TORONTO — Chris Harris, senior safety representative for Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada, has agreed to chair the Career Path Roundtable, launched last year by a handful of carriers and a driver training school to figure out how the industry could attract people to trucking.

Harris has been in the trucking industry most of his working life. His father and grandfather both owned trucking companies as well. He was with TNT before joining Old Republic in 2001 and like many others in trucking, he started as a driver. He has many designations, including certified director of safety through the North American Training Institute (NATMI).

In December, the group — which was created in part by Caledonia, Ont.’s KRTS Transportation Specialists — met in Toronto to discuss the need for a career path for those entering the trucking community, including truck driver apprenticeships, which were greenlighted by the province on a voluntary basis.

The group was applauded by the Honourable Diane Finley, who at the time was the Federal Minister for Human Resources and Social Development.

Kim Richardson of KRTS was asked to chair the first meeting, but later suggested the group “needed someone with passion and experience in our industry at different levels. We hit a home run when Chris Harris stepped up to the plate.”

MacKinnon Transport, L.E. Walker, Erb Transport, Kriska, The TST Truckload Express, White Oak Transport, are some of the trucking companies who are participating in the roundtable.

“The Career Path Round Table is important to the industry and those who earn their living in it,” said Harris. “It is equally important to those considering the trucking industry as a career. I am happy to invest the time and energy into this venture.