OTTAWA — Key leaders of Canada’s trucking industry have signed agreements in principle to partner in developing a new organization that will focus on the Human Resources needs of Canada’s trucking and logistics sectors.

The newly formed Trucking Human Resources Canada is supported in principle by the Canadian Trucking Alliance, the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, Newcom Business Media, and Glacier Business Information Group.

“Trucking HR Canada will be a forum for gathering and exchanging ideas and information relating to Human Resources and best practices in training,” says Angela Splinter, executive director of the new organization. “As a national, partnership-based organization, we will collaborate to promote safe, secure, efficient and professional trucking and logistics.”

Trucking HR Canada will:

* identify the trucking and logistics industry’s Human Resources issues, trends, opportunities and challenges;
* support the recruitment and retention of Human Resources needed to meet industry demands;
* partner on initiatives which impact Human Resources;
* provide a national forum for gathering and sharing best practices, and;
* promote career opportunities and career paths in the trucking and logistics industry.

With the launch of the new organization, the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) will phase out operations early in 2013.
 

 “By including the most prominent membership-based fleet organizations in Canada, and publishers of the largest trade magazines in the trucking and logistics industry, our new organization is immediately positioned to support the broadest range of businesses and ensure HR needs, resources and strategies are effectively communicated to the industry at large,” Splinter says.

Canada’s largest trucking association, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), is a federation of the country’s pro­vincial trucking associations. It represents a broad cross-section of the trucking industry – some 4,500 carriers, owner-operators and industry suppliers. “We are very hopeful that a new national organization which focuses on working with industry partners can help us as we work to address what most carriers believe is the industry’s toughest challenge – making sure we have top-quality people who are recognized as skilled labour and treated as such, to pilot our vehicles in the future,” says David Bradley, president and chief executive officer of the CTA.

Earlier this year, the CTA gathered industry leaders from across Canada to launch a blue ribbon task force on the driver shortage. A growing realization about the impact of HR challenges on the industry, combined with new business and funding opportunities, “make it clear that the time is right for a new organization with a new part­nership and a re-focused direction,” he says.

The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) is the only Canadian association dedicated to the interests of private fleet operators. Private carriage accounts for an estimated 60% of Canada’s heavy trucks, and in excess of $19 billion in annual spending.  “PMTC is a firm believer in the need for exceptional Human Resources practices in the trucking commu­nity. Our members recognize the value of proven training curricula and delivery methods, as well as the bottom-line results that can be delivered by superior hiring and retention practices. We are pleased to be a part of the new organization in helping to bring awareness of high-level HR practices to the forefront of the Canadian trucking community,” said Bruce Richards, president of PMTC.

Glacier Business Information Group publishes Truck News, Truck West, Motortruck Fleet Executive, and Canadian Transportation & Logistics. These publications are part of a family of more than 90 trade magazines, directories, newsletters and websites serving 17 key Canadian industries.

“Human Resource issues represent a significant challenge for our industry. We applaud this new partner­ship and look forward to supporting the organization’s vision and objectives,” says Rob Wilkins, publisher.

Newcom Business Media – the publisher of Today’s Trucking, Transport Routier, and Truck and Trailer — specializes in the business-to-business publishing of print magazines, industry websites and trade shows in the trucking, automotive aftermarket, mechanical contracting and logistics industries. Its trade shows include Truck World and ExpoCam.  “Newcom is proud to be a founding member of Trucking HR Canada. We look forward to working with CTA, PMTC, and Glacier Business Information Group to continue the good work carried over from the sector council and build and develop new resources for the trucking industry,” says Joe Glionna, director, Newcom Truck Group.