CALGARY — The WCB has offered general trucking employers in Alberta the ability to determine the pricing structure for its industry.

According to the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), carriers (WCB Industry Code 50714) have a great opportunity to choose pricing programs that are best suited to their business — and "that will provide the best outcomes regarding safety and disability management."

Employers can vote to remain in the standard Experience Rating program, or modify the program by voting in favor of the Experience Rating option and/or the Cost Relief option provided under the WCB’s Industry Custom Pricing ("ICP") program, the group explains.

Whatever a company’s preferences, it extremely important carriers participate in this process, says AMTA, "so that a strong indication can be provided to the WCB on how to set discounts and surcharges in our industry. Your vote counts."

ICP options will only be implemented if over 50 percent of the industry approves them. To date approximately 60 percent of the trucking industry has responded, with 42 percent of the industry voting in favor of the Experience Rating option and 23 percent in favor of the Cost Relief option, reports AMTA.

But the association says WCB still requires additional employer responses.

The voting form, which can be downloaded here, can be emailed to icp@wcb.ab.ca. The voting deadline has been extended to Friday, October 9, 2009.