Quebec went to court to put its truck enforcement officers back on patrol

In March 2025, Quebec's automobile insurance corporation, the SAAQ, asked the province's Superior Court to stay an order that had pulled its truck enforcement officers off patrol.

On March 6, the Tribunal administratif du travail, Quebec's labour tribunal, ordered an immediate halt to unplanned roadside interventions by officers of Contrôle routier Québec (CRQ), the SAAQ agency that enforces rules for trucks and buses. Transport Routier reported that the tribunal had found officers' safety was at risk during those stops because they were not adequately armed.

Why the SAAQ objected

• The SAAQ said the ruling had serious consequences for the safety of all road users and for protecting the road network, particularly with the spring thaw period about to begin.
• It said CRQ had reorganized its work to comply with the order but still faced operational problems carrying out its main mission.
• It said officer safety remained the top priority and that it would keep working with the parties involved.

Transport Routier noted that one possible arrangement was for police to accompany officers during potentially risky interceptions.

Thaw restrictions

Seasonal load restrictions were set to start on March 24 in zones 1 and 2, the province's most populated areas. During the thaw, allowable weights are generally cut by 8% to 20%, depending on axle type and vehicle configuration. Transport Routier cited a Journal de Montréal report that more than 400 trucks a day were driving past weigh stations without stopping. The officers' union president, Jean-Claude Daignault, said those trucks were filmed and identified, so the companies behind them could still be investigated.