Toronto, Ontario — The Canadian Automated Vehicle Initiative is proposing sending a driverless big rig on a cross-country trek from Halifax to Vancouver in 2028.
The idea, announced Monday, is meant to show off Canada’s AI capabilities, interprovincial logistics and connected vehicle technologies. It is also meant to be a stepping stone to solving the country’s truck driver shortage — which currently pegged at more than 25,000 unfilled positions. If successful, CAVI says the demonstration could boost domestic innovation, create high-value tech jobs, and help position Canada as a global leader in the race toward hands-free freight.
By completing the project, CAVI aims to provide regulators with the opportunity to reduce red tape before the widespread arrival of autonomous vehicles. As CAVI president Barrie Kirk puts it, the key challenge will be developing a unified national regulatory framework — not a “patchwork quilt” of provincial red tape.
“A Trans-Canada autonomous truck demonstration project like this is technically feasible. A key objective will be to work with the provinces to agree on a single nationwide regulatory system for autonomous trucks, rather than a patchwork-quilt approach.”
While the vehicle would be fully autonomous, the proposal calls for the inclusion of a chaperone driver on board. In a bit to avoid bad weather, CAVI also suggests the vehicle should stick to southern routes and take place in the summer.
According to a press release, CAVI believes it must overcome three hurdles in order to see the project completed. “First, we propose that the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Transport… announce that the Federal Government supports the vision for this project. . . Second, an organization that can represent all levels of government, industry, academia and other groups be appointed to lead this project, with a governance structure that includes all the major stakeholder groups. Third, this organization then forms a team that consults with stakeholders across Canada and develops a detailed plan and budget.
