Trucking Leaders Call for Stronger Enforcement, Trade Clarity

At CANACAR’s 2025 National Convention, trucking leaders from Mexico, the United States, and Canada united to tackle the most pressing challenges shaping North American road freight, from the upcoming USMCA revision and rising tariff uncertainty to illegal cabotage practices and driver exploitation. During the event, industry representatives called for stronger enforcement, greater regulatory harmonization, and deeper digital integration to protect cross-border trade, ensure safety, and sustain the momentum of nearshoring-driven growth.

“Given trucking’s major role in the agreement, the industry must work together. Initiatives pursued by Mexican and US negotiators should not reduce cargo volumes or impede the critical services importers and exporters depend on,” says Manuel Sotelo, Vice President for the Northern Region, CANACAR.

Sotelo points to nearshoring as a key driver for foreign investment and economic growth. “The continuation of the agreement is paramount to ensuring future growth in cross-border trade flows,” he adds, warning that increasing regulatory demands, such as investments in modern fleets and English-language training, are raising operational costs for Mexican carriers.

Greg Arndt, Co-President, Jade Transport and Chair of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), warns that the sense of stability once offered by the trade pact has been weakened by tariffs. “The Agreement should continue to act as clear ‘rules of the road’. The revision should enable carriers to perform transit moves in the US, which have basically ceased with the introduction of ACE,” he says.

Arndt calls for greater digitalization of cross-border documentation, proposing a regional single-window system and joint customs inspections to reduce administrative burdens and eliminate penalties for minor errors. He also flags tax challenges and the growing risk of “nuclear verdicts” in US courts as pressing issues that need to be addressed.

Tariff uncertainty continues to disrupt trade operations, warns Ed Gilroy, Chief Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer, American Trucking Associations (ATA). “Carriers have faced pressure to accelerate shipments ahead of tariff deadlines, only for those deadlines to be repeatedly extended. Operational uncertainty prevents proper planning,” says Gilroy. ATA continues to work with the Department of Transportation and Homeland Security to strengthen enforcement and improve cross-border safety standards, he adds.

Combating Driver Exploitation and Illegal Cabotage

A major concern was the illegal use of foreign drivers, particularly those operating under B-1 visas, in unauthorized cabotage activities across North America. “The illegal use of drivers in the US means they are not working for Mexican carriers. This forces companies to recruit and train replacements, increasing costs,” warns Sotelo.

Arndt calls for stronger enforcement against “bad carriers” exploiting inexperienced immigrant drivers in Canada and Mexico, noting that such practices create unfair competition and compromise road safety. “Greater enforcement resources are needed to stop unsafe, illegal operations,” he says.

Gilroy confirms ATA’s ongoing collaboration with US federal agencies to combat cabotage violations. “We are working with both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security to increase enforcement actions,” he says.

CANACAR, CTA, and ATA agree that strengthening enforcement, modernizing regulatory frameworks, and preserving the integrity of the USMCA are essential to the long-term health of North America’s road freight industry. “The illegal exploitation of drivers must end. Resolving this issue is a win-win-win, for carriers, for drivers, and for the integrity of North American trade,” says Sotelo.