National Trucking Week

4 NATIONAL TRUCKING WEEK B Y W E N D Y K I N G W hen you see commercial drivers on the road, they tend to blend in as a regular part of everyday traffic. But if you look a little harder, you'll discover there are more than drivers keeping the goods and supplies rolling. There is a slew of career options in the trucking industry that are "off-road." Danielle Ruttan is the Outreach Coordinator for the Manitoba Trucking Association. She works to promote the trucking industry and the opportunities it has to offer. She says the industry's biggest concern will also provide its biggest opportunity. "By 2023 in Canada, there will be a shortage of about 20,000 truck drivers with 4,000 needed in Manitoba," she says. Ruttan says the industry is currently focused on recruiting Class 1 drivers — people who can handle the trucks that haul 53-foot trailers. Ruttan has delivered presentations at in-person symposiums and career fairs and says there has been some real success in terms of encouraging and welcoming diversity into the industry. "We've been doing more community-based sessions. For example, we did a hugely successful info session at Max's Filipino restaurant just before the lockdown," she says. Ruttan says recruitment sessions illustrate what training is like, and how to access available funding and employment partnerships. "The number of women drivers is also growing and we had our first Women With Drive event last year with a panel to discuss topics of interest for all industry women," she says. "In fact, two years ago, our driver of the year was a fantastic woman from Manitoba named Myrna Chartrand, a super engaged, fabulous ambassador OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND Trucking industry has plenty of career options to offer By 2023 in Canada, there will be a shortage of about 20,000 truck drivers with 4,000 needed in Manitoba. – Danielle Ruttan, Outreach Coordinator for the Manitoba Trucking Association. There are a growing number of opportunities for for mechanics and service technicians in Manitoba's truck transportation sector. P H O T O B Y D A R C Y F I N L E Y " "

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