“New School Truck Driver Information
with Old School Trucking Pride!”
The Lead Pedal Podcast for truck drivers talks all things trucking for people in the transportation industry helping them improve their business and careers. Interviews, trucking information, and other features that are meant to be helpful for truck drivers and those in the transportation industry.
Mike grew up on a beef farm in rural Southwestern Ontario in Huron County. Mike began his career in the Trucking Industry in 1990 at the age of 18, spending three years working for a local carrier Hauling Livestock and bulk agriculture products. At the age of 21 Mike went to work for a long Haul Refrigerated and general freight carrier and spent 5 years hauling all sorts of freight in all 48 US Mainland States and 6 Canadian Provinces. The Carrier then opened a Certified Driver Training School in 1998 and Mike came off the road and become one of the Schools first Certified Driver Trainers. In 2000 Mike Transitioned into Safety and Compliance for the Fleet, while still working part time as a Trainer for the School. In 2002 Mike moved over to a Private Fleet and became the Safety, Compliance, Maintenance and Training manger for the Hensall District Co-operative’s Commercial Trucking Fleet. Mike spent the next 12.5 years with Hensall and oversaw the Fleets as it grew from 40 Trucks in 2002 to over 140 in 2015. In January of 2015 Mike moved into the Trucking Association business and was named the President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, where he remains in his current role.
Born and raised in Toronto, Ken spent 30 years in various roles of the insurance industry, lastly as the Managing Director of Ontario for one of the largest specialty lines and risk insurers in Canada.
During this time Ken also served for 13 years as an auxiliary police officer with the Toronto Police Service, coached hockey, and volunteered his time and expertise to various organizations.
In 2015 Ken’s childhood love for trucks lead him to Ottawa, assuming the position of: Director of Operations. Here he assists his father in the day to day operations of Crossroads Truck Training Academy, a TTSAO member school that his father founded over 20 years ago.
Ken quickly immersed himself in the trucking industry, building relationships with carriers and service providers alike. As well, Ken is following in his father’s footsteps, and is the incoming TTSAO Chairman of the Board for the 2019-2021 term.
When approached by the WTFC and asked if he would sit on the advisory council, his response was immediate. “”I would be honoured, this industry requires an organization with the values and views of the WTFC. I am thrilled to see more women enrolling not only at our training facility, but at others across the province. Knowing that they have the support and guidance from the WTFC once they graduate, in my opinion is invaluable.”.
Executive Director for the Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic has been in the Trucking Industry for over 24 years. Having started her career in the Trucking Industry at a leading private career college for the trucking industry in Atlantic Canada, it was a natural progression to move to the Council in 2004. Her work has focused in a variety of areas, not limited to, recruitment and retention, training standards, certifications and building human resource capacity in the trucking industry. Over the years she has received many industry awards and recognition’s for her contributions to industry. Most recently was recognized as Woman of the Year in Transportation for her dedication to excellence in the trucking industry. Continuous learning is one of Kelly’s top priorities. “The trucking industry has been very good to me – the best part of what I do is that every day is different – I experience new challenges and new opportunities regularly with ongoing opportunity to learn and grow.”
