The Canadian Automated Vehicle Initiative has cancelled a proposed cross-country automated truck demonstration after Transport Canada declined to endorse the project.
CAVI planned to send an automated tractor-trailer about 5,800 kilometres from Halifax to Vancouver in 2028. A safety operator was expected to accompany the vehicle during the demonstration.
The project was intended to test whether an automated heavy truck could operate safely across multiple provincial jurisdictions and to identify the regulatory, technical and logistical barriers that would have to be resolved before long-distance automated freight service could be introduced in Canada.
CAVI president Barrie Kirk previously told Collision Repair that automated vehicle deployment has been advancing unevenly because provincial rules differ. Ontario permits pilot projects involving cars, light trucks and large commercial vehicles, while most other provinces have not established comparable programs.
Organizers hoped the demonstration would encourage governments to develop a consistent national system for automated trucking rather than separate provincial requirements. The project was also intended to support interprovincial trade, address a shortage of long-haul drivers and demonstrate Canadian expertise in artificial intelligence and automated transportation.
CAVI launched the project in May 2025. The planning team later grew to 75 volunteers from industry, academia and government, with representatives from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. A steering group and six working groups studied different parts of the proposed trip.
Organizers sought an endorsement from Transport Canada to help attract private-sector partners and funding. According to CAVI, the department advised the association verbally and in writing that it would not endorse the project.
“Faced with this, we have unfortunately concluded that there is no viable way forward,” Kirk said. “Hence the decision to cancel the project.”
CAVI will continue producing its CAV Update newsletter and conducting educational activities related to connected and automated vehicles.
Transport Canada representatives told Collision Repair they required additional time to respond to questions and expected to provide information by the end of July 31. It was not received before the publication of article on August 5.
It reads:
"Transport Canada is responsible for safety standards and regulations for new and imported vehicles, tires, and child restraints, under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA). As such, its role is to provide guidance on regulatory requirements on projects such as the Canadian Automated Vehicle Initiative (CAVI)’s TransCanada Automated Truck Project and to facilitate consistency and good regulatory practices.
Transport Canada officials have met and exchanged correspondence with the CAVI team on several occasions regarding the TransCanada Automated Truck Project. On July 21, 2026, Transport Canada advised the CAVI team that, given its role as the federal vehicle safety regulator, Transport Canada does not endorse individual large-scale projects of this nature. Transport Canada informed CAVI that it would assist the CAVI team with understanding federal regulatory requirements and help facilitate any applicable regulatory exemptions or temporary importation declarations related to the project.
Transport Canada has also encouraged CAVI to continue engaging provincial and non-government stakeholders to build support for the initiative and to explore potential funding opportunities through other Government of Canada departments with mandates better aligned to project funding."
