this is a everyone problem

SUPPORT CANADIAN OWNER-OPERATOR TRUCKERS WITH FEDERAL AID

A call for emergency financial assistance, federal accountability, and protection for Canada's small trucking businesses.

Canada's owner-operator truckers and small trucking companies are facing serious financial pressures. Rising operating costs, expensive equipment repairs, financing obligations, and unexpected downtime can threaten businesses that Canadian communities depend on.

According to the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, the transportation and warehousing sector recorded 392 business insolvencies, including 300 bankruptcies, during the 12 months ending June 2026.

These figures are serious. They also do not necessarily capture every trucking business that closes, loses its equipment, or stops operating without entering formal insolvency proceedings.

We need to understand the full extent of this problem — and we need practical solutions.

My Story — Bloodhound Trucking & Services Inc.

My name is David Phillip Hawke. I am the owner of Bloodhound Trucking & Services Inc., based in Calgary, Alberta.

In May 2024, I had the engine in my 2015 Kenworth T800 rebuilt. Following that rebuild, I experienced repeated mechanical problems and returned the truck for further repairs.

On March 20, 2025, the engine suffered a catastrophic failure while I was hauling a fully loaded truck north of Hinton, Alberta.

Although the engine repairs were covered under warranty, the truck was unavailable for approximately five weeks while the failure was investigated and repairs were completed.

That meant 26 lost working days, interrupted revenue, and ongoing financial obligations that did not stop simply because the truck was off the road.

The resulting financial strain affected my ability to keep up with equipment payments, insurance, fuel bills, and other business expenses. I have faced the loss of trucks and trailers and have fought to save the business I worked to build.

I filed a civil claim seeking $350,000 in connection with the engine repairs and resulting losses. That claim is a legal proceeding, and the allegations and damages remain subject to the court process.

I have also contacted 337 Members of Parliament seeking assistance and answers about available federal support. Despite those efforts, I have not found an accessible federal assistance solution capable of addressing my business's circumstances.

My story is one example of how quickly a small trucking operation can face financial collapse after a major mechanical failure.

What We Are Asking the Government of Canada to Do

1. Establish Emergency Financial Assistance

Create an emergency financial assistance program offering accessible working-capital loans or grants to qualifying Canadian owner-operators and small trucking companies facing severe financial distress following major mechanical failures, prolonged downtime, or equipment repossessions.

The program should consider the circumstances of businesses that cannot qualify for conventional financing because their financial condition has already deteriorated.

2. Create a Federal Trucking Business Support Pathway

Establish a coordinated support and referral system involving Transport Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Small trucking businesses facing financial emergencies should have a clear place to turn for information about assistance programs, eligibility requirements, business recovery options, and available resources.

3. Track Equipment-Related Trucking Business Failures

Ask the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, working with relevant federal agencies, to develop improved reporting on trucking business failures associated with equipment repossessions, major mechanical failures, and prolonged operational interruptions.

Existing formal insolvency statistics do not necessarily capture every business that ceases operating without filing for bankruptcy or making a formal insolvency proposal.

Better information would help policymakers understand the scale of the problem and develop more effective responses.

Why This Matters to Every Canadian

Trucking is an essential part of Canada's supply chain. Small carriers and owner-operators transport the materials, goods, and supplies that support businesses and communities across the country.

When trucking capacity disappears, transportation costs can rise, supply chains can become less resilient, and additional cost pressures can eventually reach consumers.

Supporting the viability of small trucking businesses is not simply about protecting individual companies. It is also about protecting competition, transportation capacity, and the resilience of Canada's economy.

A Call for Action

I am not asking the federal government to erase every business debt or guarantee that every trucking company survives.

I am asking for fair consideration, accessible emergency assistance, and a system that recognizes the financial risks facing independent truckers.

No hardworking Canadian should have to rely solely on crowdfunding to survive a business crisis without a meaningful opportunity to seek appropriate assistance.

Our owner-operators and small trucking companies deserve to be heard.

Please sign this petition, share it with your community, and ask your Member of Parliament to support meaningful federal action.

Truckers keep Canada moving. It's time to help keep Canadian truckers moving.

David Phillip Hawke

Owner-Operator / President

Bloodhound Trucking & Services Inc.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada