Following industry efforts led by the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is considering finalizing exemptions from certain labour reforms for long-haul truck drivers, but a proposal on the table\u00a0to\u00a0exclude certain drivers and other key logistics workers could lead\u00a0to\u00a0disruptions\u00a0in\u00a0the supply chain and the economy, says the Alliance.<\/p>\n
While CTA is applauding ESDCs proposal\u00a0to\u00a0congeal certain temporary exemptions into\u00a0regulation for long-haul drivers (such as the requirement for employers\u00a0to\u00a0provide 96-hours\u2019 written notice for schedules\u00a0and\u00a024-hours\u2019 written notice for shift changes), ESDC is either questioning or currently proposing to exclude other key transportation workers, such as short haul\/city drivers, material handlers\/warehouse workers, dispatchers and mechanics \u2013 all\u00a0of which play\u00a0key\u00a0roles in a continuous operations industry like trucking.<\/p>\n
Without the exemptions,\u00a0trucking companies and the shipping\u00a0community would no longer be able\u00a0to\u00a0arrange for the carriage of goods with less than\u00a096\u00a0hours\u2019 notice\u00a0to\u00a0a trucking company or make adjustments\u00a0to\u00a0loads with less than 24 hours\u2019 notice, directly impacting key trends and business models, like just-in-time inventory and production as well as dealing with unforeseen delays related\u00a0to\u00a0weather, road congestion or shipper facility delays.<\/p>\n
Consequently, while CTA welcomes the proposed exemptions for long-haul drivers, the Alliance strongly questions the rationale for excluding\u00a0other job classes ESDC already recognizes as essential in\u00a0\u201ccontinuous operations\u201d.\u00a0If a load is delayed by inclement weather, traffic disruptions, congestion or needs need\u00a0to\u00a0be adjusted by a customer, it will undoubtably impact both long-haul and short haul drivers as well as many other operations tied the load at pick-up and delivery points, such as dispatchers, material handlers, dock workers, and warehousing workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAddressing just one out of the many vital classes of jobs tied\u00a0to\u00a0the loads is not sufficient\u00a0to\u00a0avoid potentially significant disruptions in the supply chain,\u201d says CTA president Stephen Laskowski. \u201cBy exempting long-haul drivers, ESDC is essentially acknowledging the problems with some of these provisions and how they can negatively impact the trucking industry and related sectors. While we appreciate that consideration, neglecting other types of truck drivers and workers tied\u00a0to\u00a0the load\u2019s composition, scheduling and delivery is highly problematic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delays in the supply chain \u2013 such as weather, traffic, road collisions, delayed ferries, ships and planes, or customer-based adjustments\u00a0\u2013\u00a0require\u00a0carriers\u00a0to\u00a0constantly be flexible in their operations, this is particularly true when it comes to scheduling, said Jonathan Blackham, director,\u00a0Public Affairs, CTA. \u201cHighway drivers, city drivers, warehouse workers, dispatchers, and mechanics are all essential parts of a continuous operation and all need flexibility when it comes\u00a0to\u00a0scheduling. In many cases, trucks \u2013 whether they\u2019re long-haul or city \u2013 would simply be left sitting idle if they couldn\u2019t be loaded, unloaded, repaired, or if routes and timing couldn\u2019t be adjusted with the help of dispatchers.\u201d<\/p>\n
CTA is asking all members of the supply chain\u00a0to\u00a0implore the government\u00a0to\u00a0maintain the exclusions for all \u201ccontinuous operations\u201d\u00a0including\u00a0highway drivers, city drivers,\u00a0material handlers\/warehouse workers,\u00a0shippers and receivers,\u00a0dispatchers and mechanics.<\/p>\n
\u201cCTA is only requesting exemptions for job-classes that\u00a0ESDC\u00a0already considers\u00a0to\u00a0be part of a continuous operation and already provides special consideration for in other regulations,\u00a0\u00bb said Blackham. \u00ab\u00a0The industry recognizes that work life balance is a priority and is not seeking an exemption for the many job classes that fall outside those involved in continuous operations \u2013 only those that absolutely need this scheduling flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout the process, ESDC has indicated they will consider exemptions for all job-classes for which a well-reasoned case can be made. This willingness was also present in a recent industry roundtable discussion on this matter. At this juncture, CTA is calling on the supply chain\u00a0to\u00a0reaffirm to ESDC that these exemptions are important.<\/p>\n