by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | May 18, 2017 | BLOG
Kim Richardson-KRTS
Early on in my career I had heard the name Kim Richardson. Although I didn’t know him, I had certainly read a lot about Kim and his successful truck training school KRTS. What always intrigued me was his love and passion for the trucking industry. His genuine care and concern about the people working in this industry and more importantly what he could do to make it better.
Kim Richardson and Shelley Uvanile-Hesch
I continued to follow Kim through my adventures in trucking. I’ve seen him speak at various events throughout the years. It always amazed me that this trucking industry executive took the time to attend such events as the professional drivers’ rodeo, trucking for a cure, special olympics convoy and too many other to list them all here. You’re probably asking yourself, what’s the big deal? As a driver I can tell you it’s not often we see the executives at events that are geared for drivers. Kim is one of the few who does and more importantly he takes the time to listen to drivers concerns about the training of new drivers. With Kim, drivers have always been treated like we are ” more than just a driver ” .
WTFC Decal
When I started the Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada , I knew the direction we wanted to go in but was unsure how to go about it. We had hit many stumbling blocks and many who thought we were wasting our time. So, I decided to reach out to Kim Richardson in the hopes he would be able to offer us some advice and guidance.
Our first meeting was at KRTS in Caledonia . His warm smile and friendly greeting made me feel confident that I had reached out to the right person. The office enviroment and his staff are very friendly and welcoming. Over the course of the last year I’ve personally attended many events that Kim has been involved with either speaking , attending, or sponsoring. I’m honored to have Kim Richardson as a member of our Industry Advisory Board. For me personally he has been an amazing mentor and a good friend.
Shelley Uvanile-Hesch
Shelley Uvanile-Hesch is the CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada as well as a professional driver at Sharp Transportation Systems Inc for the past 12 yrs. You can reach her at shelleyu@wtfc.ca
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | May 16, 2017 | Bronze Members, Career Board, Corporate Members
At Linamar Transportation, we understand the importance of ensuring our new graduate hires are competent and capable of performing the job. Our new graduate training program has been designed to “bridge” an individual’s transition from a training school environment into a proficient, safe, and successful professional transport driver for Linamar Transportation.
Linamar
We have developed a program which consists of 8 weeks in-cab practical training. The first 6 weeks of training will be within Southern Ontario, particularly within the Guelph area – this portion of the training is designed to practice basic backing and maneuvering skills in order to build confidence and skill in handling the equipment. Trainees will return to the terminal daily at the end of each shift. The last 2 weeks of the program consist of over the road cross border runs into Michigan and Ohio and focuses on all the other aspects of the job from trip planning, fueling, load security, hours of service, etc. When training over the road, if unable to make it back to the terminal, the company will pay for hotel rooms in order that both the trainee and trainer can have privacy and proper rest.
Trainers at Linamar Transportation are full time, experienced drivers who are certified mentors. They provide regular feedback, tips and tricks to coach their trainees to successful completion of the program.
Trainees must meet specific criteria to be admitted into the training program at Linamar Transportation. Our primary focus is to hire individuals who are the best fit for the company and who would realize personal and business success. We are looking for individuals who will not only launch their career at Linamar Transportation but who feel the same loyalty and passion that is instilled in our company culture.
And when they graduate, our drivers typically work five to six days a week or a maximum of 70 hours (whatever comes first), followed by a guaranteed minimum of 36 hours off at home. Our operating area includes Ontario and the mid-central USA. Running a maximum of 2 days out at a time, our dispatch system allows our trucks to maximize available hours while reducing unproductive time. Our goal is for our experienced drivers to achieve a gross pay of $65,000 annually.
Linamar
Linamar provides top quality equipment which consists of late model Freightliner Cascadia leased from Penske on a full maintenance lease program. Their comprehensive maintenance network gives our drivers peace of mind knowing that if there is a mechanical issue on the road, they will be looked after in a professional and timely manner. We train our drivers on a 10 or 13 speed transmission and trainees are assigned a dedicated tractor once they successfully complete the training program.
Linamar Transportation is a for-hire carrier servicing primarily our own manufacturing plants. We were named one of Canada’s Top Fleet Employers 3 years running and Top Medium Fleet overall in 2016. Our freight is no-touch and no driver assist. We have an exceptional safety rating and are running 100% elogs. There are so many more great things about working for Linamar that we’d love to tell you about.
For more information about our New Graduate Training Program, give us a call at 1-800-463-5862 extension 35207 or go to our website www.linamar.com
Ask any of our drivers about Linamar and our training program, we think you will find we are one of the industry’s best kept secrets.
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | May 12, 2017 | Career Board
DeckX Transport is proud to announce that we have recently implemented a New Driver Trainee Program for newly licensed drivers and a Flat Deck Training Program for seasoned Drivers, with no previous Flat Deck experience. The program is in its infancy and is currently limited to training one applicant at a time, out of our head office based in Winnipeg, MB. Since we implemented the program, we have successfully trained two new drivers and we are welcoming a third driver trainee onto our team late May, 2017.
Will Wuss Trainee
The New Driver Training Program has been developed to provide novice drivers with an additional 6-8 weeks, on-the-road training, with a DeckX Trainer, in order to enhance their driving skills. This training will include additional instruction in the use of tarps, straps and chains with which to provide the knowledge and skills required, so as to successfully operate flat decks. New drivers will continue with their skills development once they have successfully completed the 6-8 week program and have been promoted from a Driver Trainee and have been dispatched on their 1st independent load.
the forks day
The Flat Deck Training requirement, for highly skilled and experienced drivers, is designed to teach the knowledge and skills needed, to secure loads using tarps, straps, and chains. Drivers will again continue their skills development once having been dispatched on their 1st independent load.
Our vision is to develop this program and expand it to our satellite locations based out of Aberfoyle, ON and Edmonton, AB.
For more information please contact Suzanne Rhodes at DeckX.
careers@deckx.com
1.877.558.9444
DeckX Transport
2595 Inkster Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 2E6
www.drivetransx.com
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | May 7, 2017 | BLOG
Meet Veronica Burgess 21 years old
I got started in high school. Was with a guy who’s family has a gravel truck company in the town of Russell, Ont. We ran old Macks, my first truck was an 1985 R model Mack Tri-axle dump truck. We did everything, hauled fertilizer, snow, aggregates all over the Ottawa and the capital region. Just last year I was offered a job all on my own driving my present truck 02 Volvo twin steer, 13 speed.
Mostly I haul Asphalt now, paving roads, parking lots and driveways. Just recently I’ve been hauling the tag-along float, chaining and moving our paver and skid-steer to all of our job sites !
I challenge you other Aggregate Haulers to post your picture and tell us how you got started – Veronica
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | May 7, 2017 | BLOG
My name is Jodie Schriver & I live in New Brunswick Canada…this is a pic in April 2009…my 1st trip alone…I prefer flatbed so I had to teach myself everything even how to drive it as I couldn’t afford to go to trucking school or find a driver to train me where I was a “girl” & girls didn’t haul flatbed in our little town & I heard that girls couldn’t tarp & neither could I so after lots of frustration, a willing to learn & determination…I did it ????
I’m 7 yrs accident & insident free with defensive driving , clean record & the only solo female flatbedder on the east coast who drives a pink & black Pete for the breast cancer convoy
