BANFF, Alta. – The current staff of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) received a pat on the back from the association’s president and past-president for its efforts during the past year at the AMTA’s annual management conference.

In his final address as president of the AMTA, Jim Davis credited the association’s staff for restoring credibility with partnering organizations.

Relations were strained with the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) followed by a lack of communication and some poor accounting on the part of the association in late 2004, he admitted. To mitigate damages a few personnel changes were made inside the association, which saw Mayne Root established as the new executive director.

“The year has gone by quickly and it was a year of challenges,” said Davis to delegates during the AGM. “We faced a dip in credibility, which was a source of frustration to members. We have achieved substantial progress in rebuilding those relationships.”

Davis continued by providing the audience with highlights of other initiatives undertaken by the association throughout the year. Hazard courses were updated and revised, and an attempt to provide better control on driver and instructor certification will be looked into. Throughout the year the association will be looking to double the number of participants in the Regulatory Affairs Partnership and the association has began strengthening the Partners in Compliance program, which announced Lane Kranenburg as director in February.

As well, a Greenhouse Gas Coordinating Committee was established in partnership with Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, and Alberta Environment.

“We are the only organization in the province working with the government in this manner,” noted Davis.With his address finished, Davis assumed his new role of past-president and gave way to new president of the AMTA, Henry Van Steenbergen of Legal Freight Services. The new president reiterated Davis’ praise of the AMTA staff.

“We have a great staff and the past 18 months have been very challenging,” he said. “Without their dedication and hard work this association would have completely collapsed.”

New board members

With the reports to the attending members finished, the association held a closed ballot to determine two new members to its board of directors.

The new faces elected as directors at large, for a two year term were: Gordon Mackan of SGT2000 and Wayne Pedersen of Pedersen Transport.

The nominating committee failed to put forward a recommendation for president-elect and no member came forward with a nomination either, creating a vacancy for the president-elect position. As well, the association was left with vacancies in the positions of Northwest Regional Director and Central Regional Director.

By law, the association will have 60 days to find people to fill the vacancies.