Transport Minister Omar Alghabra officially announced the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide $46 million to the trucking industry to address the nation’s growing truck driver shortage.

Today’s announcement follows a joint statement last January between the Government of Canada and the Canadian Trucking Alliance in recognizing the driver shortage challenge and its impact on the Canadian supply chain.

Note: On Feb. 28, it was announced these changes will be now come into effect September, 2023.

Please be advised that key changes to the Traffic Safety Act will take effect on March 1, 2023. Important amendments have been made to the rules that govern the passing of stopped emergency vehicles on a highway.

The updated legislation extends safe passing protections for roadside workers to include snowplows and highway maintenance vehicles, in addition to emergency vehicles and tow trucks.

The 2023 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (“Association” and “AMTA”) will take place in-person as follows:

Submitted by: Don MacDonald, CCA Truck Driver Training Ltd.

We have all seen them out there on the roads. The slow moving vehicle with the dreaded “Student Driver” signs on them. It seems, for most people, the natural response to this sighting is to step hard on the fuel pedal and get out around those vehicles. People tend to feel driver training vehicles are a nuisance on the road. Sometimes, I don’t necessarily disagree with that theory. I will agree, it is somewhat annoying when a traffic light turns green and the driver in front of you is still trying to decide if it is safe or not to go.

This year the Alberta Motor Transport Association celebrates its 85th anniversary — this is certainly a major accomplishment that deserves some major attention!

As part of the AMTA’s 85th anniversary celebrations, the Summer 2023 issue of Western Canada Highway News (the official magazine of the Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba trucking associations) will include a commemorative supplement in recognition of this achievement, and we are inviting you this opportunity to place an ad and help celebrate the association’s milestone accomplishment.

The AMTA Annual Leadership Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) is Alberta’s premier gathering of those who challenge, disrupt, drive, and shape – as well as supply and support – the commercial transportation industry in Alberta.

Edmonton International Airport, Alberta – Government officials, Alberta-based commercial carriers, project partners and supporters, industry stakeholders, and AMTA Board management, and staff gathered on February 10 to officially launch Canada’s first heavy-duty alternative fuel demonstrations.

AMTA February 2023 Driver of the Month: Kashmir Singh Bhinder, Syndicate Transport

Meet Erin Jones. She is a hard worker who is excited to bring her positive attitude and is eager to learn new skills for her new role. In her experience as a follow-up support worker with the Bissell Center in Edmonton, Erin collaborated with her co-workers to develop new and creative solutions to deliver quality client services to adults with developmental disabilities.

DTI Guardian is an AMTA+ member. AMTA+ is the best way for us to create engagement opportunities and benefits for our membership partners. Members get better insights into our initiatives, access to exclusive networking events and unique sponsorship opportunities only AMTA Plus members can access.

Dave Elniski, AMTA Industry Advisor, Safety & Compliance

On March 1st, 2023, Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code will change [1]. These changes, already published and just awaiting implementation, are the result of the Government of Alberta’s ongoing work to keep the Code up to date and relevant for employers in Alberta; more information about these regular update efforts can be found at this link [2].

Alberta’s access to low-cost natural gas reserves and a capable workforce skilled in the natural resource sector provide the province with a competitive advantage to benefit both economically and environmentally from the rapidly growing hydrogen industry. All Canadians will benefit as the province seizes this opportunity, with support from the Government of Canada through strategic investments to advance Alberta’s hydrogen industry.

Dave Elniski, AMTA Industry Advisor, Safety & Compliance

This article has also been submitted for publication in CVSA’s Guardian magazine.

We’re in 2023 now, and that means electronic logging device (ELD) enforcement has begun in Canada. Many carriers are learning how to install and use these devices, and many drivers are adapting to a new way of accounting for their driving and on-duty time.

One thing ELDs have done is show us the importance of the minute. While such short periods of time were previously ignored, generally speaking, by drivers and carrier safety management alike, the digital precision of the ELD will require a different attitude towards time and to whom it needs to be attached. Even a short bit of driving will result in recorded driving time that must be assigned to a specific account in order to reduce the occurrence of warnings and digital flags.

January 2023 Driver of the Month: Shavinder Brar, Bison Transport

AMTA 2022: Year in Review

2023 AMTA Awards nominations now open!

Recognizing the right skills and attitudes needed to share the road with less experienced drivers

Dave Elniski, AMTA Industry Advisor, Safety & Compliance

Truckers and other professional drivers share their workspace with drivers of all different skill levels. It isn’t always obvious who has experience and who does not, especially under ideal conditions when traffic is steady.

Are you an employer with workers? If so, you’re required to fill out an annual return reporting your workers’ assessable earnings paid in the last year along with what earnings you expect to pay in the upcoming year. This is important information to ensure you’re paying the correct premium amount.

‘Tis the season for Christmas parties, and in many cases, comes the serving of alcohol at a company sanctioned event. This is often part of the company culture and in line with the lifestyles of many of the workers but certainly not in all cases. Regardless, the risk of serving alcohol at workplace sanctioned events can outweigh the benefits.

Via Canadian Trucking Alliance

Background

CTA: The Government of Canada will be implementing new measures related to Paid Medical Leave (Bill-C3) on December 1. 2022. In practice, this new entitlement will provide all employees in the federally regulated private sector, including trucking companies, with ten paid sick days. These days will be in addition to the five days already provided under ‘personal leave’ and any vacation that may be taken. These 15 days have been permanently added to the Canada Labour Code and will begin to be available to current employees in 2023.