Trucking unions and associations
Not affiliated with any union or association named on this page. Here's what Teamsters Canada and the provincial trucking associations actually are, and what each does for a driver.
Key facts
- Teamsters Canada membership
- 125,000 across all industries
- Source: Teamsters Canada, checked 2026-09-08
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters
- 1.4 million workers across North America
- Provincial associations
- AMTA, BCTA, STA, OTA -- not unions
- Most common hiring path
- Direct employer application, not a hiring hall
Is trucking unionized in Canada?
Unevenly. Most small and mid-size carriers and most owner-operators are not unionized. Larger freight, parcel, and some public-sector-adjacent trucking operations are more likely to have union representation, most commonly through Teamsters Canada.
Teamsters Canada
Teamsters Canada states it represents 125,000 members across all industries nationally, and is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 1.4 million workers across North America. It organizes by trade division -- Transport is one of several listed alongside Automotive, Warehouse, Rail Transportation, and others -- and by local union. This page won't guess which specific local-union numbers cover freight or trucking versus another industry: use Teamsters Canada's own "Find your local union" tool at teamsters.ca to check what's active where you are.
Provincial trucking associations -- not unions
Every province with a significant trucking industry has its own provincial trucking association. These are industry bodies built mainly for carrier companies, not driver membership organizations, and they don't run a hiring hall or negotiate driver pay. What they typically do:
- Safety training and certification (National Safety Code courses, COR/SECOR safety-management certification, designation programs like AMTA's CTSC/CTSP).
- Government-relations advocacy for the carrier industry in that province.
- Some run a public job board a driver can browse directly, alongside member-only resources.
How hiring actually works
Without a hiring-hall dispatch system, most Canadian trucking hiring runs through direct employer application -- postings on a carrier's own careers page, a provincial association's job board, or a job board like Job Bank. Owner-operators typically contract directly with a carrier or through a freight broker instead of being dispatched by a union hall.
Provincial and national bodies
| Name | Type | Covers | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teamsters Canada | Union | National -- freight, parcel, warehouse, and other trucking-adjacent locals among many industries | teamsters.ca/ |
| Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) | Industry association -- not a union | Alberta -- safety training, COR/SECOR certification, government relations | amta.ca/ |
| BC Trucking Association (BCTA) | Industry association -- not a union | British Columbia -- training and events, advocacy, container-driver Port Pass program | www.bctrucking.com/ |
| Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) | Industry association -- not a union | Saskatchewan -- advocacy, training, job board | sasktrucking.com/ |
| Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) | Industry association -- not a union | Ontario -- industry advocacy (this page could not verify further detail: ontruck.org blocked automated access when checked 2026-09-08) | ontruck.org/ |
Sources
- Teamsters Canada -- who we are, member count, trade divisions — accessed 2026-09-08.
- Alberta Motor Transport Association — accessed 2026-09-08.
- BC Trucking Association — accessed 2026-09-08.
- Saskatchewan Trucking Association (member/truck/trailer counts) — accessed 2026-09-08.
Frequently asked questions
Is trucking a unionized industry in Canada?
Partly, and unevenly. Most small and mid-size carriers, and most owner-operators, are not unionized. Larger freight, parcel, and some public-sector-adjacent carriers are more likely to have union representation, most commonly through Teamsters Canada.
How big is Teamsters Canada?
Teamsters Canada states it represents 125,000 members across all industries nationally, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 1.4 million workers across North America. Teamsters Canada organizes by trade division, including a Transport division, and by local union -- use its own 'Find your local union' tool at teamsters.ca to check what's active in your area, since this page won't guess which specific local numbers cover trucking versus other industries.
What do provincial trucking associations like AMTA or BCTA actually do for a driver?
They are not unions and don't negotiate a driver's pay or run a hiring hall. They're industry associations built mainly for carriers (member companies), running safety-training programs (AMTA's Certified Transportation Safety Coordinator/Professional designations, BCTA's National Safety Code courses), certification programs like COR/SECOR, and government-relations advocacy. Some run a job board a driver can browse directly.
How does hiring actually work without a hiring hall?
Most Canadian trucking hiring runs through direct employer application, not a hiring-hall dispatch system the way some building trades work. Owner-operators typically contract directly with a carrier or through a freight broker rather than being dispatched by a union hall.
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