Driver Abuse

DRIVER ABUSE  According to the authors of a recent report on labour abuses in the Canadian trucking industry, one of the worst problems drivers face is wage theft -- which they frame as uncompensated work. Think, waiting time, inspections, layovers, etc. While the report deals primarily with the Driver Inc. environment, many of the problems they highlight exist in traditional employee/employer relationships too.   The Driver Inc. discussion is often framed in the context of its impact on the marketplace.  It distorts fair competition, and creates safety risks that affect carriers, shippers, and the motoring public. But there's a human side to it as well. Drivers can be abused and taken advantage of by unscrupulous operators, and there are few mechanisms in place to protect them.   In February, a group called Labour Community Services of Peel released a report called "Running on Empty: Truck Drivers in Canada are Underpaid and Overworked." It outlines those abuses and calls for reforms to the way truck drivers are treated and paid in Canada. Data in the report was derived from survey of over 400 drivers and owner-operators. It was produced in conjunction with driver-driven groups Justice for Truck Drivers, and the West Coast Trucking Association, and Parkdale Community Legal Services. I have two guests on this episode, Navi Aujla is the director of the Labour Community Services of Peel, a non-profit truck driver advocacy group. And, Karan Singh, a driver currently seeking restitution for $40,000 in unpaged wages.  The discussion begins right after a message from Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender - a diesel fuel lubricator and injector cleaner with advanced IDX four detergent.