2019 Annual For-hire Trucking Survey

Why do we conduct this survey?

The purpose of this survey is to measure the size, structure and economic performance of the trucking industry and to analyze its impact on the Canadian economy.

It is the most complete source of information on the financial performance and characteristics of the trucking industry in Canada. The results will be used as inputs to the Canadian System of National Accounts. Federal and provincial governments will use the data to formulate policies and to monitor the trucking industry in Canada. Trucking companies and associations will use the published statistics for benchmarking purposes.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Enterprise Statistics Division
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

You may also contact the Statistics Canada Help Desk by email or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Transportation and Works, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, the Quebec Department of Transportation, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and the Alberta Ministry of Transportation.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Statistics Canada has also entered into a Section 12 agreement with Transport Canada whereby the information collected will be provided to Transport Canada pursuant to the Canada Transportation Act and the Carriers and Transportation Undertakings Information Regulations. In this case, respondents do not have the right to object to sharing their information since the party to the Agreement is authorized by law to require the respondent to provide the information.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name modifications should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

  • Legal name
  • Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Preferred language of communication
    • English
    • French
  • Mailing address (number and street)
  • City
  • Province, territory or state
  • Postal code or ZIP code
  • Country
    • Canada
    • United States
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
    The maximum number of characters is 10.
  • Fax number (including area code)

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

  • Operational
  • Not currently operational (e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership)
    Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
    • Seasonal operations
      • When did this business or organization close for the season?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
    • Ceased operations
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Bankruptcy
        • Liquidation
        • Dissolution
        • Other
      • Specify the other reasons why the operations ceased
    • Sold operations
      • When was this business or organization sold?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the buyer?
    • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
      • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
      • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
    • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
      • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
      • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
    • No longer operating due to other reasons
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

  • This is the current main activity
    • Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity
      e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
  • This is not the current main activity

Main activity

5. You indicated that is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as: ?

  • Yes
    • When did the main activity change?
      Date
  • No

6. Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

  • Farming or logging operation
  • Construction company or general contractor
  • Manufacturer
  • Wholesaler
  • Retailer
  • Provider of passenger or freight transportation
  • Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
  • Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
  • Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
  • Provider of health care or social services
  • Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
  • Other sector

Business type

1. Did this business transport freight by truck in 2019?

  • Yes
  • No

2. Is this a business that primarily moved used household and office goods in 2019?

e.g., a moving company

  • Yes
  • No

3. Did this business work as a subcontractor in a long term contract for a van line company in 2019?

e.g., as an agent

  • Yes
    • Specify the name of the van line company this business provided moving services for.
      Name of van line company
  • No

4. Did this business work under the operating authority of a road carrier in a long term contract in 2019?

e.g., as an owner operator

A long term contract is defined as 30 days or more.

  • Yes
    • Specify the name of the main road carrier this business provided transportation services to in 2019.
      Name of road carrier
  • No

Operating statistics

A trucking shipment represents a movement of a commodity by truck from one origin to one destination.

Note:

  • Full or partial truckload picked up from or delivered to multiple destinations constitutes multiple shipments.
    • drop off trips (one origin, but multiple destinations)
    • pick up trips (multiple origins, but one destination)
    • trips involving multiple commodities e.g., from Less Than Truck load (LTL) carriers.
  • Full or partial truckload should be counted as a single shipment only if all the commodities on the truck are from the same origin headed to the same destination.

5. How many trucking shipments were made by this business in 2019?

Include shipments made by owner operators on your behalf.

Number of trucking shipments

6. What was the total weight of all trucking shipments made by this business in 2019?

Include shipments made by owner operators on your behalf.

Total weight in metric tonnes

7. What was the total distance travelled by the trucks in 2019?

Include the distance travelled when trailers were empty.

Report in kilometres.

Total distance travelled by your company trucks (owned or leased)

Total distance travelled by owner operators working on your behalf

Total distance
Sum of the two amounts above.

8. How much fuel was consumed by trucks in 2019?

Total fuel consumed (in litres) by your company trucks (owned or leased)

Total fuel consumed (in litres) by owner operators working on your behalf

Total fuel consumed (in litres)
Sum of the two amounts above.

Financial statistics

9. Report your operating revenue and expenses in 2019.

Exclude GST/HST, PST and QST from all revenue and expense figures.

Report dollar amounts in Canadian dollars (CAN$).

Report your operating revenue and expenses in 2019
  CAN$
Revenue
a. Operating revenue from trucking  
b. All other operating revenue  
Total operating revenue
Sum of a. and b.
 
c. Investment revenue  
Total revenue
Sum of total operating revenue and investment revenue.
 
Expenses
a. Employee salaries, wages and benefits  
b. Payments to owner operators  
c. Purchased transportation services  
d. Vehicle fuel expenses  
e. Repairs and maintenance  
f. Depreciation of tangible and intangible assets
e.g., depreciation of vehicles, equipments, machinery, etc.
 
g. All other operating expenses  
Total operating expenses
Sum of a. to g.
 
h. Other expenses  
Total expenses
Sum of total operating expenses and other expenses.
 

Operating breakdowns

10. Report the distribution of your trucking revenue by type of trucking activity in 2019.

Report in percentages up to two decimal places.

Type of trucking activity
  Percentage
a. Local trucking
i.e., trucking services within a metropolitan area and its suburbs, generally, same-day return trips
 
b. Long distance trucking
i.e., trucking services between metropolitan areas, generally, trips are not same-day return
 
Total
Sum of a. and b. should add up to 100%.
 

11. Report the distribution of your trucking revenue by type of trucking service in 2019.

Report in percentages up to two decimal places.

Types of trucking service
  Percentage
a. General Freight, Truck Load (TL)  
b. General Freight, Less Than Truckload (LTL)  
c. Specialized trucking
e.g., trucking service performed using specialized equipment such as tankers, grain tank, dump trucks, refrigerated vans, motor vehicle haulers, etc.
 
d. Moving used household and/or used office goods  
Total
Sum of a. to d. should add up to 100%.
 

12. Report the distribution of your trucking revenue according to the region your business picks up the commodities in 2019.

Report in percentages up to two decimal places.

The region your business picks up commodities:
  Percentage
a. Newfoundland and Labrador  
b. Prince Edward Island  
c. Nova Scotia  
d. New Brunswick  
e. Quebec  
f. Ontario  
g. Manitoba  
h. Saskatchewan  
i. Alberta  
j. British Columbia  
k. Yukon  
l. Northwest Territories  
m. Nunavut  
n. Outside Canada  
Total
Sum of a. to n. should add up to 100%.
 

13. Report the distribution of your trucking revenue according to where your business moved shipments in 2019.

Report in percentages up to two decimal places.

Report the distribution of your trucking revenue according to where your business moved shipments in 2019
  Percentage
a. Domestic movements within a province or territory
i.e., intraprovincial shipments
 
b. Domestic movements between provinces or territories
i.e., interprovincial shipments
 
c. International movements into Canada
e.g., from the United States or Mexico
 
d. International movements out of Canada
e.g., to the United States or Mexico
 
Total
Sum of a. to d. should add up to 100%.
 

14. Report the distribution of the trucking revenue of this business according to the commodities hauled in 2019.

Report in percentages up to two decimal places.

Report the distribution of the trucking revenue of this business according to the commodities hauled in 2019
  Percentage
a. Agricultural products
e.g., crops or produce, live animals, bulked cereal grains, animal feed
 
b. Prepared food
e.g., meat, fish, seafood, dairy products, bakery products, fats and oils, beverages, tobacco products
 
c. Minerals
e.g., stone, sand, gravel and crushed stone, metallic ores
 
d. Coal  
e. Petroleum and gaseous productse.g., fuel oils, gasoline, crude petroleum and products of petroleum refining, coal products and hydrocarbons, asphalt, lubricating oils and greases, coal coke, water, liquefied natural gas, propane  
f. Pharmaceutical products  
g. Chemical, plastic and rubber products
e.g., chlorine, paint, pesticide, fertilizers, vinyl, acrylic polymers, tires
 
h. Wood products
e.g., forest products, lumber, sawmill product, logs and wood in the rough
 
i. Paper products
e.g., pulp, paper, newsprint, paperboard, printed products
 
j. Metallic and non-metallic products
e.g., base metals in primary, semi-finished or finished form, articles of base metals, gypsum, asphalt shingles, ceramic and glass products, bricks, concrete pipe
 
k. Vehicles, parts and other transportation equipment  
l. All other manufactured goods and miscellaneous products  
m. Waste and scrap  
n. Moving goods (used household and office goods)  
Total
Sum of a. to n. should add up to 100%.
 

Fleet and employments

15. Report the number of power units and trailers in service at the end of 2019.

Include units owned, financed or leased by your business.

Exclude vehicles owned by carriers working on your behalf (i.e., owner operator).

Report the number of power units and trailers in service at the end of 2019
  Number
a. Straight trucks
i.e., truck class 4 to 6
 
b. Road tractors
i.e., truck class 7 to 8
 
c. Trailers
e.g., semi-trailer, flat deck, tank, etc.
 

16. Report the average number of people employed during 2019.

Include full-time, part-time and temporary employees and employees absent with pay.

Report the average number of people employed during 2019
  Number
a. Drivers  
b. All other employees  
Total employees
Sum of a. and b.
 
c. Owner operators hired by this business
e.g., carriers working under your operating authority in a long term contract as an owner operator
 

Your shipment management system

17. Would your computer system allow you to provide data in an electronic format for each shipment?

e.g., providing for each shipment, a weight, a commodity description, an origin (pick up address) and a destination (delivery address)

  • Yes
  • No

Changes or events

18. Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.

Select all that apply.

  • Strike or lock-out
  • Exchange rate impact
  • Price changes in goods or services sold
  • Contracting out
  • Organizational change
  • Natural disaster
  • Recession
  • Sold business or business units
  • Expansion
  • New or lost contract
  • Acquisition of business or business units
  • Merger of business or business units
  • Vacation or maintenance periods
  • Equipment failure
  • Seasonal operations
  • Increased or decreased market demand
  • Dissolution
  • End of business activities
  • Change in business activity
  • Other
    • Specify the other changes or events:
  • No changes or events

Contact person

19. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information. Is [Provided Given Names], [Provided Family Name] the best person to contact?

  • Yes
  • No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

  • First name:
  • Last name:
  • Title:
  • Email address:
  • Telephone number (including area code):
  • Extension number (if applicable):
    The maximum number of characters is 5.
  • Fax number (including area code):

Feedback

20. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

  • Hours:
  • Minutes:

21. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

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