WOMEN DRIVING CHANGE WDC The voice of women involved in the Canadian trucking industry. Endless Opportunities for Women in Trucking GFL’s Linda Weatherbie believes diversity makes the sector stronger. PAGE 15 SUMMER 2022 | ISSUE #1 Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Read and share! Pass your copy to a colleague! Proud contributors:Women Driving Change Magazine // 3 WDCCONTENTS SUMMER 2022 | ISSUE #1 ON THE C O V ER WOMEN MATTER: GFL understands that a diverse workforce contributes to success EMPOWERED, WITH SHELLEY WALKER, WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA We’re all pieces of the puzzle! SOLUTIONS, BY MIKE MILLIAN, PRIVATE MOTOR TRUCK COUNCIL OF CANADA If we build it [a world-class industry], drivers will come FEATURES Shifting gears: The trucking profession offers an abundance of opportunities for female drivers Driving change: Robust EDI policies will attract more drivers A vision for safety: iMVR’s IRIS tool trains drivers with 360° technology ON THE ROAD WITH… Sandra Graham, Cutler TCMS Inc. BENEATH THE HOOD WITH… Rindy Napper, Packers Logistics THE GOOD NEWS SPOTLIGHT Ho, ho, ho, help for the holidays: Truckers Christmas Group Driving out breast cancer: Trucking for a Cure INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 15 // 07 // 08 // 12 // 19 // 22 // 25 // 27 // 29 // 30 // 30 // IN THIS ISSUE 15 22 2527 Cover shot: Linda Weatherbie has spent over two decades working in Canada’s trucking industry. As a general manager for GFL Environmental, she is changing the perception that all managers are men and is proving that women have plenty of career opportunities in the sector. Learn more about Linda, GFL, and why all women matter starting on page 15. Photo by Wes Perry Photography / www.wesperryphotography.com.4 // www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca PUBLISHED BY: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return all undeliverable addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 2S9 Toll-Free Phone: (866) 999-1299 Toll-Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net / www.matrixgroupinc.net Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg | sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter | publishing@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory | ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub | akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editor/Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon Finance/Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg | distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager – Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager – Hamilton Jeff Cash Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Cheryl Klassen, Colleen Bell, Frank Kenyeres, Jim Hamilton, John Price, Rob Gibson, Sandra Kirby, Tanina Di Piazza Advertising Design James Robinson Layout & Design Cody Chomiak ©2022 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada. Email sales@matrixgroupinc.net to request a Media Kit. Women Driving Change knows how important it is to get our content right. This means publishing articles on the topics and issues that women working in Canada’s trucking industry want to read about. If you have a story idea, reach out to editor@matrixgroupinc.net. We’re looking for industry experts who want to write and share their knowledge. We’re also looking for women to feature in future issues – drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, managers! Our team of story tellers are amazing at making even the shyest of interview subject comfortable in telling their story. We’d love to tell yours! Last, but not least, if you have a general story idea you think we need to cover, please reach out. We’d love to hear your suggestions and work together on bringing it to life. Y OUR AR TICLES PUBLISHED! WDCwww.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca www.facebook.com/women-driving-change-magazine Look for this symbol throughout the digital magazine to click directly to online resources. YOUR PHOTOS PUBLISHED! Women Driving Change wants to showcase the Canadian trucking industry and the hard-working women who are driving, dispatching, repairing, manufacturing, managing, selling, marketing, and running the shop! Your photos could be included in an upcoming issue of Women Driving Change and who knows – it might even end up on the cover! Email editor@matrixgroupinc.net with a sentence or two describing the shot, where it was taken, who we’re seeing, and the person / company that needs photo credit. This is a GREAT way to appreciate your staff and showcase your company in a magazine that is mailed Canada-wide. Women help make the wheels roll round. Let’s give them the recognition they deserve! 12 PROUD CONTRIBUTORS: The Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada Photo by David Benjatschek / www.davidbenjatschek.com.Women Driving Change Magazine // 7 Facebook groups and other social media avenues, we are actively assisting women with their journeys to build careers as professional truck drivers. We are thankful for the many sponsors and industry partners we work with, who are supporting the needs of women who are seeking assistance in the sector. Their commitment demonstrates just how big the need is, for more women in the sector. Keeping the industry educated on important topics is also something the WTFC is proud to support. Most recent- ly, an online training program, Know Human Trafficking, was created with funding from the Ontario provincial gov- ernment. The program helps profession- al drivers recognize the signs of someone who may be in distress from a human trafficking issue. To date, WTFC has been made aware of cases where professional drivers have been able to assist women who have been in these situations, by using the education received through the Know Human Trafficking program. As an organization, we are also active- ly working to ensure the safety of profes- sional truck drivers. From safe parking areas to accessible washrooms, WTFC is working with government to bring about change to these aspects of the job. We promote the importance of the occupa- tion throughout Canada, therefore we need to step up and promote safety related to the occupation as well. WTFC wishes to thank all advertisers, writers, and experts who made this first issue of Women Driving Change possible. The support that has been shown is phe- nomenal and demonstrates industry’s commitment to women in trucking. It is so important to the growth of the sector that we all continue to work together to make the trucking industry a diverse and wel- coming environment for everyone. Thank you for your interest in the Can- ada’s trucking industry and for taking the time to read the inaugural issue of Women Driving Change magazine. Shelley Walker Chief Executive Officer Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada he Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada (WTFC) is ver y happy to be includ- ed in the premiere issue of Women Driving Change magazine. The importance of this publication can be felt throughout the industry. As an organiza- tion that is continually trying to improve the representation of females in our industry, it is welcoming to see Women Driving Change showcase the important role we play. This publication is incredibly crucial to expanding our numbers and influence. The Women’s Trucking Federa- tion of Canada is a network of women driven to empower, assist, and mentor women throughout our industry. We are a not-for-profit, membership driv- en organization with a huge support team throughout Canada. Our motto is “In the office, under the hood, or behind the wheel. We’re all pieces of the puzzle.” WTFC supports ALL women working in the trucking industry in Canada. We are proud that the trucking indus- try also vigorously works with WTFC on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an organization that is actively engaged in government conversations, both pro- vincial and federal, we are always at the table expressing the important role women have in trucking in Canada. One project that we would like to high- light, that WTFC has supported, comes out of Ontario. The focus of the project was get- ting under-represented people into the sec- tor by providing training dollars for tuition for those seeking careers as professional truck drivers. With an 85% success rate, the program proved to be a huge success – the industry gained more much-needed pro- fessional drivers, and under-represented Canadians had an opportunity they may have otherwise missed out on. The need for over 50,000 profes- sional drivers in the next few years is a key focus of the WTFC. We are working with national associations and various committees to promote the industry and assist with recruiting efforts. Through EMPOWERED We’re all pieces of the puzzle! WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thank you to the phenomenal team who actively works to support the WTFC! CEO Shelley Walker EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Johanne Couture Sylvie Nederpel DIRECTORS Carol Pritchard Caroline Carter Cassandra Chumber Deborah Gee Fiona Stone Jennifer McConnell Joanne Millen Margaret Hogg Sam Clarke Sud Malthor Sukhdeep Kang Vickie deVos ONLINE: www.womenstruckingfederationofcanada.net FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WTFC2015 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/WTFC7 INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/wtfc2015 LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/women-s- trucking-federation-of-canada DIGITAL CONNECTIONS Shelley Walker T8 // www.womendrivingchangemagazine.ca part of their community and spend time with family and friends. Mov- ing to more regional lanes will attract more women, youth, and new drivers. Instead of one driver taking a load from Toronto to Vancouver, arrang- ing for switch offs where a driver can go 300 miles, switch, and head back home, will help provide more options for drivers. 3. The industry has had a severe park- ing shortage for decades and this is one of the biggest issues that women have noted as a concern when they are on the road. Government and industry must provide more secure, well-lit locations, with proper wash- rooms and lighting, for drivers to park, stretch their legs, and get the rest they need and are required to by law. Progress is being made in recent years, but this must be accelerated as quickly as possible. 4. As we bring new drivers into the industry, we must ensure they are well supported with driver men- tor or finishing programs. Where possible, we need to provide more female driver coaches who can pair up with new female drivers. This has been identified as a key element by female drivers – wishing to be coached by a peer. Many best-in- class carriers already do this, but more is needed. This list is by no means inclusive, and really, it is just scratching the sur- face. One I did not even touch on, but that is key, is having the profession declared a skilled trade! More on that in a future issue. The trucking industry is an amazing industry and once people get in the door, they rarely leave it. But… we need to get them in the door in order for them to see the great opportunities in it! Mike Millian President Private Motor Truck Council of Canada will remove some demand for freight movement. Despite this, I believe the bottom line is that we need more professional driv- ers. The average age of drivers is at a record high, and experienced drivers are exiting at record levels too. New recruits are needed. The same old question remains: how do we attract new drivers to our indus- try? One key demographic that can help solve our shortage is females. While women make up 47% of Canada’s work- force, they only account for 3% of the drivers we employ. While the industry has put a focus on recruiting women for the last several years, the percentage of women drivers has barely changed. Why is that, and what can we do to try and resolve this issue? In my view, the changes we need to make, if made, will go a long way towards attracting more youth and new people as well. 1. We must change the way we pay our drivers. For years, especially for long haul, the industry standard has been a mileage-based pay rate, or per- centage, along with some extra’s for drops, picks, waiting time, etc. This type of pay rate penalizes a driver’s pay for things they can’t control, such as traffic, weather, or waiting to be loaded/unloaded. People entering the workforce today expect to be paid for all the time they are required to be at work, as they should be. We must move more towards an hourly or base salary system that ensures drivers are paid for all their time. Several carri- ers have begun to move this way and the results have shown driver turn- over at these fleets under 10%. 2. We need to move to more regional lanes. While there will always be driv- ers who like to stretch their legs and be on the road for two weeks at a time or longer, the numbers are dwin- dling. More and more people want to be home every night, or at least sev- eral times a week, as they wish to be t’s no secret that the truck ing industr y needs more drivers. Isn’t it obvious that recruiting female drivers needs to be a big part of the solution?! The latest numbers from Trucking HR Canada, as of the end of Q1 2022, show that Canada has 22,155 vacancies; as in, parked trucks that are waiting for a driver. The unemployment rate for truck drivers is at 4.2%, which is well below the average for Canada overall, at 6.1%. While this is an increase from the 3.2% unemployment rate logged at the end of 2021, it is down from the 6.3% that was experienced at the same time last year for drivers. The numbers also indicate this is not just a short term or seasonal issue, as the recent data shows that 49.3% of job vacancies have been posted for lon- ger than 90 days. The driver shortage has simultaneously been folklore and a hot topic since I joined the industry more than 32 years ago. Many argue that vacant seats do not a shortage make and that too many trucks are already on the road bidding on and competing for too little freight. This has kept rates down and driver wages low for years. Yet, things seem different this time. With the effects of COVID-19, trends in online buying and ordering, supply chain constraints, vaccine mandates removing some drivers, and more retire- ments as a result of an aging workforce (the average age of a driver in Canada is over 50 years of age), the shortage this time is real. Loads have gone unhauled, rates have crept up significantly, and wages have followed suit. To be fair, recent economic indica- tors are showing demand is shrinking as consumers begin to move away from purchasing items, back to spending money on entertainment. This, coupled with rising inflation and interest rates, and shrinking discretionary spending, SOLUTIONS If we build it [a world-class industry] , drivers will come! Mike Millian IWomen Driving Change Magazine // 9 ONLINE: https://www.pmtc.ca FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Private-Motor- Truck-Council-of-Canada-1561523780752504 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/privatefleets INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ pmtcylg/?hl=en LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/private- motor-truck-council-of-canada/about YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCnPA_5ABF21Rt6IiZYttEQQ DIGITAL CONNECTIONS PRIVATE MOTOR TRUCKING COUNCIL: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Effective July 1, 2022. OFFICERS Chairperson Steve Lawn Parkland Corporation Past Chairperson Jim Dimech Linde Canada Inc 1st Vice-Chairperson Jon Ratnasamy Wolseley Canada 2nd Vice-Chairperson Leanne Drummond CPC Logistics Canada DIRECTORS Kimberly Biback Sharp Transportation Phil Camp Paccar Leasing Company Gerald Carroll Wesbell Logistics Scott Creighton Northbridge Insurance Brad Fletcher GFL John Harrison Transrep Inc Chris Henry Penske Transportation Solutions Fred Hildebrand Rush Truck Leasing James Johnstone Giant Tiger Keith Lamb 4-Refuel Jason Libralesso Home Hardware Sudhanshu Malhotra Intact Public Entities David Marvin Tandet Angela Munsterman Coca Cola Canada Bottling Ltd. Kim Richardson TTSAO Matt Richardson KRTS Kevin Riley Maple Leaf Foods Michelle Roberts Infrastructure Health & Safety Association Michael Thompson MEE/ISB Canada Donald Williams Aviva Canada Steve Woodward Volvo CanadaNext >