CALEDONIA, Ont. (Nov. 26, 2004) — Sunbury Transport in Fredericton, N.B. and TST Truckload Express in Ontario have come up with a new custom remedy to help cure some of the current driver shortage issues that the company is facing.

Sunbury and TST — in conjunction with Caledonia, Ont. based KRTS Transportation Specialists Inc. — has launched a new tuition reimbursement program in Ontario that the company believes will help encourage new people into the trucking industry.

After completing KRTS’s driver training course and upon being hired by Irving Group-owned Sunbury Transport, the new driver will receive a monthly tuition reimbursement. The student’s tuition is paid in full over a period of one year.

“Sunbury is stepping to the plate and showing their commitment to our organization and entry level drivers in the Province of Ontario,” said Kim Richardson, president of KRTS, in a press release. “These people at Sunbury are a first class act, they travel to our facility once a month from the east coast to recruit our graduates and we’re proud to have them as one of our Preferred Carriers.”

Similarly TST will reimburse $1,100 every three months to a graduate of KRTS’s Power to Drive Program until the full $4,400 tuition is paid in full. In addition, TST will also give $500 per week during the first four weeks on ongoing training once hired by TST.

The Power to Drive Program — a partnership between KRTS, TST Truckload Express and Arrow Truck Sales is approaching its first anniversary.

The program involves entry-level driver training at KRTS, based on the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) criteria. TST then will take the student and continue additional training on real hauls with professional drivers and mentors. The applicant will then be put through an owner-operator business skills course to help the driver get a head start as an independent contractor.

Arrow Truck Sales will offer special lease/purchase terms for students graduating from the program.