OTTAWA, Ont. -Natural Resources Canada is once again offering its SmartDriver for Highway Trucking training program to professional drivers across the country. SmartDriver is designed to help trucking companies save money on fuel and increase profits, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to officials. The course teaches participants vehicle care and maintenance, fuel management and driving skills that cut down on consumption.

“With SmartDrivers on the road, businesses can improve margins, lower maintenance costs and reduce a fleet’s environmental impact,” says Lynda Harvey, senior manager, fleet vehicles at the Office for Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada. “And with almost 50% of shippers considering a company’s green credentials when selecting a supplier, it offers a competitive advantage as well as a financial one.”

The SmartDriver course is an interactive, full-day training session, taught by experienced master trainers. “I try to tailor the content to match the skill level and experience of drivers in the room,” says David Lush, a master trainer who runs sessions in British Columbia. “And I enhance the course material with recent industry research, information on emerging technologies, articles and case studies to keep it current.”

Natural resources Canada is partnering with trucking associations across the country to offer a number of SmartDriver sessions from September through March. Companies can also book a master trainer to run an in-house session for their drivers by sending an e-mail to SmartDriver@Bronson.ca. For more information, visit www.fleetsmart.gc.ca.