalize negotiations with the consortium carrying out the works, the closing date has been extended. This adjustment does not affect the project delivery date and will allow us to begin site preparation gradually this fall. Water works will follow once the required permits are in place,” said Paul Bird, Chief Commercial Officer at the MPA.
October 1: St. Lawrence and Great Lakes Industry Leaders Call for Rapid Action to Enhance the Waterway’s Contributions – press release published in Maritime Magazine
The St. Lawrence–Great Lakes Waterway connects hundreds of millions of consumers, dynamic manufacturing hubs and international markets. It is a vital trade artery between Canada and the United States.
Nearly a hundred leaders from the St. Lawrence–Great Lakes Waterway, including CEOs of ports, shipping operators, railway companies and the St. Lawrence Seaway gathered on September 29 at the Port of Montreal. Their objective: to chart the way forward to strengthen this vital waterway.
The group agreed that it is imperative to:
- invest in infrastructure;
- accelerate the energy transition;
- prepare tomorrow’s workforce; and
- strengthen the maritime and shipbuilding industry.
The leaders decided to unite their voices to make a clear call to governments to:
- ensure massive and sustained strategic investments;
- establish flexible, modern and optimized policy and regulatory frameworks;
- actively support workforce development; and
- strengthen cross-border governance of the corridor.
To formalize these demands, a joint declaration will be presented at the Leadership Summit of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, taking place in Quebec City from October 4 to 6.
October 1: Shipping Lines Face Potential $3.2-Billion USTR Bill in 2026 – Seatrade Maritime News
An aggregation of the top 10 carriers’ fleets, as they are currently deployed, would see $3.2 billion added in charges to tariffs, with Chinese carrier Cosco Shipping expected to be the hardest hit, attracting half the total charges.
Section 301 charges imposed by the U.S. Trade Representative from October 14 will see charges of $80 per net tonnage (NT) for each voyage performed for Chinese lines. Non-Chinese carriers that operate Chinese-built ships will pay the higher amount of either $23 per NT or $154 per TEU capacity. These charges will be paid only on the first five calls in any given year.
Alphaliner reports that, “Based on the current deployment, Cosco Group remains clearly the most threatened by the fee as its fleet would be subject to $1.53 billion of the aggregated $3.2 billion due from the top 10 carriers should their fleet deployment remain unchanged next year.”
October 2: Container Shipping Rates Hit 20-Month Low as 16-Week Decline Continues – gCaptain
The Drewry World Container Index has fallen 5%, to $1,669 per 40-ft container, marking the 16th consecutive weekly decline and reaching its lowest level since January 2024.
A detailed assessment from Drewry shows significant rate reductions across major trade lanes. Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased 5%, to $2,196 per 40-ft container, while Shanghai to New York rates fell 2%, to $3,200.
Carriers responded to weakening market conditions by implementing blank sailings and reducing capacity ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday. With Chinese factories shutting down for eight days from October 1, East-West spot rates are expected to continue their downward trajectory in the coming weeks.
October 7: Shipping Backup as Belgian Pilots Stage Work Slowdown Over Pension Reform – The Maritime Executive
The ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Ghent are all reporting building delays and a backlog of ships after the Belgian sea pilots’ association began a work slowdown to protest the government’s proposed pension reforms. It marks the latest in a series of strikes across Belgium during 2025 over the government’s plans for financial reforms.
The Professional Association of Pilots issued its notice of a job action due to start on October 5, saying government talks were not proceeding. The strike notice called for a work-to-rule action whereby the pilots limited their working hours to between 0800 and 1700 daily and maximized rest periods and office work. According to the Port of Antwerp Bruges, the reality is that pilots are only available starting at 1000 at the earliest and work stops by 1700.
“This action will cause serious disruption to the resumption of shipping to and from Antwerp and Zeebrugge, with severe disruptions to arrivals and departures in the coming days,” the port warned.
Pilot services were suspended on October 5 due to weather conditions, but the impact of the work slowdown began to emerge on October 6.
October 9: Expansion Project in Contrecœur: The Montreal Port Authority Partners with Pomerleau-Aecon and Confirms the Start of Preparatory Work – Port of Montreal press release
The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) on October 9 announced the start of preparatory work for its expansion project in Contrecœur and has awarded the contract for water works of the future container terminal to the CTCGP consortium (Contrecœur Terminal Constructors Grand Project), composed of Pomerleau and Aecon.
The initial interventions are primarily aimed at preparing the site for major phases planned over the coming year. This work will begin gradually between now and October 27.
These include:
- Installation of construction site fencing
- Development of access roads
- Construction of work platforms
- Targeted tree cutting
- Installation of site offices and garage
“Today, we move from planning to action,” said Julie Gascon, President and CEO of the MPA.
October 9: Chinese Carriers Absorb New U.S. Port Fees, Forgo Surcharges – Global Trade
China’s flag carrier, Cosco, and its subsidiary Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) of Hong Kong, stated they will not impose surcharges to offset new U.S. port fees on Chinese-built and operated ships, set to be implemented on October 14. This decision contrasts with other liner operators who are adjusting their services in response to the fees.
Cosco informed its U.S. customers that it plans no changes to its services ahead of the punitive fees, which were formulated under the authority of the United States Trade Representative. “It seems unlikely shippers will experience much of an impact once the new law takes effect,” said Judah Levine of analyst Freightos, in a note to clients.
The fees, which aim to blunt China’s maritime dominance and boost American shipping and shipbuilding, could cost Cosco and OOCL as much as $2.1 billion in 2026, according to analysts, but could be absorbed by subsidies from Beijing.
October 10: China Hits U.S. Ships with Retaliatory Port Fees – Transport Topics
China has hit U.S.-owned vessels docking in the country with tit-for-tat port fees, in response to the American government’s planned port fees on Chinese ships.
Vessels owned or operated by American companies or individuals, and ships built in the U.S. or flying the American flag, will be subject to a 400 yuan ($56) per net ton fee per voyage if they dock in China, China’s Ministry of Transport said on October 10.
The fees will be applied on the same ship for a maximum of five voyages each year, and will rise every year until 2028, when they will reach 1,120 yuan ($157) per net ton, the ministry said. They will take effect on October 14, the same day that the United States is due to start imposing port fees on Chinese vessels.
China’s Ministry of Transport said that its special fees on American vessels are “countermeasures” in response to “wrongful” U.S. practices, referring to the planned U.S. port fees on Chinese vessels.
October 13: St. Lawrence Water Level Continues to Drop, Reducing Container Capacity; Carriers Add Low-Water Fees – La Presse (translated from French)
Container ships and other large vessels continue to sail lighter than usual on the St. Lawrence River, where water levels are at their lowest since 2012. There’s no sign of a recovery in the near future due to the dry weather. Shipping companies are therefore turning to an old tool: overcharging.
“It’s been a special year,” observes Cédric Baumelle, director of maritime operations at the Shipping Federation of Canada. “As early as June, we began to notice that water levels weren’t very high, and it only got worse.”
Autumn generally coincides with the low-water period, the time of year when the water level in the river approaches its lowest point. In addition to being more pronounced this year, the phenomenon has been prolonged, which has had consequences for commercial navigation.
At the Port of Montreal, the minimum guaranteed water level for commercial navigation is 11.3 metres. On October 8, the 30-day average was 15 centimetres below this level. This may seem insignificant, but not for a container ship.
“Every centimetre of immersion for a ship represents approximately 50 tons of goods that can be transported or must be removed,” says Baumelle.
October 17: Landmark Deal to Cut Global Shipping Emissions in Tatters After U.S. Pressure – BBC News
A landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions has been abandoned after Saudi Arabia and the U.S. succeeded in ending the talks.
More than 100 countries had gathered in London to approve a deal that would have seen shipping become the world’s first industry to adopt internationally mandated targets to reduce emissions. But U.S. President Donald Trump had called the plan a “green scam” and representatives of his administration had threatened countries with tariffs if they voted in favour of it.
In a dramatic conclusion on October 17, when countries should have been voting to approve the deal, Saudi Arabia tabled a motion to adjourn the talks for a year. The motion passed by just a handful of votes.
Speaking after the talks ended, Thomas Kazakos, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping, said: “We are disappointed that member states have not been able to agree a way forward at this meeting. Industry needs clarity to be able to make the investments.”
October 20: IMO Net-Zero Framework Negotiations Continue Despite Adoption Delay as Biofuel Debate Takes Centre Stage – gCaptain
The International Maritime Organization is meeting this week to continue negotiations on key policy details in the Net-Zero Framework, despite the decision last week to delay the adoption vote until 2026.
While the Framework’s adoption has been postponed, countries are expected to make important clarifications on the Framework’s architecture and implementation, including which clean energy options will be incentivized and how the NZF revenues, worth up to $15 billion per year from 2030, will be spent.
A major focus this week centres on the role of biofuels in shipping’s clean transition. Experts have repeatedly warned about the environmental and climate risks of shipping’s expansion into high-risk biofuels, calling for real clean-energy incentives in the Framework, like renewably produced e-fuels and wind propulsion.
Delegates will also negotiate on the future of carbon pricing revenues, with Pacific Island states and NGO observers calling for guarantees for revenue distribution toward just and equitable transition.
October 20: Longshore Unions to Meet for Global Anti-Automation Summit – American Shipper
Maritime labour led by U.S. and European longshore unions will meet in November to protest port automation they say is threatening their jobs.
The “People Over Profit: Anti-Automation Conference,” scheduled for November 5 and 6 in Lisbon, Portugal, is being jointly organized by the U.S.-based International Longshoremen’s Association and the International Dockworkers Council of Barcelona.
ILA President Harold J. Daggett in a release urged union workers to “collectively address that threat and put the brakes on ocean carriers destroying dockworker and maritime jobs worldwide.”
October 22: Port of Vancouver Rolls Out ‘Just-in-Time’ Ship Arrivals – Inside Logistics
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has introduced a formal process to enable cargo ships to arrive at the Port of Vancouver “just-in-time,” marking a milestone in its strategy to improve efficiency and predictability of vessel movements.
The near-time arrival framework allows ships to tender their notice of readiness as they approach the Strait of Juan de Fuca, rather than waiting until they reach the port, helping operators align arrivals with berthing windows. Participating vessels are also prioritized for anchorage assignments when short stops are needed for inspections or services.
The port authority says near-time arrivals can reduce fuel use, lower emissions, shorten turnaround times and optimize berth utilization, benefiting shippers, terminal operators and surrounding communities.
October 29: Ocean Rates Higher by Double Digits as U.S. Makes Asia Trade Progress – American Shipper
Container rates on trans-Pacific routes from Asia to the United States and Northern Europe improved by double digits as negotiators made progress on regional trade deals.
Rates have “for the most part” maintained general rate increases from mid-October, analyst Freightos said in a weekly update, as carriers increased blanked sailings in an effort to balance capacity with lower demand during the seasonal lull.
“Trans-Pacific and Asia-North Europe rates increased 15% to 20% last week to about $2,000 per forty foot equivalent unit (FEU) to the West Coast, $3,500 per FEU to the East Coast and $2,270 per FEU to Europe,” said Freightos research chief Judah Levine. “Rates have stayed about level so far this week on these lanes, with Asia-Mediterranean prices easing about $100 per FEU.”
Asia-U.S. West Coast prices increased 20% to $2,027 FEU, according to the Freightos Baltic Index, while Asia-North Europe prices increased 15% to $2,267 per FEU and Asia-Mediterranean rates gained 6% to $2,278 per FEU.
Rates are now “well above” levels from before the Red Sea crisis that began in October 2023, Levine said. November could bring more general rate increases from carriers, although their staying power would likely depend on continued capacity management.
October 30: Trump, Xi Agree to Pause Dueling Port Fees That Disrupted Trade – Reuters
The U.S. and China agreed on October 30 to pause tit-for-tat fees on each other’s ships that became a major irritant in the broader trade war between the world’s two largest economies and pushed up ocean freight costs.
The move provides a 12-month reprieve on an estimated $3.2 billion annually in fees for large Chinese-built vessels sailing to U.S. ports and was among the trade deals reached in South Korea by U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Air
October 3: ICAO’s 42nd Assembly Delivers Clear Mandate for Transformation of Aviation – ICAO press release
The ICAO Assembly has given the organization a clear mandate to pursue its long-term strategy for transforming air transport, with member states adopting resolutions in support of eliminating fatalities, reducing carbon emissions to net-zero, and ensuring no country is left behind as air services grow in emerging economies.
ICAO’s 42nd Assembly closed on October 3 with a message to the global community. “Let this Assembly be remembered as one that set us firmly on track to transform global aviation for generations to come. Let it be remembered as one where global ambition becomes global action,” said ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano.
His remarks were delivered to representatives of a record-breaking 192 member states, with nearly 3,000 delegates having attended the two weeks of deliberations and decision-making.
October 6: Union Urges U.S. Air Traffic Controllers to Remain on Job Despite Government Shutdown – American Journal of Transportation
The union representing more than 13,000 air traffic controllers on October 6 urged workers to remain on the job during the ongoing partial government shutdown that requires them to work without pay.
The union told workers that “participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service” and is illegal.
“It is more important than ever that we rise to the occasion and continue delivering the consistent, high level of public service we provide every day,” the union told members. “We cannot stress enough that it is essential to avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our union, or our professions.”
About 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees who staff airport security checkpoints are also required to keep working, but are not getting paid.
October 7: Staffing Issues Cause Delays at U.S. Airports as Government Shutdown Persists – American Journal of Transportation
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said staffing issues were causing delays at several airports on October 6, just hours after the top U.S. transportation official said air traffic controllers calling in sick had risen slightly since the government shutdown began.
Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must still turn up for work during the shutdown. They are not being paid and controllers are set to miss their first paycheck on October 14.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that, at times, air traffic staffing has been cut by 50% in some areas since the shutdown started last week.
FlightAware said more than 4,000 flights in the U.S. on October 6 were delayed, including 29% arriving flights at Denver, 19% of Newark flights and 15% of Las Vegas flights. Weather issues are also impacting flights.
October 26: U.S. Airports Report Over 20 Air Traffic Controller Shortage Incidents in One Day – The Guardian
U.S. airports have reported more than 20 incidents of air traffic controller shortages on October 25, said Sean Duffy, transportation secretary, in the latest sign of the government shutdown’s impact.
A ground stop was issued by the agency at Los Angeles international airport due to the air traffic controller staffing shortages at around 11:30 am ET. The restriction covered most of the southern California region and delays are likely when flights resume.
By noon ET on October 26, the agency had recorded shortfalls in air traffic controllers at six U.S. airports.
The Trump administration warned flight disruptions are expected to increase as the shutdown drags on.
Duffy told the Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures program that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on October 25 had 22 “triggers” that indicated shortages of air traffic controllers. He said that figure was “one of the highest that we’ve seen in the system” since October 1. “That’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin,” Duffy said.
According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, there were more than 5,300 U.S. flight delays on October 25 and more than 2,500 by 12 pm ET on October 26. Since the shutdown began, delays have often been above average.
October 27: U.S. Airfreight Forwarders Warn of Cargo Backlogs as Government Shutdown Continues – Air Cargo News
The U.S. Airforwarders Association (AfA) has expressed its disappointment at the continuing federal government shutdown, warning it could create backlogs and disrupt supply chains.
There are concerns that absence rates could rise if essential workers across the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) do not start getting paid soon.
“Air cargo depends on a functioning federal government,” said Brandon Fried, executive director, Airforwarders Association.
“TSA, FAA and CBP employees are showing extraordinary dedication in difficult circumstances, but they cannot be expected to continue indefinitely without pay.”
The AfA said that TSA officers are responsible for screening cargo and CBP officers “play a critical role” in processing import and export clearances. “Reduced staffing will slow these operations, creating backlogs that damage supply chains and the wider U.S. economy,” the AfA said.
Trucking
October 3: U.S. Supreme Court Grants Review on Broker Liability Case; Fate of Second Unclear – FreightWaves
The U.S. Supreme Court will take up the issue of broker liability.
In an announcement on October 3, the court said it had granted certiorari in the case of Montgomery vs. Caribe II. However, in the list of the five cases it accepted, with no rejections reported, it did not mention a parallel case involving broker liability, Cox vs. Total Quality Logistics, where the giant 3PL had requested certiorari.
Both Montgomery and Cox involve the same fundamental question: Under the safety exception of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A), can a broker be considered akin to a motor vehicle?
“This is extraordinarily good news for the freight brokerage industry which, more than anything else, needs certainty in order to serve the public,” said Marc Blubaugh, head of the transportation practice at the Benesch law firm.
October 6: Ontario DriveTest Examiners Pressured to Meet Pass Quotas; MTO Issues Denial – Today’s Trucking
Ontario’s DriveTest examiners are pressured to meet quotas to pass road test applicants, trucknews.com has learnt.
Documents show that a scorecard system is in use, setting expectations like 87% pass rate and an “error rate” under 1.24%, for Serco Canada employees.
Serco Canada, operating as DriveTest, is a private-sector organization licensed by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to operate 92 DriveTest Centres across the province. Sources said that examiners are rated levels 1 to 4 based on performance metrics. A No. 3 level or above could lead to retraining, demotion or firing.
The MTO denied the allegations. “DriveTest centres operate under high standards set by the Ministry of Transportation. DriveTest does not operate using a quota system,” said Tanya Blazina, senior media relations advisor at MTO.
“Examiners are required to provide a full and impartial assessment of each driver’s skills while ensuring that the road test reflects the applicant’s overall competency and ability to follow and obey the rules of the road. All drivers in Ontario must meet the same high test standards demonstrating driver competency before they can be fully licensed,” she added.
Serco did not respond to a request for comment.
But sources interviewed by trucknews.com said that those standards are being undermined by internal performance scorecards and pressure to pass applicants to meet company targets.
October 6: U.S. Lawmaker Pushes to End Mexico/Canada Trucking Reciprocity – FreightWaves
Legislation introduced last week could take the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s recent restrictions on foreign truck drivers to a whole new level.
The Protecting America’s Roads Act, introduced by Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, is largely aimed at codifying into law FMCSA’s recent Interim Final Rule (IFR) cracking down on non-domiciled commercial driver’s licences, and by extension foreign truck drivers.
But Van Duyne’s bill would push those restrictions further by attempting to end CDL reciprocity agreements with foreign countries – which currently exist only with Mexico and Canada.
FMCSA has previously determined that CDLs issued by Mexican states and by Canadian provinces, and which conform with those countries’ safety codes, are in compliance with FMCSA’s CDL regulations. “Under these reciprocity determinations, drivers that live in Canada and Mexico … operate in the United States with the license issued by their country of domicile,” according to FMCSA, thereby prohibiting them from obtaining a non-domiciled CDL from a U.S. state under the “single license” provision.
However, Van Duyne’s legislation states that the FMCSA “shall take such actions as are necessary to terminate any existing reciprocity agreements that recognize foreign commercial driver’s licenses in the United States or permit holders of foreign commercial driver’s licenses to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States, unless expressly authorized by statute.”
Terminating those agreements would mean that CDLs issued from Canada or Mexico would no longer be considered valid in the U.S., potentially forcing drivers holding those licences who want to operate across the border to get a new U.S.-recognized credential – most likely a non-domiciled CDL under the new restrictions being enforced by FMCSA.
October 6: Court Overturns U.S. FMC’s Rule on Trucking Demurrage Charges – FreightWaves
Truckers in the U.S. may be subject to demurrage charges once again following a court reversal of a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) rule that blocked such an assessment.
In a case brought against the FMC by the World Shipping Council, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled late last month that the FMC rule blocking demurrage assessments against motor carriers was “arbitrary and capricious.”
“While the Commission’s basic, stated rationale was to confine the parties against whom demurrage and detention charges may be levied to entities who are in a contractual relationship with the billing party, the Commission, without adequate explanation, left out entities who are in such a contractual relationship while seemingly including others who are not,” the court wrote.
The court’s action set aside the part of the 2024 FMC rule that blocked demurrage charges against trucks. No other parts of the rule were impacted by the court’s decision.
October 8: MPs Launch Probe of Trucking Sector, Bloc Calls Out Labour Standards – Today’s Trucking
Labour standards in Canada’s trucking sector are under scrutiny as a House of Commons committee launched a study of the issue this week and the Bloc Québécois called on the government to end what it calls exploitative practices.
The transport committee is studying an industry business model known as “Driver Inc.,” in which transport companies classify drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.
These drivers are “virtually indistinguishable” from traditional employees, said Canadian Trucking Alliance president and CEO Stephen Laskowski, because they don’t own or lease their vehicles and have little to no financial stake in the business. However, transport companies can use their status as contractors to deny them benefits. “For the company, they use this justification to strip workers of all their labour right entitlements.”
The committee study will include at least six meetings and the committee is expected to ask the minister of transport and the secretaries of state for labour and revenue to testify.
The Driver Inc. model is undermining the long-term sustainability and stability of the workforce, said Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking Human Resources Canada. She said it’s also creating a “rigged market” where compliant carriers struggle to compete against those exploiting the model for savings and profit.
October 15: Wabash Turns $462-Million Adverse Verdict into $30-Million Payout – Trucking Dive
Wabash agreed to settle a legal case involving a fatal crash with a $30-million payout after initially facing $450 million in punitive damages and $12 million in compensatory damages, according to a securities filing last week. Insurance will cover costs beyond the $30 million, but the exact amount wasn’t specified by the securities filing.
The case involved a 2019 fatal crash in which a passenger vehicle collided with a nearly stopped tractor-trailer, the company previously said. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued a rear-impact guard on the Wabash trailer completely failed.
Wabash said the passenger car driver’s blood alcohol was over the legal limit, and neither the driver nor passenger was wearing a seat belt, but legal teams debated over what was admissible, and those details were kept from the jury.
The securities filing said the settlement does not constitute any liability or wrongdoing, and plaintiffs and beneficiaries agreed in the settlement to drop further legal challenges.
October 22: AI Deepfakes Fueling Digitally Enabled Crime Wave in the Freight Industry – FreightWaves
Cargo theft across North America is rapidly evolving from traditional trailer break-ins to sophisticated digital fraud schemes that use artificial intelligence, social engineering and marketplace reselling to move stolen goods faster than ever before, say experts.
“Criminals have realized they can commit theft without ever touching the freight,” said Danny Ramon, director of intelligence and response at supply chain risk firm Overhaul. “They’re lowering their physical risk and scaling operations digitally, sometimes pulling off multiple thefts a day.”
Ramon said organized cargo networks are increasingly adopting AI-generated voices and synthetic identities to bypass verification calls or create fake carrier profiles.
“AI, just like it is in the business world, is a force multiplier in the criminal world as well,” Ramon said. “Unfortunately, it’s adding efficiency, it’s sometimes the appearance of legitimacy, especially to social engineering and phishing attacks. AI now is making these things messages … not only grammatically perfect, if need be, but maybe just imperfect enough to sound like a person.”
October 23: Ontario to Seek Residency Proof, Add Waiting Period in Bid to Target Driver’s Licence Fraud – Today’s Trucking
The Ontario government is planning to target driving licence fraud by tightening eligibility requirements.
Bill 60 introduced in Queen’s Park on October 23 is proposing changes that verify residency and work eligibility in Canada for commercial driver’s licence applicants. It also seeks to add a mandatory minimum waiting period between obtaining a Class G and Class A driver’s licence.
The act says: “This initiative aligns with key priorities, enhancing public safety, preventing fraud, ensuring regulatory compliance, and addressing long-standing stakeholder concerns about the integrity of the driver’s licensing system.”
October 26: U.S. Nuclear Verdicts Keep Getting Worse for Trucking – Transport Topics
The U.S. transportation sector is facing skyrocketing legal verdicts at a moment when fierce opposition to reform is emerging, according to a panel of experts speaking October 26 at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition.
“We have been hearing from many of our members – some in the transportation industry, many not – about this concerning trend of verdicts rising,” said Oriana Senatore, managing director and senior vice president of strategy at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. “They’re just getting exponentially larger.”
To learn more, Senatore said the group conducted some “foundational research” to put a finer point on the anecdotal evidence and determine the severity of the trend.
The resulting research showed that one in four auto accidents that result in a nuclear verdict involved a commercial trucking company. The researchers defined nuclear verdicts as being $10 million or more. They also found that nuclear verdicts have been getting larger in recent years across industries beyond just trucking, with overall costs reaching $529 billion by 2022.
October 27: In Reversal, ATA Says U.S. Driver Shortage About Quality, Not Quantity – Commercial Carrier Journal
In a U.S. trucking environment suppressed at least partially by too many drivers scrambling to haul not enough freight, at the 2025 American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello contended that a driver shortage remains: one of quality, not quantity.
“What we have in the United States is a quality problem around drivers, much more so than an absolute number,” he said during his economic update. “It’s the quality of the labour. Drug and alcohol testing. Accidents. That is what the ATA is talking about when we talk about this issue.”
ATA in 2021 estimated the industry was short upward of 80,000 drivers and was trending toward a shortfall of 160,000 drivers by 2030. ATA President and CEO Chris Spear, citing ATA’s 2022 Driver Shortage Update, told Congressional leaders this July that, “over the next decade, trucking companies will need to hire roughly 1.2 million new drivers to keep pace with growing freight demand and an aging workforce.”
In his address at his organization’s conference, Spear noted there’s never been a lack of people with CDLs. “What we lack,” he said, “is the number of qualified drivers who meet our high standards of professionalism and safety.”
October 28: ‘No Evidence’ Non-Domiciled CDLs Bad for Safety: Lawsuit to Block U.S. DOT’s New Rule – Overdrive
An “emergency motion” demanding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit immediately halt the Department of Transportation’s new rule banning nearly 200,000 non-citizens from holding CDLs says the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration showed “no evidence” that immigration impacts safety in trucking, and that the rule is “threatening the livelihoods of more than 200,000 working people and their families.”
On October 27, the court gave DOT until October 31, to respond to the petition, and the petitioners will then have to respond by November 3. Within a few weeks, the court may have ruled on DOT and FMCSA’s most forceful regulatory action in years.
DOT’s new rule, which came down under emergency circumstances, explicitly bars all temporary non-citizen residents of the U.S., excepting a few specific visa holders, from obtaining CDLs under strict new criteria.
October 30: Government of Canada Clamping Down on Driver Inc. Scheme in Budget 2025 – Department of Finance Canada press release
Trucking is vital to connecting Canada’s vast and expansive territory and bridging our united economies, but not at the expense of industry standards and tax obligations. Too many trucking companies and the drivers they hire are in non-compliance with tax obligations. Some companies erroneously and deliberately misclassify their truck drivers as independent contractors, instead of on-staff employees. These practices undercut competition in the sector and unevenly punish rule-abiding companies, and deprive workers of the benefits and pensions they are owed.
To restore fairness to the sector and ensure workers are receiving the benefits they deserve, Budget 2025 will provide $77 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, with ongoing funding of $19.2 million annually, for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to lift the moratorium on the penalties for failure to report fees for service transactions in the trucking industry and to implement a focused program that addresses non-compliance issues related to personal services businesses and reporting fees for service.
The budget will also propose amending the Income Tax Act and the Excise Tax Act to allow the CRA to share taxpayer information and confidential information as it relates to the classification of workers with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESD). This would provide ESD with access to better information, which could in turn allow it to more effectively address the issue of driver misclassification in the trucking industry.
October 30: New FMCSA Bond Rule May Shake Up Broker Compliance in U.S. – FreightWaves
On January 16, 2026, the FMCSA will begin enforcing stricter compliance standards around freight broker and freight forwarder financial security. If you’re a broker – or rely on brokers to move freight – you need to pay attention.
This isn’t just another policy tweak. This is one of the most impactful financial stances for brokers since MAP-21 was enacted over a decade ago.
Under the MAP-21 law, every freight broker and freight forwarder is required to maintain a $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85) as a financial safety net. That bond exists to protect motor carriers and shippers in the event a broker fails to pay.
Until now, though, many BMC-85 trust fund providers have been able to use non-liquid assets like personal loans, crypto, real estate holdings or unsecured financial instruments as backing. That loophole is about to slam shut. Starting in 2026, the FMCSA will recognize only liquid assets.
If a broker’s bond drops below $75,000 for even a single day, such as when a claim is paid and not replenished, their authority can be suspended immediately.
If you’re a small carrier or an owner-operator, you’ve likely dealt with slow-pay brokers, fly-by-nights or those who go radio silent after you deliver. This rule could clean some of that mess up, or at least expose the bad brokers, which will eventually purge them.
CIFFA Advocacy, Communications, Activities
CIFFA issued a statement on October 3 to the Minister Responsible for CBSA, Gary Anandasangaree, regarding ongoing systems outages affecting Canada’s border crossings and the clearance of goods.
In the letter, CIFFA said: “The repercussions of the latest system outage are impacting thousands of truck drivers waiting to cross into Canada, warehouses at capacity awaiting shipment release, and shipments being held resulting in storage charges being assessed to the import community. Our concerns focus on system reliability and consistency, as well as transparency.”
