CTHRC to help Europe establish training, qualification standards

Council is the only North American voice in new international initative　

OTTAWA, Ont. (November, 2010) – Europe will be drawing on the insight and experience of the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) when enhancing the training and qualification of professional truck drivers.

As the only North American group involved in the European Union’s related ProfDRV initiative, CTHRC is now working alongside training providers, research institutes and trade associations from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain and Hungary. The group’s first meeting was recently held in Hamburg, Germany at the site of Dekra Akademie’s Transportation Campus, and the project is scheduled to conclude in March 2013.

"The European partners looked around the world to identify best practices, and were impressed with what we have accomplished in Canada," said CTHRC Executive Director Linda Gauthier. "We have already traveled down the path they want to follow, and look forward to sharing information which will help to enhance the professionalism of Europe’s trucking industry."

By consulting with industry and government representatives from European Union Members, ProfDRV aims to define the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to be a professional driver, and improve the career’s image through a focus on vocational training. The CTHRC has already developed National Occupational Standards that define the skills needed to be a professional driver; created training programs to meet these standards; and established initiatives such as Closing the Gap, which bring together fleets, government agencies and training institutions.

Through the CTHRC’s role, Canada’s trucking industry will gain insight into Europe’s training and licensing standards, which will be particularly important to carriers who are recruiting Foreign Trained Workers. Other best practices, such as Europe’s widespread use of driving simulators, will be researched along the way.

ProfDRV is funded entirely by the European Union’s Leonardo da Vinci program and will help to implement European directive 2003/59/EC, regulating professional driver initial and periodic training among EU member countries. No Canadian funds will be invested.

In addition to Gauthier’s expertise, CTHRC support will come from Patricia Graham, who oversees the accreditation of schools that deliver training programs which meet National Occupational Standards. Andy Roberts of the Mountain Transport Institute in Castlegar, BC will help to oversee the technical content of training material.

Ongoing updates about the initiative will be posted on the CTHRC’s website at www.cthrc.com, and be published in the Council's quarterly Industry in Motion newsletter.  For more information, contact CTHRC.

Photo:

Representatives of the European Union’s ProfDRV initiative – including CTHRC Executive Director Linda Gauthier (front row, fourth from right) and Chief Financial Officer Patricia Graham (back row, third from right) – pause for a group photo during their first meeting in Hamburg, Germany at the site of Dekra Akademie’s Transportation Campus.

 Download the PDF Version of the Press Release