OTTAWA – The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) says it will be working with several European safety researchers and government agencies to enhance driver training and qualification standards on that side of the pond.

As the only North American group involved in the European Union’s related ProfDRV initiative, CTHRC will consult with stakeholders and trade associations from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain and Hungary on identifying what Canadian standards are transferable in Europe.

The group’s first meeting was recently held in Hamburg, Germany.

The project, scheduled to conclude in March 2013, aims to define the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to be a professional driver, and improve the career’s image through a focus on vocational training.

The CTHRC has already developed National Occupational Standards that define the skills needed to be a professional driver; created training programs to meet these standards; and established initiatives such as Closing the Gap, which bring together fleets, government agencies and training institutions, says CTHRC Executive Director Linda Gauthier.

“The European partners looked around the world to identify best practices and were impressed with what we have accomplished in Canada,” said Gauthier. “We have already traveled down the path they want to follow, and look forward to sharing information which will help to enhance the professionalism of Europe’s trucking industry.”

As well, Canada’s trucking industry will gain insight into Europe’s training and licensing standards, which will be particularly important to carriers who are recruiting foreign workers.

ProfDRV is funded entirely by the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci program and will help to implement European directive 2003/59/EC, regulating professional driver initial and periodic training among EU member countries.