Eight charged in alleged bribery scheme around Ontario Class A road tests

In January 2026, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that eight people faced a combined 24 Criminal Code charges following an investigation into fraud linked to commercial driver examinations in Kingston, Ont., and the Greater Toronto Area.

The OPP's Serious Fraud Office took on the case at the request of Ontario's Ministry of Transportation. Investigators alleged that bribes were arranged so that certain applicants would get favourable treatment on their road tests for the commercial Class A licence, which allows a driver to operate tractor-trailers.

The charges

• The accused, men aged 34 to 58 from Brampton, Oshawa, Georgetown, North York, Kingston and Caledon, were either test examiners or driving school instructors, according to CBC News.
• Charges included secret commissions, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, breach of trust and, for some of the accused, money laundering.
• All eight were released from custody and were scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Jan. 28.
• None of the charges had been proven in court.

OPP Detective Const. Erin Fraser told CBC News that instructors at various driving schools would allegedly give the bribe to the examiner to secure a favourable result for the person being tested. She urged anyone seeking a Class A licence to go through proper channels and proper schools.

The wider review

A ministry spokesperson said the ministry referred the matter to police after carrying out its own investigation. Ontario's auditor general, Shelley Spence, told CBC News an audit of the province's large commercial truck driver licensing procedures was under way, covering training, examinations and licensing, with findings expected within the year.