The trucking industry has been undervalued, especially in Canada. Driver retention is so important since the driver shortage has been impacting drivers and companies across the industry.
The big news is that recently the Ontario Government has been stepping up to help drivers out. This is great to see steps being taken in the right direction to show more support for one of the most important industries globally.
In this article we will overview recent change announcements that will help with driver retention in the trucking industry in Ontario.
Ontario Government Acting to Improve Driver Retention
The Ontario government is attempting to address the truck driver shortage with an investment into the trucking industry they announced in late June. This investment will pay for truck drivers to be trained and will fill more than 6100 jobs in the trucking industry.
This is incredible news for the trucking industry as new truck drivers can save anywhere from $5000 – $15,000. On top of covering the expenses of the training the Government will also take care of some of the inexperienced drivers’ living expenses.
This is great to see the Government take such action to address a fundamental problem and take steps forward to improve driver retention and to thus solve the shortage of truck drivers.
Hopefully, this is a sign for bigger iniatives in the trucking industry to continue to support companies and drivers alike.
Ontario Government to Invest $1.3 million Into New Training Program
Big news happened recently with the WTFC (Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada) receiving 1.3 million dollars of funding from the government.
This investment is to provide truck driver training to underrepresented communities in trucking. This is to increase the number of women in the trucking industry as they represent only 2% of drivers in the industry.
Women are not the only focal community for this investment, this is a non-gender investment for all underrepresented groups within the industry including youth at risk.
The training program itself begins with 2 weeks of training drivers soft skills followed by 8-9 weeks (about 2 months) of in-truck training. Completion of the in-truck training will lead to a 4-week placement that will be decided and monitored by the WTFC.
On top of the training, drivers can also receive $1,000 for transportation and child support, $300 for equipment and $400 for weekly allowance.
The Ontario Government’s recent acts have been incredible to help fight the battle of the large job vacancy facing the trucking industry. Their goals with the investments and new training programs are not just bringing in new truckers, they are also retaining them within the field.
The turnover rate in the industry has been at an all-time high for the last few years. In 2019, the turnover rate was as high as 91%. While it has been decreasing slowly, it is still higher than the turnover rate across all other industries.
The Ontario government has finally acknowledged the problem, and their actions are a step in the right direction to increase the number of young drivers and driver retention.
How Our Eagle Tarping System Helps with Driver Retention
When we were designing the Eagle Tarping system, the driver was always in mind.
That said, our tarping systems have features and benefits that make the driver’s job easier and safer. Here is how the Eagle Tarping System helps with driver retention:
Keys for driver retention
- Can fully operate from the ground – our system allows the driver to open and close the tarp system safely with their feet never leaving the ground
- Tallest Headboard Door in the industry – Our 6’6” man-door ensure your drive safe access when entering the trailer from the front
- Far easier and safer than traditional tarp – eliminates drivers having to work from unsafe heights, lug 100+ pound tarps
For more information on the Eagle Tarping system, visit here. To get a quote after answering a few questions, click here. And finally, if you have any questions or need even more information, click here to contact us, and our experts will help you right away!
Sources Used
Ontario Is Paying People To Become Truck Drivers & You Can Get Up To $4,500 For Training – Narcity
Ontario injects $1.3 million into truck driver training for underrepresented groups – Truck News
The truth about trucking turnover | American Trucking Associations
Employee Turnover Rates by Industry: Updated for 2022 (level6.com)
