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Mark Bylsma of Spring Creek Carriers became chair of the Ontario Trucking Association
In October 2024, the Beamsville carrier's president took the OTA chair for two years and named the underground economy as his top issue.
In October 2024, Mark Bylsma, president of Spring Creek Carriers in Beamsville, Ont., was named chair of the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) for a two-year term. The announcement came at the OTA's annual general meeting on Oct. 29. He succeeded James Steed.
Bylsma had served on the OTA board and executive committee, most recently as first vice-chair.
His company
Bylsma co-founded Spring Creek Carriers about 30 years ago with business partner Calvin Bergman, with no previous experience in transportation. The company grew to more than 40 power units, more than 60 trailers and a brokerage arm, Spring Creek Logistics.
His priorities
- The underground economy. Bylsma said compliant carriers were competing against an underground economy fuelled by driver misclassification, personal services business fraud and tax evasion. He called it an existential issue for the industry.
- Driver training and licensing reform. The OTA said it was encouraged that Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria had committed to a review, but wanted the work sped up.
- Other issues. Bylsma listed the opening of the Gordie Howe bridge, the renegotiation of CUSMA, the continued rollout of DriveON and upcoming greenhouse gas rules for heavy trucks.