Canada’s Driving Force Phase 1 was completed in 2003 and assessed driver supply, turnover and employment conditions, as well as projected driver requirements. The goal was to define the nature and extent of the driver shortage.
 

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary provides quantitative information on a broad spectrum of issues affecting the trucking industry. It is valid for small, medium and large trucking firms across Canada, and was collected and analyzed based on the guidance of industry stakeholders. It addresses:

• The differences and commonalities of licensing among Canadian jurisdictions
• Available driver training and assistance programs, and their applicability to individuals and carriers
• The number and characteristics of driver training schools
• The profile of the unemployed driver
• A comprehensive profile of employment needs, turnover rates and current strategies to manage driver turnover

Review of Driver Training and Government Assistance
Programs - 2003

Canada’s federal and provincial governments have developed financial assistance programs for training within each jurisdiction. This study details each jurisdiction’s relevant training assistance programs. Key issues include:

• Are there groups for whom funding is not as readily available?
• What are the impacts on Aboriginal groups, women and visible minority groups?
• What are the variances between program structures and the realities of driver training?

Review of Truck Driver Training Schools - 2003

This study incorporates a wide-ranging inventory of 206 schools across Canada, including data from schools and government agencies. Addressed issues include:

• Variances in school accreditation requirements
• Training standards and the regulatory environment
• Gaps in training by jurisdiction
• Requirements for national standards
• Variances in equipments standards and curricula

Profile of the Unemployed Driver - 2003

With such strong demand in the trucking industry, why are so many drivers unemployed? The contributing factors to this perplexing question are explored in this study.

Driver Licensing Requirements Report - 2004

This report highlights current government practices around commercial driver qualifications and testing. The study explores the considerable diversity in licensing requirements, definitions and applications across the country.

Profile of Driver Shortage, Turnover and Future Demand - 2004

This is a detailed report into the demand for drivers according to types of jobs, skill sets and various industry segments. It also examines driver retention and turnover.

In response to concerns about perceived driver shortages, the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) commissioned Canada’s Driving Force Phase 2. This research provides information that can be used to help develop policies and programs for driver recruitment, training and retention. It was also designed to identify how the human resources environment has changed since the research of Phase 1.
 

Summary of Integrated Findings Report - 2007

The purpose of this report is to integrate the key findings of the various research assignments, addressing:

• Is there a driver shortage?
• Who are companies hiring?
• Assessment of skills and training
• Recruitment, hiring and retention practices
• Observations and conclusions

Profile of Employers Hiring Class 1/A Drivers Report - 2007

The employer survey was conducted to determine whether there have been any changes to the trends identified in Phase 1 -- in terms of driver supply, turnover and vacancy rates, hiring and training practices. The study also identified the extent to which driver development and training programs were used.

Profile of Newly Hired Class 1/A Drivers Report - 2007

The basic objective of this report was to profile Class 1/A drivers by their employers over a period of six months. The information collected from this survey will be used to determine training needs for newly hired Class 1/A drivers, especially new entrants in the industry.

Profile of Those Taking Class 1/A Driving Test Report - 2007

The objective of this research was to profile individuals taking the Class 1/A licensing test. It explores who takes the test, who passes/fails the test (and any reasons for failing), the training taken in preparation for the test, and whether these individuals plan to drive commercially.

Profile of Inactive Class 1/A Licence Holders Report - 2007

The objective of this research was to identify and profile individuals who hold and renew their Class 1/A licences, and whether or not they drive or have driven commercially. It also studied those who were not driving at the time of the survey, and explored why they are no longer driving or never did drive commercially. Attraction and retention issues are also explored.

Occupational Patterns of Class 1/A Drivers Report - 2007

This report summarizes Employment Insurance (EI) data obtained from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), tracing the claims of truck drivers who filed for EI in 2005. Prior claims were traced back to 2001, identifying the occupation (based on National Occupational Classification codes) and industry (based on the North American Industry Classification System) in which these EI applicants were employed. As a result, it is possible to determine the previous occupations of this group of truck drivers prior to 2005.

Unseated Trucks - 2007

In December 2006, the CTHRC Survey of Employers followed up with companies that employed Class 1/A drivers and participated in the first Survey of Employers. The objective was to explore whether trucks were sitting idle due to a lack of Class 1/A drivers, and the extent to which freight movement/company expansion was affected as a result.