OTTAWA, ON — The Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council has launched a new series of tools targeting fleets wanting to hire immigrant drivers. The CTHRC says its new offerings will help trucking companies attract, hire and integrate Canada’s newcomers, adding that these workers will play an increasing role in meeting the industry’s labor needs.

“The trucking industry faces a deepening labour shortage,” said CTHRC executive director Angela Splinter in announcing the new fact sheets, guides and training programs. “More than 500,000 people already enjoy careers in Canada’s trucking industry… but the existing workforce is aging and must be renewed by a new generation of employees.”

About six in 10 fleets now struggle to find drivers, and the number of jobs in the trucking industry is expected to grow 26.6 percent between 2011 and 2021, CTHRC research shows.

Newcomers will play an important role in any solution, and the CTHRC says that immigrants account for one in five new job seekers in Canada overall. Many fleets are already turning to internationally trained drivers to fill severe, regional shortages in long-haul work.

The CTHRC’s tools are available through this new web portal and offer an array of practical support.

Newcomers considering careers in trucking can turn to the Trucking in Canada Orientation Guide, which provides an essential overview of Canada and its trucking industry. Related fact sheets will highlight important steps in the immigration process.

Employers can turn to the updated Your Guide to Human Resources: Volume 2, which includes practical tools to build an inclusive, multicultural workforce. Lessons based on this guide are also available through educational seminars now being offered by CTHRC advisors. The Report for Employers builds on these resources, offering a step-by-step guide to immigration programs, processes, costs and timeframes.

Immigrant-serving organizations will find the latest labor market information helpful in determining where the trucking industry’s employment needs exist, while the Trucking Bridge2Work program establishes the frameworks to successfully integrate newcomers into nine key industry occupations. These are anchored by the Trucking English as a Second Language program, which can be used to assess a newcomer’s current language skills against what is necessary to function in a trucking environment. Industry-specific language upgrading modules can address any gaps.