National association says freight-cost relief must reflect the sector that moves most of Canada’s domestic freight and is overwhelmingly made up of small businesses
TORONTO, ON / August 11, 2026: The Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA) is welcoming the federal government’s new $100-million freight rebate program to support Canadian steel producers, while calling on Ottawa to ensure Canada’s trucking industry is included in future tariff-relief and supply-chain support measures.
The federal program will rebate 50% of eligible freight costs for Canadian steel products shipped between provinces and territories by rail or marine transportation.
CTOA supports federal action to help Canadian industries respond to U.S. tariff pressure and strengthen domestic supply chains. However, the association says the announcement raises an important policy question: if the goal is to make Canadian products more competitive and improve interprovincial trade, why is trucking not included?
“Trucking is a critical part of Canada’s domestic freight system,” said Tej Dulat, Director of Government and Public Affairs for CTOA. “As the federal government works to protect Canadian industries from tariff impacts and strengthen internal trade, trucking should be part of the national supply-chain response.”
According to federal industry data, domestic freight in Canada moves primarily by truck. The trucking sector is also overwhelmingly made up of small businesses. In 2025, 83.4% of truck transportation employer establishments had fewer than five employees.
CTOA says this matters because small and mid-sized trucking companies, owner-operators, and carriers are already facing serious economic pressures, including rising operating costs, insurance challenges, equipment costs, border uncertainty, and tariff-related impacts on the industries they serve.
“When steel, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, retail, and other sectors face cost pressure, trucking feels that pressure directly,” Dulat said. “Carriers do not operate outside the economy. They are part of every supply chain Ottawa is trying to protect.”
CTOA is not opposing support for rail or marine transportation. The association recognizes that all modes play an important role in Canada’s transportation network. However, CTOA says federal relief measures must reflect how goods actually move across the country, including first-mile, middle-mile, and final-mile transportation by truck.
“Rail and marine are important, but most supply chains still depend on trucks at some point,” Dulat said. “Leaving trucking out risks overlooking the small businesses that connect factories, warehouses, ports, rail yards, construction sites, farms, retailers, border crossings, and communities.”
CTOA is calling on the federal government to consult directly with the trucking sector as it implements current freight-relief programs and considers additional support for other tariff-affected sectors, including lumber and forestry..
The association is also urging Ottawa to consider targeted measures that support small and mid-sized carriers and owner-operators, including freight-cost relief, fuel-cost support, insurance-cost discussions, supply-chain resilience funding, and practical programs that recognize the role of trucking in interprovincial trade.
“Canada needs strong steel, strong manufacturing, strong rail, strong marine transportation, and strong trucking,” Dulat said. “A resilient Canadian economy depends on every part of the supply chain working together.”
CTOA says it will continue advocating for drivers, owner-operators, small and mid-sized carriers, brokers, dispatchers, safety professionals, and transportation businesses that keep Canada’s economy moving.
About CTOA
The Canada Truck Operators Association is a national transportation industry association representing drivers, owner-operators, small and mid-sized carriers, fleet owners, brokers, dispatchers, and transportation stakeholders. CTOA advocates for road safety, fair rules, practical compliance, supply-chain resilience, stronger communication with government, and policies that reflect the realities of Canada’s trucking industry.
Media Contact
Canada Truck Operators Association
Email: info@thectoa.ca
Website: www.thectoa.ca