SURREY, B.C. — There is more to trucking than driving, according to the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC), which is promoting the many other career-oriented jobs that are available in this vast industry.

“A lot of people think that truck driving is the only position,” says Linda Gauthier, the executive director of the CTHRC. “They don’t see all the other surrounding aspects of trucking.”

Gauthier was on the West Coast this week, promoting a new public awareness campaign by the CTHRC, intended to attract employees to the trucking industry, either to jobs that are directly related, or indirectly related. Driving positions have various options, such as short haul, long-haul, or P&D. Other opportunities that are not exclusive to delivery include safety professional, dispatcher, professional driver trainer, mechanic, computer technician, sales and marketing.

Otherwise, the allied trades offer employment opportunities through a broad range of services that encompasses equipment manufacturers, parts and service suppliers, financial organizations related to the industry, technology providers, driver services, and more.

Younger people are seeking long-term careers, rather than a temporary job, and the CTHRC wants to attract these potential new employees, says Gauthier. “Young people today are looking for different challenges. This is to provide people with an idea of what’s out there, (and) what is available in terms of the industry.”

The CTHRC has developed a package of information on this topic, which is being distributed to various trucking associations across the country. The target audience for this awareness campaign is high school students, aboriginals, women, visible minorities, workers in transition and parents.