UTDT instructor Terry Fennel looks on as student Maria goes through the pre-trip inspection.
WORKPLACE ON WHEELS STEERING MATURE DRIVERS TO BIG-RIG JOBS By Iris Chrol for ThirdQuarter
T oot your own horn. Life is a highway and as a commercial truck driver the highway can be your workplace as well. After spending a day at United Transportation Driver Training (UTDT) in Steinbach, I have come to the appreciation that being a driver is more than just holding a steering wheel and going from point A to point B. “Contrary to popular stereotypes, trucking is more than just what you do when other career avenues have been exhausted,” says Fred Hiebert, president of UTDT. Trucking is a profession that requires mature people with specific skills like the ability to problem-solve, multi-task and communicate; to be self-motivated while being self and world aware. The industry itself requires drivers, trainers, mechanics and shippers. “Trucking is one option to consider for people looking to make a mid-career change,” adds Hiebert, who has logged over three million miles in his 33 year career. “It offers flexibility and a definite change from a high-pressure desk job. Generally, people in this age group have the life experience to make good decisions.” While the salary is good – the pay grade varies by province along with driver incentives – it can come as a tradeoff with time spent away from home. However, if their children have left the nest, many couples consider trucking as a joint career. If you are intrigued by a career in trucking, contact a driving school and arrange for a tour. In Manitoba, there are two training program funding options — one through Employment Insurance, the other through MPI’s Entry Level Professional Truck Driver Training Program. While there are shorter courses, the six-week course, offered through schools like UTDT, delivers the most comprehensive training, with a combination of classroom and on-the-road instruction. Many carriers also have new drivers ride with their experienced drivers. Obtaining a Class 1 licence offers the most driving options. In Manitoba, Class 1 permits allow the holder to operate semi-trailer trucks and all motor vehicles included in Classes 2, 3, 4, and 5. This includes buses, dump trucks, tow trucks, taxis and emergency vehicles, but excludes motorcycles. More information can be found online at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/subjects/cards/drivers_licence.shtml. Trucking keeps the economy rolling in a variety of ways, both direct and indirect. It is no surprise that the demand for professional drivers is increasing along with the volume of cross-border traffic. According to the Manitoba Trucking Association,
80% of Manitoba’s merchandise trade with the U.S. is shipped by truck. I am in awe when I realize that with the exception of babies, virtually everything is delivered by truck. When I stepped into the cab for my ride-along, I was excited at this opportunity to change my perspective. For the better part of my career I have worked in an office behind a computer. Now here I sit: No phone, no computer, no water cooler, just a steering wheel and a map, with 53 feet of trailer behind me and the potential for an extended road trip before me. UTDT instructor Terry Fennel, who has logged nearly three million miles in his 26 year career, assures me that with time and practice the elements of the 50-minute pre-trip inspection and air brake become second nature. In addition to transportation, trucking is also a people business — requiring interaction with dispatchers, other drivers, shippers, loaders and the people you meet along the way and on the road. Drivers act as representatives of the name on the truck and/or the cargo they are carrying. Through real-life anecdotes, UTDT instructor Chad Kretschmer shares the lessons he learned from his eight years on the road. “If you take the time to plan your route properly you can experience the best of North America and discover hidden gems like snail races and chili cook offs.” ■ ThirdQuarter is owned by Skills Connect Inc., which is part of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. For information about the services of ThirdQuarter, please visit www.thirdquarter.ca or www.hire-experience.ca
11 MBiz | November 2014
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