Students exposed to trucking industry career opportunities

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OTTAWA, Ont. — The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) has created a new set of tools to help high school educators promote career opportunities within the trucking industry to high school students.

The interactive awareness program dubbed Road Trip was introduced at Truck World, where students were guided through the show and brought up to speed on many career options.

“Road Trip highlights the wide variety of opportunities that the trucking industry has to offer,” said CTHRC project manager Tamara Miller. “In addition to introducing participants to specific career options and similar occupations, the new tools clearly explain the essential skills that are required to perform these roles.”

A participant’s guide shows students the process of delivering a cell phone from a factory to a local retail outlet and a companion guide for educators focuses on the essential skills students require to pursue a career in trucking. The content is accompanied with visits to industry partners.

Funding came from the Education Sector Council Partnership Project, which involves the Alliance of Sector Councils and the Toronto District School Board, and is supported by the Ontario Trucking Association Education Fund.

At Truck World, more than 80 local students were guided through the show by OTA Road Knights.

Industry partners Mack Canada, Peterbilt of Canada and Navistar Canada told the students about the role of sales staff while Cummins Canada discussed opportunities for mechanics.

Avaal Technology Solutions showcased careers available in information technology while Volvo Trucks Canada discussed occupations in manufacturing. Trimac Transportation explained the opportunities behind the wheel and Bison Transport showcased the roles of drivers and dispatchers.

Challenger Motor Freight informed the students about careers in safety and human resources. And Centennial College discussed its modified apprenticeship program.

“Road Trip has the potential of giving many high school students their first real exposure to career options in the trucking industry,” said Miller. “And the format lets industry partners bring the information to life.”

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  • It is good to see the industry taking its opportunities to the graduating youth of tomorrow.
    I feel that these positions should require a post secondary education criteria. There are qualified educational institutes teaching these courses to better qualify these new people for dispatcher, safety and compliance, logistics, etc.
    A freind of mine (13 year veteran driver) is a safety and compliance and driver trainer. He went to school for this and incorperates as much real life simulation as possible. He has a 100% graduate rate, and a 97% placement rate whith 80% of his graduates completing there hiring company orientation 50% sooner than other hiries. I credit his success to his work experience combined with his education.
    With the trucking industry becoming more politically and technologically transformed our dispatchers and compliance people will require greater skills to keep the companies in the game than they have in the past.