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 | Apr 26, 2017 | BLOG
The Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada is a non-profit organization established to encourage the employment of women in the Transportation Industry. We want to celebrate and promote these accomplishments as well as address obstacles and issues faced by women working in the industry. Our purpose is to promote personal growth and responsibility whether you’re” In the Office, under the Hood or behind the Wheel”. Despite the name, “Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada “, our membership is not limited to women. We welcome the involvement of anyone who is positive and supportive of our mission.
We aim to provide a platform and open environment for women across the Transportation Industry to come together, problem solve, share ideas and help to promote our industry to future generations as a viable career option. Women don’t have to support other women, but so many of us choose to because we know we’re better together.
If this sounds like something you want to be a part of and if you are passionate about paving the way for future generations entering our industry, joining us is easy – simply click on the link http://www.womenstruckingfederationofcanada.net/join-us/ and fill in your details! We will then be in touch and send you a fantastic welcome package just for joining up!
This is not just an organization; this is a network and we hope you will join us….
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Mar 30, 2017 | BLOG
CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – (March 1, 2017) – Shelley Uvanile-Hesch wants to see more women working in the trucking industry, but she knows it won’t happen without those who are already there lending a hand.
That’s why in 2014 she founded the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, which recruits and mentors women in a profession that is overwhelmingly male. The group estimates that only 3 percent of Canadian truck drivers are women.
The federation has about 50 members, including men, and a handful of corporate sponsors, including the Highway Western Star dealership in Ontario. The group includes professionals who hold non-driving jobs in the trucking industry, such as dispatchers, managers and parts technicians.
“We really want to encourage more women into the industry. It’s a good job and there is a definite need for more truckers,” she said. “It’s a man’s world, but it’s coming around.”
Uvanile-Hesch worked her way up to the cab of a big truck without the benefit of an organization like Women’s Trucking Federation. The daughter of a truck driver, she knew from a young age she wanted to drive as well: “I always had the bug, but I wanted to be home with my kids.”
She compensated by driving a school bus; once her children were grown, she graduated to a motor coach, then a straight truck, and has been driving a Class 8 truck for 17 years. For the past 13 years, she’s driven for Sharp Transportation, a pharmaceuticals carrier based in Cambridge, Ont., that serves Canada and most of the United States. Her regular runs include Georgia, Florida, Texas and California.
As a senior driver at Sharp, Uvanile-Hesch drives a 2016 Western Star 5700XE she’s named “Destiny Star.”
“I love it. There is so much room and it’s a smooth ride,” she said. “I’m only 4’ 11”, but I can see over the hood and I can actually see out of the hood mirrors into my blind spots.”
A solo driver for a long time, she now teams with her husband, Chris, who earned his CDL so he could join her on the road.
“There is a lot of interior room for a team. I really like the bigger refrigerator and its location. It’s literally a home away from home,” she said.
She also praised Detroit™ Virtual Technician™, which comes standard on the 5700XE. The integrated remote diagnostic system records critical vehicle performance data immediately before, during and after a fault occurs. Within minutes, Virtual Technician gives drivers and fleets a preliminary diagnosis, recommendations and, if needed, directions to nearby service locations with the available parts.
“I highly recommend Virtual Technician,” she said. “It’s nice to know exactly what the codes mean, if I need to park immediately, need a tow truck or if it’s safe to get to a dealership.”
She also likes the attention the Western Star attracts: “It doesn’t matter where we go, people are always taking pictures of my ride and asking questions about her, even when I’m fueling. Quite often, I pop the hood so they can look at the engine.”
She’s put 191,000 miles on “Destiny Star” in her first year, and she appreciates it more than ever.
“It’s my first Western Star, but I wouldn’t want to drive anything else,” she said.
When her husband is behind the wheel, Uvanile-Hesch stays busy with the Women’s Trucking Federation, which is active on a number of fronts, from mentoring women in driving school and hosting career events at high schools to giving interviews to polish the public image of truckers. The federation also is involved in a number of charitable causes and appears at industry events to gain visibility and recruit women drivers.
Women truckers can do a lot to encourage newer drivers by mentoring them and becoming fleet and school trainers, she said: “They’ll get a wealth of knowledge from all angles.”
Contact: Nicholas.Smith@Daimler.com
Western Star Trucks Sales, Inc., headquartered in Portland, Ore., produces tough custom trucks for highway and vocational applications. Western Star is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 5-8 vehicles and is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.
