BCTA, gov’t, and union join forces to tackle driver shortage

SURREY, B.C. — The B.C. Trucking Association, in company with Service Canada and Teamsters Canada, has launched the right track BC Trucking Industry Human Resources Strategic Plan.

As part of the first strategy, BCTA is actively involved in consultation on establishing improved driver training standards for the province. When training standards are encouraged and required by companies, there is a strong expectation that trucking will itself receive a helpful boost in prestige. “As a by-product of this, and in addition to focused recruitment, companies may find it easier to attract motivated workers from non-traditional labour pools,” BCTA says.

A recent study, entitled “How is the Skilled Labour Shortage Affecting Vancouver Employers?” by Vertical Bridge Corporate Consulting Inc. indicates that although a cross-section of Vancouver-area employers expects to lose between zero and 30 percent of their employees to attrition over the next five years (5% is the most common estimate), only just over 55 percent indicate that they have a strategy for filling those positions.

BCTA is confident that its human resources plan will help to give trucking an edge that other industry groups may not enjoy,” the association states.

BCTA points out that the study indicates that job openings are rife in construction that traditionally competes with trucking for workers. There are 20,000 jobs available in construction, with an estimated 60,000 workers required by 2013. “How can trucking compete?” BCTA asks.

Two strategies focused on by the BC Trucking Human Resources Planning Committee are improving the image of trucking as a positive, life-long career choice and the recruitment of under-represented populations who are not normally drawn to trucking, including women, youth, aboriginals and career switchers.