TORONTO, ON – Four Canadian fleets collected trophies at the inaugural Trucking HR Canada Top Fleet Employers awards gala held Wednesday night, with Ken Cross of SLH Transport named the first-ever HR Leader of the Year.

The program, now in its third year, recognizes all fleets known to follow best practices in such things as health and wellness programs, diversity initiatives, effective communication and respect, and flexible work arrangements, among other proven human resources initiatives. But this was the first year that the honors actually included awards at the top of each category.

The top large fleet was Westcan Bulk Transport, with Linamar recognized as the top medium fleet, Triton Transport as top small fleet, and Home Hardware Stores as the top private fleet.

“I congratulate everyone here that has been accepted into the Top Fleet program. It’s an honor for me to represent SLH Transport over the last 17 years, being with the organization, seeing how it’s grown,” said Cross, senior human resources manager at SLH.

“We can only do what we can do with our employees. Our employees are everything,” he said. “This [the Top Fleets program] is a tool that we’re able to use to gain some information back from our employees, but also to learn from other organizations that are part of Top Fleets because we’re able to share in that experience and share in how we can actually develop the trucking industry to be better tomorrow.”

“Trucking HR Canada is proud to honor and celebrate these fleets that continue to exemplify leadership in human resources,” said Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Canada.

Fleets recognized through this year’s program include:

Small fleets (1-99 employees)

• Edge Transportation – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• JG Drapeau Transport – Toronto, Ontario
• Liberty Linehaul – Ayr, Ontario
• Logikor – Cambridge, Ontario
• MacKinnon Transport – Guelph, Ontario
• Steed Standard Transport – Stratford, Ontario
• Triton Transport – Chilliwack, BC

Medium fleets (100-499 employees)

• Arnold Bros. Transport – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Atlantica – Rexton, New Brunswick
• Brian Kurtz Trucking – Breslau, Ontario
• Cavalier Transportation Services – Bolton, Ontario
• Drive Logistics – Windsor, Ontario
• Hi-Way 9 Group of Companies – Drumheller, Alberta
• J&R Hall Transport – Ayr, Ontario
• Joseph Haulage Canada – Stoney Creek, Ontario
• Kriska Transportation – Prescott, Ontario
• Linamar Transportation – Guelph, Ontario
• Meyers Transport – Belleville, Ontario
• Q-Line Trucking – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• Sutco Transportation Specialists – Salmo, BC
• Tandet Group of Companies – Oakville, Ontario
• Transpro Freight Systems – Milton, Ontario

Large fleets (500+ employees)

• Bison Transport – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Canada Cartage – Mississauga, Ontario
• Challenger Motor Freight – Cambridge, Ontario
• Erb Group of Companies – New Hamburg, Ontario
• Kindersley Transport – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• Midland Transport – Dieppe, New Brunswick
• The Rosedale Group – Mississauga, Ontario
• Rosenau Transport – Edmonton, Alberta
• Ryder Canada – Supply Chain Logistics – Mississauga, Ontario
• SLH Transport – Kingston, Ontario
• Westcan Bulk Transport – Edmonton, Alberta

Private fleets

• Canaan Group – Richmond, BC
• Sleeman Breweries – Guelph, Ontario
• Home Hardware Stores – St. Jacobs, Ontario
• The Brick – Edmonton, Alberta
• Transport Transbo – Olymel – St-Simon-de-Bagot, Quebec
• Trailer Wizards – Mississauga, Ontario

Additional information on the recognized fleets will appear in the Drive to Excellence supplement in your November edition of Today’s Trucking.

Applications for the 2017 honors will open in November.