Students are gaining skills and employers are seeing value from Trucking HR Canada’s (THRC) Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), which has funded more than 1,600 placements since 2021.

The latest impact report shows more than 85% of students said their work terms expanded their professional networks, while more than 90% reported improvements in problem-solving, teamwork, independence, and adaptability. Students described the chance to apply their education in real-world operations as invaluable, saying it boosted confidence and employability before graduation.

Employers echoed the benefits. Faced with an aging workforce, 29% of trucking employees are 55 or older, they see placements as a pipeline of young talent. More than 80% of surveyed companies said they would consider hiring their students for future roles.

They also praised the creativity and fresh ideas students bring, along with stronger ties to post-secondary institutions. “By tapping into this rich pool of young talent, we not only infuse our business with a steady stream of innovative ideas but also benefit from the fresh perspectives they bring to the table,” one employer said.

Since 2021, more than $8 million has been disbursed to employers through the program. For many post-secondary schools, the funding removes barriers for companies hesitant to hire students, while giving students meaningful exposure to trucking and logistics careers.

The program comes at a critical time. While 2025 labor market data points to some short-term easing, more than 40,000 trucking and logistics jobs are projected to be vacant by 2030. THRC said that SWPP is now a cornerstone strategy for sustaining Canada’s freight economy.