HAMILTON, ON — The board of directors of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario (TTSAO) has announced the official launch of an effort to improve the education, recruitment and retention for entry level and existing professional drivers.

The TTSAO Carrier Group will work with the TTSAO board and its member schools to also increase awareness and education about the educational needs of all carriers, both for-hire and private, according to the organization.

Geoff Topping, director of recruiting and retention at Challenger Motor Freight will be the first chairman of the carrier group.

“I look forward to this opportunity to work with the TTSAO, the carriers and the partner organizations on this very important industry issue. The TTSAO schools and entry-level drivers are an important part of our recruiting plan at Challenger. Well-trained safe drivers are import to us as a company and critical to the success of the industry,” he said. “To have the schools, industry and government all working in the same direction is critical.”

The carrier group is open to all fleets regardless of size or what they haul.

According to Yvette Lagrois, president of the TTSAO, the carrier group is “the next step of many as our association continues to grow, expand, have purpose and meaning in the trucking industry.”

The group will waste no time getting started, immediately working with the TTSAO board of directors and its membership.

The first official meeting will be held in Cambridge in February and the agenda will include; carriers recruiting and retention issues, update on process of mandatory entry level training for commercial drivers, and joint efforts moving forward with carriers and TTSAO schools.

The Private Motor Truck Council (PMTC) sees great value and importance of the formation of the TTSAO Carrier Group.

“The PMTC feels it is vital that the perspective of all carriers, both for-hire and private, are represented when it comes to the training standards that will be put in place,” said Mike Millian, president of the PMTC, who is also a TTSAO board member. “After all, the carriers are the end users. The new carrier group will ensure that carriers have this opportunity to be fully represented with in the TTSAO.”

The first meeting will be Feb. 3 at Challenger Motor Freight in Cambridge from 9:30am to 11:00am.

To register, call Sara Fitchett at 705-626-2529 or email your request to attend to ttsao@ttsao.com.