If you’ve been reading Truck News in recent months, you know there are some strong opinions out there on the current state of training for entry-level drivers in Ontario. Some have opined it’s time for mandatory training standards. Others have indicated the allowance of automatic transmissions in training and on road tests is to blame for the ill-prepared drivers that show up at carriers’ doors. Other say there are too many non-registered schools operating, and that the province isn’t doing an adequate job putting them out of business.

I caught up with Kim Richardson, president of KRTS, to see what he had to say about the issue. To his credit, he didn’t sugarcoat a thing. You can read the entire interview in the September issue of Truck News. For now, here’s a snippet. I asked Kim what level of preparedness he sees in prospective professional drivers when they show up at his facility looking to acquire an A/Z licence?

“They’re a consumer. When they talk to Dead Duck Truck Driver Training, they believe what they’re being told. Our potential clients ask the three no-nos: How much, how long and when’s my test? Those are the three worst questions and we get them all the time. As consumers, that’s what we do,” Kim explained.

“What we work really hard at doing at our facility is the educational part up front. It’s very time consuming. When they say ‘How much, how long and when’s my test?,’ we say ‘We can help you with the questions you should be asking.’ Let’s talk about the job, let’s talk about placement, let’s talk about industry and what steps you need to take to be successful. I’ve always said I don’t think we’re in the training business, we’re in the placement business. A part of that placement business is the training side. The real important thing is to match your clients with the right choice of where they want to go to work. It’s critical.”