Evan Doepker

Truck Driver Training in Alberta has changed! MELT has been replaced with NEW DRIVER TRAINING and a new TRAINING GRANT. Starting April 1, 2025 drivers are required to complete Class 1 driver’s licence training through the new made-in-Alberta Class 1 Learning Pathway, which uses a flexible, apprenticeship-style approach to training. Training includes up to 133 hours of instruction, including air brakes, (offering more hands-on skills and safety training than the former 113-hour MELT Program). The New Training Grant (Employment Pathway Grant): - reimburses eligible employers for up to $10,000 for their training costs for new Class 1 drivers - offers an onboarding incentive of up to $10,000 for hiring new Class 1 drivers with less than two years of experience in a Class 1 driving position - provides an additional $5,000 for Class 1 driver professional development to ensure Alberta’s commercial drivers are the best on the road Alberta Motor Transport Association Women's Trucking Federation of Canada Women In Trucking Association Trucking HR Canada Private Motor Truck Council of Canada Women Building Futures Kristin Ward Diaz Chris Nash Josh Hannaberry CTSP Mike Millian Lynn Varty, MAL, CEC, PMP Devin Dreeshen Suzanne Harbottle Randy Basom Karen Blackmur Cheryl Olenick Richard Lemaire Kate McNeil Sneda Vargas Nicole Lorrain Michelle Spacil https://lnkd.in/g3VZbhfC

44

4 Comments

Vision Truck Group has announced its #acquisition of Expressway Trucks, expanding its reach in the southwestern Ontario region. Expressway Trucks was founded in 1983. It brings to Vision a broader selection of vehicles, expanded facility network and access to additional resources. https://lnkd.in/dN6hk8Em

142

9 Comments

🚨 NEW Compliance Clips Episode – Coming April 1st 🚨 "Bridge Dingers: What Went Wrong on Hwy 403" – A Two-Part Series with John Farquhar and me. We take a hard look at the recent incident on Highway 403 in Brantford, where a transport truck hauling an excavator struck the Wayne Gretzky Parkway overpass. The case has made headlines (https://lnkd.in/gwf9CRSU), and it raises serious concerns across multiple fronts. In this 2-part Compliance Clips episode, we walk through what the incident and the media reports surrounding it tell us, digging deep into the underlying factors. 🔎 We break down: * Contributing factors and preventable risks * Driver qualification management pitfalls and best practices * Media response and public trust considerations * Common procedural and operational failures that can lead to multiple charges, and, under the MTO's new safety management practices, quite possibly a facility audit * The ripple effects on insurance, internal culture, and brand reputation *What carriers can and should be doing differently At the end of the series, we’re providing a link to some free resources, including: ✅ A carrier checklist for oversize/over-height routing ✅ A sample media communication script for incident response ✅ Guidance on managing driver records and licensing checks Part 1 drops April 1st. Follow Compliance Clips and stay tuned—this one’s worth sharing across the fleet. #ComplianceClips #TruckingSafety #OversizeLoads #CarrierResponsibility #DriverManagement #HighwaySafety #IncidentResponse

33

2 Comments

Canada has a clear opportunity to lead the world in building an end-to-end critical minerals supply chain, from mine to market.   Public investments in electric vehicles and EV battery manufacturing have been a strong step forward. But realizing the full potential of Canada’s clean energy economy means turning that same focus upstream.   In his latest op-ed for The Hill Times, Canada Nickel CEO Mark Selby highlights why targeted support for high-potential mining projects is essential to securing a long-term supply of critical minerals, creating lasting careers in northern and rural communities, and reinforcing Canada’s position as a reliable global partner.   Read the full article:  https://lnkd.in/g-MAUa5t

44

1 Comment

Freight rail is one of the most fuel-efficient ways to move goods—one train can haul a ton of freight nearly 500 miles on just one gallon of fuel, reducing emissions. CN is taking sustainability a step further with its new hybrid locomotive pilot, developed with Knoxville Locomotive Works. This innovative engine blends battery and diesel technology to reduce fuel use by up to 50%, supporting rail’s role as a viable solution for a transportation network in future shaped by climate change. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eaiCU7rw   #SustainableTransportation #RailInnovation #FreightRail

51

Driver Inc. Crackdown: Finally, a Win for the Good Guys. After years of watching misclassification distort the market, the government is finally dropping the hammer on the Driver Inc. scheme and honestly, it’s about time. Huge applause to every agency stepping up: labour inspectors, CRA, enforcement teams — you’re helping protect workers and giving compliant carriers a fighting chance. For too long, honest companies carried the weight while others raced ahead on 20–30% “cost savings” built on skipped taxes, missing benefits, and paperwork that could make a lawyer cry. This cleanup isn’t just about rules. It’s about fairness, safety, and keeping good carriers alive. And let’s be real, many are barely hanging on. The industry can’t afford a slow response. The longer fraudulent operators stay in the pool, the more they drag everyone down. But here’s the good news: 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point. Capacity is tightening, volumes are expected to climb, fleets are aging, and the carriers who play by the rules will finally stand out. With fewer shady competitors soaking up freight with artificially low rates, compliant carriers get what they’ve deserved all along, a level playing field and customers who value reliability over discount chaos. For carriers: now is the moment to lean in. Audit your classification practices. Clean up your contracts. Make compliance a selling feature, not an afterthought. When enforcement hits full stride, the companies that have been doing it right won’t just survive, they’ll lead. For regulators: thank you. Seriously. Keep going. Move fast. The industry is ready, and the ones doing it right need this momentum now. And for anyone still clinging to misclassification like it’s a “business strategy”: the party’s over. The loophole is closing. Time to join the real game or step aside for the people who actually invest in drivers, safety, and the future of this sector. 2026 isn’t just another year, it’s the reset button we’ve been begging for. Let’s use it. Let’s clean up the mess. And let’s build a trucking industry where doing the right thing is finally the winning strategy. Today is a good day, to make it a great day. Let’s go! #DriverInc #compliance #transportation #Fairness #2026Ready #trucking #logistics #supplychainmanagement #supplychain #wellingtongroupofcompanies

198

19 Comments

In this release, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, François-Philippe Champagne, stated: “Budget 2025 is cracking down on Driver Inc., closing loopholes, making our roads safer, and standing up for drivers and businesses that play by the rules. We are lifting the moratorium on T4A penalties in the trucking industry as part of a series of targeted measures to combat misclassification. In doing so, we are working to guarantee the benefits workers are entitled to, improve safety for Canadians, and ensure that everyone pays their fair share.” https://lnkd.in/gH2znC-b #Canada #misclassification #driverinc #TruckingIndustry

5