LANGLEY, B.C. — At least one provincial trucking organization has a plan for stemming the driver shortage.

The British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA) has just wrapped up a year of strategizing and released “The B.C. Trucking Industry Strategic Human Resources Plan,” a strongly worded document grappling with three key facts:

A) The province needs about 4500 new drivers annually; B) There are too many seniors driving truck; and C) Not enough young candidates are signing on.

“The British Columbia and Canadian trucking industry currently faces significant challenges,” said BCTA CEO Paul Landry. “We believe our human-resources plan is an important road map for dealing with these challenges.”

Landry said that to address the problem many new drivers face
there should be a non-mandatory, minimum training standard.

The booming western economy, record low unemployment rates and increased activity from the 2010 Winter Olympics and other large infrastructure projects have combined to create a great demand for drivers in this province, noted Mr. Landry.

The plan, which will be released to the industry later this week, includes recommendations for minimum driver training standards, improving, the industry’s image, and attracting new people from outside the industry and boost retention.

“It’s practical, pro-active and designed to help companies help themselves,” said Jim White, General Manager of Commercial Logistics Inc., a carrier and member of the industry committee that oversaw the development of the plan.

Landry said that to address the problem many new drivers face — not knowing what the industry expects of them or how to prepare for a career as a truck driver — there should be a non-mandatory, minimum training standard.

“By establishing a standard, people will find it easier to have a career, not just obtain a license,” he said.

The plan also advocates reducing entry barriers such as insufficient training funding for drivers, and it encourages employers to provide on-the-job training after a license has been earned so that the quality of the workforce is maintained.

Among other recommendations:

Promote a minimum pre-licensing training standard to produce readily employable professional drivers; Develop a coherent and consistent driver-training-delivery system through a network of approved institutions.

As well: Identify, promote, and advocate improved driver-training financing mechanisms; recommend improvements to the driver-licensing testing standard and testing process; and promote careers to under-represented groups in the trucking industry like women, Aboriginal and young people.