Human trafficking survivor shares stories, statistics and the importance of having a safe place

Trigger Warning: Human trafficking//sexual violence

Many people look back on their childhood in fond memory of their time at school with their classmates and friends. Unfortunately, many people do not have the same fond memories because they were victims of bullying and harassment. They were singled out for this behaviour for many reasons, which could include their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or family. Many people were also picked on for any perceived minor social infraction such as belonging to a certain clique (such as the skaters, geeks, metalheads) or because a boy wore a pink shirt or a girl wore a boy’s shirt. In truth, kids could use any excuse they could justify.

Feb. 14, 2022 – Alberta’s government is searching for interested parties to develop up to 18 commercial safety rest areas across the province.

Following extensive feedback from municipalities and the trucking industry over the last 18 months, the Government of Alberta is eager to see these commercial sites take shape. New rest areas will allow people to fuel up, stretch their legs or stop for a meal. Construction will generate good-paying jobs.

Reducing pollution from the transportation sector is critical to achieving Canada’s climate targets and keeping our air clean. That’s why the Government of Canada is making sure people can be confident in purchasing and driving emissions-free electric cars across the country.

AMTA is releasing a series of profiles of the people involved with the Cooperative Truck Platooning System (CTPS) project. The project is currently processing data from the nation’s first pair of artificially intelligent semi-trucks of their kind, including human factors.

COVID-19 is everchanging, as such WCB Alberta and OHS regularly review and update their positions and interpretations. This article provides information on a few recent WCB fact sheets that employers should be aware of as well as the potential impact of recent changes to the OHS Act.

AMTA is releasing a series of profiles of the people involved with the Cooperative Truck Platooning System (CTPS) project currently collecting data from the nation’s first pair of artificially intelligent semi-trucks of their kind.

75 commercial drivers were feeling the holiday spirit Dec. 25 when they were presented with dinners arranged by a group of ladies who wanted to make a difference.

The meals were handed out at the Flying J Travel Center on 40 Street in southeast Calg

This article will be published in March of 2022 in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) magazine, Guardian. Digital editions of Guardian can be found at this link.

In occupational health and safety (OHS), indicators of a workplace’s performance can be broadly divided into two categories: lagging indicators and leading indicators. Lagging indicators are measurements of incidents that have occurred in the past whereas leading indicators are measurements that are predictive of future OHS incidents [1].

Commercial drivers ensure we have what we need for our day-to-day lives, from the food on our shelves to the shoes on our feet, and AMTA’s annual Driver Appreciation Days are a small way to say, on behalf of all Albertans, ‘thank you.’

Data collection has begun for the nation’s first pair of artificially intelligent semi-trucks of their kind, which are part of a project studying the safety and benefits of connected commercial transportation on Canadian roadways.

In March of 2019, the Government of Alberta published a document titled Prevention Initiative for Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety System. In eighteen succinct pages, Alberta Labour identifies the types of injuries and diseases leading to the most Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) claims and highest Province-wide claim costs [1, 2]:

All employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. At the same time, workers, supervisors, managers, and the owners as well as all third parties on-site, share this responsibility. In short, everyone in the workplace shares responsibility for health and safety. This principle is enshrined as a defining concept at Alberta OHS legislation and Canada Labor Code Part II and is referred to as the Internal Responsibility System (IRS).

January 3, 2022 (Winnipeg, MB) James Richardson & Sons, Limited (JRSL) and Bison Transport (Bison) are pleased to announce that, effective December 31, 2021, Bison Transport acquired 100 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Hartt Transportation Systems, Inc. (Hartt) Headquartered in Bangor, Maine, Hartt is one of the largest truckload carriers based in the Northeastern US with 360+ tractors and 2100+ trailers and a sizeable logistics offering. Hartt is a 2nd generation business, founded in 1948 by Delmont E. Hartt and then owned by his son, Billy Hartt, until it was acquired by Bison. Hartt’s success over the last 70+ years has been driven by a long tenured and reputable customer base, low driver turnover, a focus on safety, a quality fleet and a strong company culture. These factors are similar to those that have allowed Bison to be successful, leading us to see a strong strategic fit between our companies.

This article may cause a few people’s blood pressure to rise. However, if you are a professional working in the road transportation industry, you probably have a good understanding of the rules and regulations applicable to our industry.  The companies that will be concerned are those that are accidental carriers or may be using incorrect labour and safety legislation.

The Federal Government has finalized the Exemptions from and Modifications to Hours of Work Provisions Regulations for the federally regulated road transportation, postal and courier, marine, and grain sectors. The final regulations will come into effect on February 1, 2022. Once in effect, our industry will be affected by these exemptions. Additionally, as of February 1, 2022, the Interpretation, Policies and Guidelines (IPG) 101 will no longer apply to the road transportation, postal, and courier sectors. This bulletin does not apply to provincially regulated employers.

On Dec 21, the National Post published an article that caught the attention of a lot of employers. The article found here tells how an Air Canada employee, who fell down her stairs, suffered a workplace injury and merited workers’ compensation. The employee was working her regular schedule from home and disconnected from her computer for lunch, located in her 2nd floor home office.

Looking at the past in terms of a month, a quarter, or a year has the effect of averaging out daily highs and lows. When I was trucking, I remember many bad days and good days that, after a month, averaged out into a general mood. I remember mentors and employers telling me in times of stress to “consider the big picture” when making decisions.

Commercial enforcement professionals from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba gathered via webinar Dec. 7 for a Western Canada Commercial Vehicle Out-of-Service (OOO) Trends webinar.

We are all familiar with seeing snowplows on Alberta roads and most of us are familiar with the adage “amber and red, snowplow ahead” and behind that is contractors and drivers on the road – sometimes 24/7 – ensuring driving conditions are as safe as possible.