The Ontario government is funding a new program designed to attract women and people from under-represented groups into the trucking industry. Premier Doug Ford made the funding announcement at GFL Environmental in Ayr, outlining the training program that will be led by the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada. The province is spending $1.3 million on the new program, which will include providing 54 women with up to 200 hours of training to help them obtain AZ (tractor-trailer) and DZ (straight truck) licenses.
Only two per cent of Ontario truck drivers are women; “that’s just not good enough,” said Ford. Through the training, eligible candidates will learn how to operate a commercial vehicle, perform manoeuvres, conduct inspections, maintain the vehicles and understand commercial vehicle systems and controls.
The trucking industry is currently running on fumes, with the province estimating at least 6,100 more truck drivers are needed to fill all outstanding job vacancies “Our truckers are just so important to every sector and every industry in our province,” said Ford. “Whether it is getting materials to construction sites or goods to stores, truck driver play a critical role in keeping our economy moving.”