KRTS, Pearson Dunn voice support for automatic transmission option for road tests

Jeremy Drumm

What I read is that Kim and Lisa have expressed their opinions on how a change in our industry can have a positive affect moving forward for both our industry and their own allied trades. Good for them.
Any change has its challenges but no one can define what the limits of that change are except each of us for ourselves.
A newly licensed driver certified on an automatic can now step into a newly delivered truck equipped with an automatic, made by the any one of the largest truck manufacturers on the planet that has been purchased or financed by the best fleets in North America and he or she can continue to grow our industry in a positive, safe and economical light. That doesn't sound like a limiting factor to me.
But wait there's more...if a company would like to have drivers trained on both transmissions or better yet have an auto certified driver take a course on a multi-speed manual in order to be more flexible company asset there is an option to do so at private driver training schools? Sounds good to me.
Tell me again where the limits are?

Posted May 16, 2012 11:25 AM

roger shyster

ontario has finally caught up to alberta and the united states in offering
training on automatic tractors,if there is a driver shortage,this will allow people to enter the field,and more people can be employed

Posted May 15, 2012 11:41 AM

Kim Richardson

Hi CDS,

The industry never spoke "to me".....The carrier membrship of OTA drove this bus and encouraged MOT to offer Road Testing on Automatic transmissions for all the reasons mentioned before. Good legitimate well thought out reasons.
Our goal and objective at KRTS will continue to ensure that the entry level driver receive the bulk of his training on the manual transmission and be introduced to the automatic so they know how to handle both. You will always have some less than reputable schools trying to take advantage of this situation.
We don't feel we fit into this category. Our over 2 decades of producing top notch grads for the trucking industry and solid reputation speaks for itself.
Market will decide in long run and over time for the most part the manual transmission will be way of the doe doe bird.

Posted May 14, 2012 05:44 PM

CDS

I can not agree more with your statements Michael. KRTS is a training facility who claims that they represent the trucking industries needs, I would love to hear who Kim’s supporting trucking companies are.
Kim, when the industry has spoken to you about adding an automatic transmission it is not in support of you having your students test only on automatic transmissions. We are telling you to diversify your training . I can tell you as a representative of one of the large carriers, it is important for you to familiarize students on the use of an automatic transmission so yes go purchase one. However the training standard and testing should still reflect the manual transmission. When the industry is functioning on a platform of 80-90% automatics then you might want to consider providing a standard transmission as an optional course, but we are far away from this at this point.
Lisa we are finding in some cases driver’s using the automatic transmission as being more complacent so can you please provide your data to support your statements.
Currently allowing the training and testing to be conducted in an automatic transmission you will further support the un-employability of new drivers coming into the industry today. If the ministry is going to allow an automatic drivers test then a restriction must be placed on the driver's license. A quality school who truly cares about the industry must teach to the highest standard and the MTO should test to that standard.

Posted May 14, 2012 10:43 AM

Kim Richardson

Hi Mike,

We will continue to train on multi speed transmissions. We know the importance on continuing to do so. We are adding an automatic to our line up because the industry has spoken. KRTS will continue to exceed the Provincial, National and North American standards set out for entry level truck drivers.

Kim

Posted May 13, 2012 09:55 AM