The lack of drivers is the largest issue the trucking sector in Alberta is dealing with.
According to Doug Paisley, the chairman of the board of directors of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), the province is lacking 4,000 professional drivers, and the number is growing.
"The average age of the 53 drivers at my employer, Lethbridge Truck Terminals, is 56 years old. During AMTA's leadership conference and annual general meeting in Edmonton, he told TruckNews.com that no young men were entering the industry.
The AMTA is advocating for professional designations and trade credentials for drivers of commercial vehicles.
"We require the establishment of that National Occupational Standard. We must create training that is based on criteria. You can obtain a license through mandatory entry level training (MELT), but it doesn't imply you can drive. Following the receipt of their license, training is required. Paisley added, "It costs money and takes time.
The organisation is attempting to alter the ethos and reputation of the sector, according to Michelle Spacil, manager of member services at AMTA. Long-haul trucking is what most people picture when they think of driving jobs. According to Spacil, information on alternatives to driving is being distributed in the forestry, industrial, oil and gas, and other sectors.
“It plants the seed of a trucking career.”
Michelle Spacil, manager member services AMTA
Social media, according to her, is a significant factor in audience targeting. Road Knights, professional transport drivers with excellent driving records, participate in job fairs organized by AMTA at high schools to promote industry careers and safe truck sharing.
Young folks can test drive a truck in our simulator. It sows the seed for a career in trucking, according to Spacil. The epidemic put the program on hold, but it is now being revived.
In order to increase diversity in the sector and attract more women to it, the association collaborates with the Edmonton non-profit Women Building Futures, she continued.
In order to draw in job candidates, small- and medium-sized carriers need to strengthen their brands, according to Rob Dombowsky, AMTA's industry advisor for labor and human resources.
This is the reason he advised carriers against sharing divisive content on their social media pages.
He asserted that the company's culture must be evident online. "Revise your website to differentiate it from the competition. Make sure it is up to date, interactive, flawless, and user-friendly.
Having experts handle Google reviews is also crucial. He cautioned that unsubstantiated criticisms reflect poorly on a carrier and added that job candidates will avoid organizations with a bad image.
In order to attract new drivers, Dombowsky recommended businesses to set aside money for advertising. Additionally, it can be more effective to advertise in the languages of target markets.
Carriers should search for advertising opportunities that coincide with ethnic, immigrant, and communal associations when marketing to newcomers, he suggested.