TORONTO — Trucking HR Canada’s Women with Drive Leadership Summit will be back in Toronto for a return engagement on March 3, 2016. 

About 135 delegates attended this year’s inaugural event, which shed new light on the steps to recruit, retain and mentor women in Canada’s trucking industry, according to organisers.

“Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received, it’s clear that those who attended the summit want even more information to help address some of the industry’s most pressing recruiting and retention challenges,” said Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Canada.

The summit is part of Trucking HR Canada’s three-year action plan to help tackle the shortage of women in the trucking industry. Other commitments involve creating mentorship programs, identifying best practices, and developing workplace tools and procedures for inclusive workplaces.

Speakers during this year’s summit included Brenda Andress, commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and Dr. Kellie Leitch, minister of labour and minister of status of women. The lineup for next year’s event has yet to be announced.

The Conference Board of Canada, a non-profit research organization, projects the need for another 25,000 to 33,000 for-hire truck drivers as early as 2020. While women represent 48% of Canada’s available labour pool, they currently account for just 3% of the nation’s truck drivers, mechanics, technicians and cargo workers.