Drive4Apprenticeship.com - Step Up to Apprenticeship!
Step up to the OTA Convention!
October 20, 2008
The Ontario Trucking Association, in conjunction with Industry Stakeholders, are proud to announce a “hands on” workshop for companies interested in learning the practicalities of the Tractor Trailer Commercial Driver Apprenticeship Program.
- Thursday November 20th
- 9:00 – 10:15am
- Doubletree (room tbc)
- Registration is $85 for OTA members, $170 for non-members
For registration info, click here.
The History of Apprenticeship in Trucking
November 21st, 2005
The quest to make truck driving an apprenticeship trade in Ontario began in February 2004. Industry stakeholders felt that it would be wonderful to have an apprenticeship in trucking to help raise the education and safety standards of new drivers in Ontario and legitimize the profession of a truck driver.
The industry stakeholders commenced the investigation into the method of developing a new trade in Ontario and contacted the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities (MTCU) for the Province of Ontario, Hamilton branch. The MTCU was told that the Trucking Industry of Ontario respectively requested that the Apprenticeship Board of Ontario implement a proposal for a new apprenticeship in Ontario known as Truck Driver.
The MTCU was informed that there is a demand for additional commercial truck drivers based on an Industry report. The report also states that 120,080 truck drivers are currently working in Ontario. A demand of 15,000 new truck drivers will be required in Ontario each year from 2004 to 2008. This figure is based on the GDP Projection for employed and self employed truck drivers as well as attrition due to changing occupations and retirements. It was deemed that there could be a requirement of 1,500 apprentice truck drivers in Ontario each year.
The Hamilton branch of the MTCU contacted their head office in Toronto in regard to our request for a new apprenticeship. MTCU responded that the carriers would not be willing to invest in training new drivers and that a curriculum would have to be created. Therefore, it would not be feasible to continue. The industry stakeholders disagreed with the MTCU and asked for a face to face meeting in Hamilton. At that meeting we addressed the fact that many of the major companies in Ontario already invest heavily in training and that in truth there is a curriculum that exists based upon the PTDI program utilized by Driver Training Schools in Ontario.
The MTCU agreed to revaluate their position and they stated that the quest for apprenticeship must be industry driven. GETAB in Brantford agreed to hold a Roundtable on Trucking in April 2004. Carriers, Insurance companies, Educators, Government representatives from all levels and the media attended and supported the concept 100 percent. The MTCU also requested that the group complete their standard five pages of ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN
This led to a second Roundtable on Trucking held in Guelph at MacKinnon Transport in June 2004 where over forty people attended and volunteered their time to assist the Apprenticeship Board. All those in attendance were asked to return to their respective organizations and obtain answers to the SCAN. Ray Haight the President and COO of MacKinnon Transport agreed to be the signing authority for the SCAN.
A common feeling came out through discussion at the meetings that the public needs reassurance from the Government of Ontario and the Trucking Industry that their roads are the safest in North America. A giant step in the right direction was made by raising the bar of new driver competency by making truck driving an apprenticeship in Ontario.
Those attending the meetings also felt that the apprenticeship would promote trucking as a multi-faceted career offering challenge and potential for personal growth. A structured apprenticeship/career path program would offer candidates the training and experience needed to meet industry’s needs, and at the same time expose them to opportunities within the industry that could satisfy their career ambitions, especially as their lifestyles change with age (growing families, financial responsibilities etc.)
The SCAN with supporting documentation inclusive of support from the Ontario Trucking Association, Owner Operator’s Business Association of Ontario, Insurance companies, Educators, Carriers and individual company drivers and Owner Operators consisted of over 200 pages when it was presented to the MTCU in September of 2004.
Over 1000 companies who support the Ontario Trucking Association received electronic communication for support of the Truck Driver apprenticeship quest and no companies opposed the concept of having Truck Driver becoming an apprenticeship in Ontario.
The Ministry requested a meeting in December 2004 in Toronto of the core group. At the meeting they stated how impressed they were with all of the work that the Trucking Industry had completed to date and that it would make their task easier in making Truck Driver an apprenticeship in Ontario. Ministry stated that they supported the quest for making Truck Driver an apprenticeship in Ontario which will be the first in Canada. Britain and several states in the USA have apprenticeships for Truck Drivers.
A third Roundtable on trucking was held at Mackinnon Transport in April 2005 with again in excess of fifty people in attendance. The most repeated comment was the representatives of Industry want this to happen. Individuals continued to step up to the plate and volunteered their time to assist the Ministry to make Truck Driver an apprenticeship in Ontario.
The MTCU requested a second meeting of the core group in May and then a third meeting in July. Both meetings were held at MacKinnon Transport in Guelph with the last meeting bringing in the MTCU department heads who were assigned to the project.
On September 15th 2005 there was a meeting of those who have offered their support for the quest. It was called the “Stakeholders meeting in support of the Truck Driver apprenticeship”. The group was brought up to date on the status of the quest and the decisions of the Ministry. Over 50 participants attended the meeting.
The MTCU and the Stakeholders met again on October 6, 2005 where the Ministry thanked all involved for their ongoing support. Names of carriers and drivers were submitted to the Minister of the MTCU to form an Industry Committee to advise the Minister on continuous improvements to the new trucking apprenticeship. The IC is utilizing a web site developed by Over the Road magazine called www.drive4apprenticeship.com to allow Ontario truck drivers and carriers to give input to the Industry Committee which in turn can be used to advise the Minister.
The MTCU has been asked to consider Tax Credits for the new Commercial Truck Driver apprenticeship and when that is achieved carriers will be notified.
The official announcement in Toronto on November 18th 2005 at the OTA Convention was made by the, the Honorable Chris Bentley Minister of MTCU that the new Commercial Truck Driver apprenticeship will commence on January 2006.
The largest occupation in Canada has now become a skilled trade in Ontario through training in the Truck Driver apprenticeship. From concept to completion the quest covered a period of two years and it started with the leadership shown by the Trucking Industry, the MTCU, and Fanshawe College James N. Allan campus in Simcoe Ontario.
The Truck Driver apprenticeship will be a one year period. The voluntary apprenticeship will commence after the driver has completed their AZ and started work for a carrier. The company will continue training to the MTCU documentation with an “in cab” mentor/coach for a period up to twelve weeks. The new driver would then be under some guidance of his mentor with ongoing debriefings and the mentor/coach would be available to review the driver’s progress on an ongoing basis for a period up to forty weeks. The coach/mentor would sign off a record of the drivers demonstrated competencies for the MTCU.