AMTA May 2024 Driver of the Month: Chris Muench, Sobeys

Submitted by Jim Semeschuk, NCSO, ASHSP - Southern Trucking (a division of Southern Messenger)

Safety Moment: Spring is upon us

One of the benefits of being an AMTA member is that through our alliance with CITT – Canada’s Logistics Association – any employee of your company can join CITT as an affiliate member for only $100/year (regular price: $250/year).Please feel free to share this information with any employees who might be interested in joining a professional association, including accessing the wide variety of learning & development and networking opportunities that come with membership.

Calgary, AB - Nine individuals were recognized for their contributions to Alberta’s commercial transportation industry at the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) annual Awards Celebration on April 18, at the Grey Eagle Event Centre.

AMTA April 2024 Driver of the Month: Prabhjeet Singh Dalam, Bison Transport

On April 1, 2024, the federal minimum wage will increase to $17.30 from $16.65 per hour in 2023, an increase of a $0.60 or 3.9%.

The federal minimum wage, which came into force on December 29, 2021, is adjusted automatically on April 1 of every year, based on the average annual increase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as reported by Statistics Canada. This is to ensure that the federal minimum wage keeps pace with inflation. This year’s rate increase reflects the 3.9% annual average rise of the CPI for Canada in the previous calendar year, rounded up to the nearest $0.05.

With over $46 billion in direct investments into North American hydrogen projects, an increase of $17 billion from 2022, momentum in the region continues to accelerate rapidly. The 2024 program is expanding to six content streams and 200+ speakers to drill deeper into key hydrogen topics – from the game-changing policy impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Canada’s Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, to the latest on exporting hydrogen, H2Hubs, production pathways, infrastructure build-outs, securing project offtake agreements and more.

The 2024 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the Alberta Motor Transport Association (“Association” and “AMTA”) will take place in-person as follows:

The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) is excited to announce it has acquired the services of EHS Analytics, a company among Canada’s leading providers of advanced safety data analytics solutions. This collaboration will provide AMTA with cutting-edge data analytics to monitor, analyze, and generate actionable insights for transportation safety improvements.

As an influential advocate for transportation safety, AMTA is committed to using data-driven strategies to enhance services to its members. EHS Analytics will strengthen AMTA’s data analytics capabilities in motor transport safety.

In an era where environmental sustainability is the goal, industries across the board are facing the pressing need to adapt and innovate. Among these, the transportation sector, particularly freight and logistics, stands out as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. However, amidst these challenges, pioneering solutions are emerging to revolutionize the landscape of freight transport. Diesel Tech Industries’ Guardian Hydrogen Diesel System (Guardian HDS), is leading the way in clean and efficient freight transportation.

BrokerLink is proud to offer exclusive home and auto insurance premiums to AMTA members. Talk to one of our insurance experts for the right advice.

Contest Period: January 1 – December 31, 2024

Get a quote on home or auto insurance with BrokerLink, and you could win 1 of 4 cash prizes of $5,000. Don’t miss your chance to save on insurance and win some cash in the Grand Group Giveaway! The first draw will be held in April!

Submitted by Dave Davis, Enmax

This Safety Moment is a reminder to slow down and proceed carefully through roadway intersections. Statistics from the Alberta Government show intersection-related collisions increase in the month of January – mostly due to winter conditions. The province says one in four collisions on Alberta roadways occur at an intersection. The risk of intersection collisions increases when pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists converge. Drivers should be aware of the risks and watch their speed, make proper left turns, stop at stop signs and obey all traffic signals.

The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Board of Directors has announced Robert Harper has been appointed President of the Association. Robert will begin this role February 27, 2024.

An experienced professional with a breadth of experience spanning more than 30 years, Robert has a proven track record in finance for the supply chain and energy sectors.

AMTA has taken a strong project leadership role and established a unique collaboration ecosystem bringing together diverse stakeholders. With the support of many partners and contributors, we are currently leading the following hydrogen projects in Alberta that support hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing as well as the operation of zero and reduced emission vehicles through hands-on real-world trials and demonstrations.

AMTA February 2024 Driver of the Month: Travis McKort, Whitecourt Transport Inc.

On January 24, 2024, AMTA completed a Canadian first by taking AMTA’s Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) through Alberta’s busiest corridor using only 61% of the tank of hydrogen.

This historic roundtrip on the QEII between Edmonton and Calgary was a tremendous success and proved these zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) are more than capable for long-haul operations in our province and climate, compared to other ZEV capacities tested in Alberta better suited for return-to-base short-haul operations.

About training-on-the-job and employer benefits

WCB’s training-on-the-job (TOJ) program is a win-win situation for employers and workers—you’ll receive financial assistance and support from WCB during a worker’s training period while injured Albertans get the chance to build on their work experience. develop new skills and regain confidence and purpose.

Jeremy W. Woolward, NHSA, CTSP , Fleet Safety Manager, Chariot Express Ltd.

In industry, we often talk about slips, trips, and falls being some of the most common injuries experienced in the workplace. Hazards, such as water, equipment, and uneven surfaces, can lead to unforeseen and unfortunate outcomes. These are outcomes that you can visually see, and these visual outcomes are easy to manage.

Over the last couple of days, I have spent some time reflecting on the last year – the goals we set out for our Member Services team here at AMTA, the impact we desired to make, the impact we made, the successes we celebrated, but also areas that we can continue to work on to become better.

As an employer with workers, 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.