When it comes to transportation in Canada, the trucking industry plays an important role. The Saskatchewan Trucking Association works on behalf of the industry when it comes to helping address challenges that they face, be it labour-related or when it comes to regulations.
“Some of the labour challenges are a bit stable, but definitely that seems to be an ongoing challenge,” explained Susan Ewart. She is the executive director of the STA. “We definitely need to see more people coming into the industry and be interested in those professional driving careers.”
In addition to the labour challenges, the industry is also dealing with how some carriers classify their drivers under the labour code. Ewart noted that when a driver is misclassified as an independent contractor when the driver is actually an employee. It can mean the carrier doesn’t pay the proper CPP, EI, taxes, or WCB amounts.
“That creates a disadvantage to other carriers who are operating correctly,” Ewart continued. “It is something we’ve really been working on with both the federal and provincial government to make sure that those regulatory bodies are making sure that companies are operating within the proper regulations, and try to combat some of that fraud that’s happening.”
The issue with companies skirting rules when it comes to regulations about classification can often lead to other things, such as safety violations.
To help with the labour challenges the industry faces, there are a few initiatives that the STA is undertaking, Ewart said. This includes working with the YWCA in Saskatoon on a program called Women Shifting Gears, which looks to recruit more women into the industry. As well, they are working with the Regina and District Industry Education Council on a program called Think Trucking, which sees getting into classrooms to talk to students in high schools about the possibility of working in the industry.
This week is National Trucking Week across the country and Transportation Week in Saskatchewan.