BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. has signed on as the Alberta Motor Transport Association’s (AMTA) 2023 Driver of the Month sponsor.

Long time members of the Association, BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc. made the decision to show its appreciation to the safest drivers on the road recognizing that ‘Safe Drivers Make Safe Fleets’.

On April 1, 2023, the federal minimum wage will increase to $16.65 from $15.55 per hour in 2022, an increase of a $1.10 or 7.1%.[1]

Trucking HR Canada’s preliminary research findings released today reveal the trucking and logistics sector has more work to do when it comes to attracting more women to the workplace.

The first phase of a three-part research initiative took place February 17-25, 2023, with 1500 interviews. The research was conducted by Abacus Data for Trucking HR Canada, and today at its 9th annual Women with Drive Leadership Summit, David Coletto shared the following initial findings with attendees:

Meet Dan D’Haene. Dan is a knowledgeable equipment operator with over 20 years of experience in the construction and manufacturing fields. He is proficient in operating heavy trucks and overhead cranes. Dan also has a solid understanding of automotive component inspection. He is eager to bring his hard-working personality and dedication to his new role where he can showcase his experience and industry knowledge.

AMTA March 2023 Driver of the Month: Matthew Ferguson, Ledcor Group

Meet Lynn Bates. Lynn has a great attitude and over 35 years of trucking and transportation experience. He also has extensive knowledge of the industry and the highway network across Canada, Alaska and the Territories. Lynn has become a teacher and mentor, assisting with training drivers and providing sage advice to individuals interested in starting up their own business. With Lynn’s mix of experience, skills and eagerness to return to work he would be an invaluable asset to any organization.

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