Dear truck drivers:

CTA News Release: The Canadian Trucking Alliance was informed today by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is directing the agency, effective immediately, to implement a policy requiring all essential workers crossing the border to wear a non-medical mask or face covering and to provide drivers with a mask should they not have one.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial transportation industry has been in the spotlight as drivers continue to get important goods, such as groceries and medical supplies where they need to go.

The AMTA will be releasing a weekly industry update survey for Carriers in order to get a sense of how industry is affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Dealing with work refusals during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered from both points of view: the employer and employee.

Greetings from your friendly AMTA Course Development team,

In the second week of March, Course Development has been feverishly working on modifying our classroom-based courses for distance delivery. This includes creating computer-based exams and revising activities that are completed in groups in the face-to-face setting.

Dealing with work refusals during the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered from both points of view: the employer and employee.

Personal safety today looks very different than in the pre-pandemic world, and for many is unrecognizable.

Employers of dock workers, freight handlers and their supervisors may consider some of the following advice or best practices at their worksite to reduce the risk of worker exposure to COVID-19:

The COVID-19 outbreak has changed many lives in many different and individual ways.

Effective April 9, 2020, the Government of Alberta is extending the expiry dates of select vehicle inspection certificates until May 15, 2020, if the certificate expires between March 17 and May 15, 2020.

Today, the Alberta Government announced temporary modifications to regulations for commercial drivers and railway operators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made in order to ensure the province’s supply chain continues necessary delivery of goods such as medical supplies and groceries.

April 11 Update: UPDATE: BC has updated the self isolation plan requirements which now exempts certain occupations, including truck drivers, upon entry to BC from having to create a self-isolation plan.

Alberta is temporarily modifying some regulations for truck drivers and railway operators to protect the supply chain and ensure Canadians can access necessities like medical supplies, groceries and fuel during the COVID-19 crisis.

In response to the COVID-19 recession, the Alberta government will allocate almost $2 billion from the 2020 Capital Plan to resurface roads, repair bridges, restore schools and fill potholes, all to get thousands of Albertans back to work.

CTA: The CBSA is making progress towards the expanded use of email and fax, in lieu of paper submissions of commercial documentation. The first wave of ports to offer email service will be Vancouver, Toronto, Windsor, Montreal and Halifax. Additional offices will come online shortly. Commercial clients are encouraged to communicate with their local CBSA office to determine their state of readiness and the best method currently available.

The Industry Task Force has released a brief member survey on the WCB premium relief program announced by government a few weeks ago. There were suggestions from some members that the $10m cap on insurable earnings should be increased because this places an unreasonable restriction on program eligibility and that the program should be expanded to include public sector employers. There are also unanswered questions regarding participation of not-for-profit employers.

Press Release: Over the past week, more than 1,100 offers of support have poured in from private and non-profit organizations through the Government of Alberta’s Bits and Pieces program.

*There are yet to be any checkpoints established in Alberta*

The AMTA will be releasing a weekly industry update survey for Carriers in order to get a sense of how industry is affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.