Labour Resilience
Building a Strong Trucking Workforce
A skilled workforce is vital to the future of the Canadian trucking industry and the health of our economy. The CTA is advocating for solutions to address the driver shortage and ensure the industry has the talent it needs to thrive.
Key Advocacy Areas:
The Canadian trucking industry is facing a critical shortage of qualified drivers, threatening the efficient movement of goods and the future health of our economy. Trucking HR Canada projects that by 2030, the industry could face up to 40,400 vacancies. This shortage is a complex challenge with various contributing factors.
Root Causes of the Shortage
Aging Workforce
The average age of truck drivers is increasing, and many experienced drivers are approaching retirement. Additionally, negative perceptions about long hours, time away from home, and a lack of work-life balance can deter younger generations from pursuing trucking careers.
Insurance Costs
The trucking industry is experiencing rising insurance costs, which can be a significant barrier for new and younger drivers. This is partly due to challenges in accurately assessing risk for these drivers, particularly in light of inconsistencies in training and licensing standards.
Immigration
While the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and other immigration programs can help to alleviate labour shortages, there remain challenges with these programs, including the screening of participating companies and ensuring fair treatment of workers.
Unfair Competition
Loopholes in laws and regulations allow some carriers to undercut the market by shifting costs onto drivers, damaging the industry’s reputation and making it harder to attract new talent.
Licensing and Training
A critical barrier to hiring qualified drivers is associated with licensing policies and practices, largely pertaining to the delivery of Entry-Level Training (ELT) programs, which vary across Canadian jurisdictions. The rapid expansion of training schools, fueled by government subsidies, has resulted in inconsistencies in training quality. This inconsistency, coupled with the challenges faced by smaller carriers in providing comprehensive onboarding and coaching programs, leads to challenges for new drivers entering the workforce.
What We’re Doing
Advocacy
We actively lobby the government for policies that support driver recruitment and retention.
This includes improved training standards, streamlined licensing processes, and programs to attract underrepresented groups to the industry. We advocate for changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program to address labor shortages and push for increased enforcement against the “Driver Inc.” model that misclassifies drivers as independent contractors. We also support initiatives to improve driver training standards and expand apprenticeship programs, making it easier for new drivers to enter the industry and acquire the necessary skills.
Collaboration
We work closely with industry stakeholders, training institutions, and government agencies to develop and implement solutions that address the root causes of the driver shortage.
We work with organizations like the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) to conduct research and develop evidence-based solutions to improve road safety and address workforce challenges in the trucking industry. We also collaborate with Trucking HR Canada (THRC) on research, data collection, and initiatives to promote trucking careers.
Promotion
We are dedicated to promoting the benefits and opportunities of trucking careers to a new generation of workers.
We conduct awareness campaigns like ChooseToTruck.ca to promote the benefits and opportunities of trucking careers to the next generation of workers, encouraging them to register for updates about roles and opportunities in their area. We also utilize social media and other digital platforms to promote positive stories about trucking careers and connect with potential candidates.
Take Action for a Stronger Trucking Industry
Ready to make a difference? Explore the CTA’s advocacy campaigns and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of trucking in Canada.