An enforcement blitz on commercial trucking being launched by the OPP has the blessing of the Ontario Trucking Association.
Speaking on the Lynn Martin Show on AM800, OTA President Stephen Laskowski points out they work regularly with both the OPP and Ontario Ministry Of Transportation.
He says there is a recognition of the issues of distracted driving among drivers, but believes it is a small minority of those on the road.
Laskowski says this blitz by the OPP and MTO is a positive step.
"Let's let the enforcement people go after people in our industry who fail to incorporate safe driving practices and for that matter, safe management practices into their fleets" says Laskowski.
Laskowski says the problem may only involve a minority of drivers, but that's no excuse.
"It's a small minority of the industry" says Laskowski, "But when you have unsafe operations of a large commercial vehicle on a public highway that's not good for public safety, it's not good for our industry"
Laskowski says in addition to the blitz on distraction, fatigue will be targeted as well.
"The key effort here is going to be with the Ministry of Transportation and Transport Canada to eliminate paper logbooks from our industry and have electronic logs." explains Laskowski , "It's going to be a significant improvement dealing with cognitive driver distraction in our sector"
Justine Lewkowicz / NEWSTALK 1010
The OPP announced today it will be using 2 transport trucks to identify truck drivers who are using cell phones or are distracted in other ways.
Laskowski says there will also be air surveillance as part of the current blitz.