People
Driver shortage leads to Wiersma sale
KITCHENER, Ont. – Challenger Motor Freight is acquiring the assets of Ed Wiersma Trucking in a deal expected to close at the end of March, expanding Challenger’s Special Commodities Division. The 16-truck, family-run fleet specialized in flatbed truckload freight moving between southern Ontario and the U.S. But while it had up-to-date equipment and freight to haul, it was no longer able to attract the drivers it needed.
Splinter reflects on cancer, HR challenges
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Angela Splinter, the chief executive officer of Trucking HR Canada, didn’t begin by talking about cancer. When she took to the podium of the organization’s annual Women with Drive leadership summit, she focused specifically on human resources challenges. The labor shortage in trucking is real, she said, referring to an intensifying capacity crunch. “There is a limited supply of quality talent available.” But where 48% of Canada’s workforce includes women, they represent around 3% of drivers and technicians.
