OTTAWA, Ont. — European professional drivers will be receiving some improved training, thanks in part to work done on this side of the pond by the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC).

The CTHRC is sharing its expertise with training providers, research institutes and trade associations from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain and Hungary as the only North American group involved with the European Union’s ProfDRV initiative.

“The European partners looked around the world to identify best practices, and were impressed with what we have accomplished in Canada,” said CTHRC executive director Linda Gauthier. “We have already travelled down the path they want to follow, and look forward to sharing information which will help to enhance the professionalism of Europe’s trucking industry.”

ProfDRV is aiming to define the knowledge, skills and competencies required of professional drivers and to improve the image of the career. The CTHRC has already developed National Occupational Standards that outline the skill sets required by professional drivers and has created training programs to meet those standards.

The CTHRC also hopes by getting involved in the European initiative, it can gain insight into Europe’s training and licensing standards, which will be important to Canadian carriers who recruit foreign-trained workers.

The ProfDRV program is funded entirely by the European stakeholders, the CTHRC notes.