OTTAWA, Ont. — The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) announced it has received funding for a new project that will define skills needed for non-driving occupations in the trucking industry.

The funding comes from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. The initiative will update existing National Occupational Standards already developed by the CTHRC for several trucking industry occupations. The new standards will cover: shunt drivers; cargo workers; dispatchers; freight claims, safety and loss prevention specialists; and foremen, supervisors and managers.

A related research program will also explore young peoples’ attitudes towards careers in the trucking industry and determine whether any existing high school-to-work programs can be used to guide more students into trucking-related career paths.

“Clearly defined National Occupational Standards are the foundation of every effective training initiative that we develop,” said Gord Peddle, chairman of the CTHRC. “The focus on related skills also helps to increase the level of professionalism of the job, strengthen the trucking industry’s image, and defines the capabilities required to progress in a number of career paths.”

The standards, CTHRC says, will help educators map career paths for their students, inform candidates about the skills needed in trucking-related careers and provide employers with a tool that can be used to evaluate employee performance and training needs.

“Many of CTHRC’s initiatives have focused on the trucking industry’s demand for skilled, professional drivers. You can see that reflected in our, training programs, career awareness tools, HR management tools, and existing National Occupational Standards,” said Angela Splinter, CTHRC’s executive director. Our most current research indicated a growing need for skilled workers in non-driving occupations. These new National Occupational Standards will help the trucking industry to secure workers with the required skills.”