In light of details emerging from the Humboldt trial, the Ontario Trucking Association and Canadian Trucking Alliance are calling for improved safety oversight.
The sentencing hearing for driver Jaskirat Singh Sidhu has heard he only received one week of training and less than a month after being hired, was involved in the crash.
Ontario Trucking Association President Stephen Laskowski says the issue is with a small number of companies trying to skirt the regulation.
"There is a bottom portion of our sector that needs attention," says Laskowski. "The vast majority of trucking companies are compliant and are safe as are their professional truck drivers. But we do have an element within our sector, small but they're there, that we need more enforcement."
He says the association wants the regulations to require electronic log books for drivers.
"Because we do have a small element who use paper to their advantage to circumvent the rules what we are saying, let's use the current rules but let's move to the electronic world so we can have more stringent enforcement upon those who use paper log books as a way to get around hours of service."
Laskowski adds, licensing requirements already in place in Ontario will become national.
"We do have that in the Province of Ontario, we've raised the bar, with regards to truck driver training for new entrants." he says. "This last month Minister Garneau and the Council of Transport Ministers announced that mandatory entry level training will be coming in coast to coast by January 1, 2020."
Laskowski says the association works closely with both the OPP and Ministry of Transportation to improve enforcement of the rogue companies.
He says they don't point to specific companies but do highlight the kind of behaviour the regulators should be looking for.
The prosecution in the Humboldt Bronco's bus crash is seeking a 10 year prison sentence for the driver of the semi-tractor.
In addition to the prison sentence, a 10-year driving prohibition following the prison term is also being sought.
Court is now adjourned until March 22nd when the judge will make a decision, about two weeks before the one year anniversary of the crash.
16 people died as a result of the crash in April 2018 and 13 were injured.
— With files from AM800's Kristylee Varley