Steering Change

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin, Dave Elniski, and Andy Barnes chat with Steve Keppler, Co-Director of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting.

In our conversation, we discuss voluntary safety programs like Beyond Compliance and how facilitating best practices, safety management systems, training and coaching services, and new technologies can help carriers of all sizes to reduce collisions, empower drivers, and improve safety within your company.

• If you would like to learn more about Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, please contact Steve at [email protected] or visit the website: https://scopelitisconsulting.com/. 

• If you are interested in speaking with Andy Barnes, expert on all things Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, please contact him at [email protected].

• If you are interested in speaking with Dave Elniski, expert on all things Safety and Compliance, (or to ask him more about their fascinating research and white paper) please contact them at [email protected]. 

  
  

• If you would like to hear Dave and Steve talk more about ‘Technology & Safety in Transportation’ live on stage at AMTA’s AMTA’s Annual Conference, join us on April 8-10, 2025, at the River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton. Tickets are still available on our website.
  The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is April 1, 2025.
  
  
• Distracted driving is a growing threat on Alberta’s roads, contributing to thousands of convictions and countless preventable collisions each year. At AMTA, we’re taking action to make a difference—starting with you. Through education, awareness, and a shared commitment, we can reduce distracted driving incidents and create safer roadways for everyone. Take the AMTA Distracted Driving Pledge on our website and show your dedication to driving focused. Together, we can change habits, save lives, and set a new standard for safety on the road.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.

Join the conversation at:
Web: amta.ca
Instagram: amta_ca/ 
Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation
LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Rob Destree chat with Warren Stasiuk, Safety Manager at Volker Stevin Highways Ltd.
In our conversation, we discuss snowplow logistics in Alberta, roadside safety for snowplow drivers and the motoring public, tips and tricks for approaching snowplows on the road, and ways to stay safe on the highways in winter storm conditions.

If you would like to learn more about Volker Stevin or snowplow safety, please contact Warren on their website at: https://www.volkerstevin.ca/contact/

• Visit https://511.alberta.ca/map#:Alerts and select “Snowplows / Maintenance Vehicles” from the filter options on the right of the map to view a live map of snowplows on the highways in Alberta

• A law was put into place in September of 2023 to protect roadside workers on Alberta’s highways. When driving in the closest lane to any stopped roadside vehicle with flashing lights activated, drivers must move to the far lane or slow down to 60 km/hr. Read the law here: https://www.alberta.ca/roadside-worker-safety. 

• Learn more about the safety rules and possible fines for passing snowplows on the roads: https://www.alberta.ca/driving-safely-around-snowplows.

• Watch our snowplow safety videos here: Part One and Part Two

• Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton, are available on our website, and are already 50% sold out!
  The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is April 1, 2025.
  
  
• Distracted driving is a growing threat on Alberta’s roads, contributing to thousands of convictions and countless preventable collisions each year. At AMTA, we’re taking action to make a difference—starting with you. Through education, awareness, and a shared commitment, we can reduce distracted driving incidents and create safer roadways for everyone. Take the AMTA Distracted Driving Pledge on our website and show your dedication to driving focused. Together, we can change habits, save lives, and set a new standard for safety on the road.

• Commercial drivers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in maintaining safety on Alberta’s roads. Each day, they navigate challenging conditions, weather, and traffic to deliver goods safely, while also taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of everyone around them. AMTA is introducing an "Angels of the Highway" program designed to celebrate and acknowledge these selfless efforts. This initiative will not only recognize the commitment truck drivers make to road safety but also empower them with the tools and resources to continue their vital work while staying healthy, safe, and supported on the road. Nominate your driver today! 
  
  

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Michelle Spacil chat with Arlene Ledi-Thom, President and Board of Directors and Chair of the Society, with the Health and Safety Conference Society of Alberta (HSCSA).
In our conversation, we discuss the Health and Safety Conference and how AMTA came to be involved, the importance of all the health and safety-related industries coming together to collaborate, and what we can expect from this year’s conference.

If you would like to learn more about the Alberta Health and Safety Conference, please contact Arlene at [email protected] or visit the website: https://hsconference.ca/ 

Register here to attend the upcoming 22nd Alberta Health and Safety Conference on April 2 & 3, 2025, at the Westin Calgary Airport, and check out the exhibitor, attendee, and sponsorship information.

• Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton, are available now on our website.
  The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is April 1, 2025.
  
  
• AMTA Award nominations are now open! - Including our Safety Person of the Year Award.
  Every year, AMTA celebrates the brightest and best of industry who make outstanding contributions to the commercial transportation industry and the Association through these awards. Our winners will be announced at our 2025 Awards Celebration Dinner during our Annual Conference in April. Submit your nominations here. 
  Nominations must be submitted by NOON, Friday, February 14, 2025

• Distracted driving is a growing threat on Alberta’s roads, contributing to thousands of convictions and countless preventable collisions each year. At AMTA, we’re taking action to make a difference—starting with you. Through education, awareness, and a shared commitment, we can reduce distracted driving incidents and create safer roadways for everyone. Take the AMTA Distracted Driving Pledge on our website and show your dedication to driving focused. Together, we can change habits, save lives, and set a new standard for safety on the road.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Rob Destree chat with two of our past Safety Person of the Year Award recipients, Christine Groulx, Health and Safety Manager of 4Seasons Transportation (2022), and Dale Howard, Regional Safety Manager for Canada with Flying J Canada Transport (2024), for one of our favourite topics as an association: safety.
In our conversation, we discuss the significance of safety in day-to-day operations, the value of supportive workplace culture and training, the importance of driver recruitment and retention, the use of emerging safety technology including cameras, and more.

If you would like to learn more about safety at 4Seasons, please contact Christine at [email protected] or visit their website: https://www.4seasonstransport.com/.

If you would like to learn more about safety at Pilot Flying J Canada, please contact Dale at [email protected] or visit their website: https://pilotflyingj.com/. 

Nominate your outstanding driver or AMTA’s Driver of the Month program on our website. Winners receive recognition, a certificate, and more. All of our monthly winners then have an opportunity to win our annual Driver of the Year Award.

• Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton, are available now on our website.
  The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is April 1, 2025.
  
  
• AMTA Award nominations are now open! - Including our Safety Person of the Year Award.
  Every year, AMTA celebrates the brightest and best of industry who make outstanding contributions to the commercial transportation industry and the Association through these awards. Our winners will be announced at our 2025 Awards Celebration Dinner during our Annual Conference in April. Submit your nominations here.
  Nominations must be submitted by NOON, Friday, February 14, 2025

• Join our growing community on the myAMTA Carrier Member Network.
  This exclusive platform is designed specifically for AMTA Carrier Members, offering a powerful space to connect, learn, and stay updated on everything industry-related.
  Request access to this Network directly at my.amta.ca.
  Please note: This network is exclusively for AMTA Carrier Members. If you’re not yet a Full Carrier Member, you can apply today at amta.ca/become-a-member and join our thriving community.
  
  
• In 2025, AMTA will be presenting three day-long Safety Summits across Alberta
  The Cochrane Safety Summit will take place on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Join us for a full day of content including a keynote presentation, and sessions with WCB, Trucking HR Canada and more. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Learn more and register to attend or for a booth on our website.

• To get involved in other AMTA events, including virtual and in-person Regional Meetings, visit our website to view our events calendar, or support AMTA in other ways and view our 2025 Sponsorship Guide.

If you have any questions or concerns about health and safety or other topics related to commercial driving and driver safety, or general membership questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team, including both Helen and Cliff as mentioned in this episode, at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Dave Elniski chat with Brenda Suggett, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (CARSP), for our first episode of 2025, or Season 2 of Steering Change, if you will.

In our conversation, we focus on all aspects of road safety and ways Carriers and Drivers can apply research to their operations to improve their safety on the highways.

If you would like to learn more about CARSP, please contact Brenda at [email protected], or visit their website to access the newsletter, resources, and webinars: https://carsp.ca/en/.

Below are links to the studies and research mentioned in this episode:

• Truck Driver Training
  • Distracted Driving & Workplace Safety Policies: A Business Case for Employers
  • Are Truck Driver Training requirements meeting the Safety Needs of the Transportation Industry?
  • Improving truck driver and vulnerable road user interactions through driver training: A subject matter expert interview study
• Truck Driver Health and Wellness
  • Occupational health and safety risks in Canadian long-haul truck drivers
  • Prevalence and Risk Factors for Depression among Long-Haul Truck Drivers in Western Canada
  • Evaluation of Best Practice Programs to Improve the Health and Wellness of Truck Drivers in BC
  • Musculoskeletal disorders among Canadian truck drivers: Results from an intercept study
• Long haul Truck Driver Carriers
  • Occupational health and safety risks in Canadian long-haul truck drivers
  • Musculoskeletal disorders among Canadian truck drivers: Results from an intercept study
  • Prevalence and Risk Factors for Depression among Long-Haul Truck Drivers in Western Canada
• Bus Carriers

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Michelle Spacil (Steering Change’s very first guest), chat with Tim Bennett, AMTA Board Chair, for our special Steering Change One-Year Anniversary episode. In our conversation, we look back on the year that we have had, both at Steering Change, and at AMTA.

Having an AMTA Podcast has been a dream for many years. We wanted a different way of promoting AMTA initiatives and important takeaways for everyone involved in commercial transportation, especially our Membership and commercial drivers, and what better way than to be broadcasted from truck radios traveling across Canada and beyond.

Our very first podcast episode premiered on December 15, 2023, and with the efforts of AMTA Staff and Industry friends, here we are one year later. Since our inaugural episode, Steering Change has reached the top 5 of the Canadian Business News category on the Apple Podcast charts, published 27 episodes with more than 1700 downloads, welcomed more than 60 guests and co-hosts combined, and shared information and knowledge with the goal of empowering and educating through accurate, trustworthy, need-to-know information, that will help you safely succeed in industry.

• Have you joined myAMTA?
  With the launch of the myAMTA Carrier Member Network, we have been thrilled with the number of Carrier Members that have joined us already on the platform! This exclusive platform is designed specifically for AMTA Carrier Members, offering a powerful space to connect, learn, and stay updated on everything industry-related.
  Request access to this Network directly at my.amta.ca. Please note: If you’re not yet a Full Carrier Member, you can apply today at amta.ca/become-a-member and join our thriving community.
  
  
• Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, are available now on our website. Early bird ticket sale ends December 31, 2024.

• Are you interested in getting more involved with AMTA's events? Become one of our incredible sponsors! Sponsorship opportunities are available at all levels. View our 2025 Sponsorship Guide! Email [email protected] with all inquiries.
  
  
• Visit the event page on our website to view our list of exciting events coming up in 2025, including our Annual Conference, Regional Meetings, Draw Down Dinner, Driver Appreciation and more!
  • AMTA is seeking interested members to advise on our Draw Down Dinner committee. Interested members will be required to fill out a Terms of Reference to participate. If you would like to share your expertise on building this 2025 event please reach out to [email protected] by January 15, 2024.

• AMTA Award nominations are now open! Every year, AMTA celebrates the brightest and best of industry who make outstanding contributions to the commercial transportation industry and the Association through these awards. Our winners will be announced at our 2025 Awards Celebration Dinner during our Annual Conference in April. Submit your nominations here. Nominations must be submitted by NOON, Friday, February 14, 2025

• Learn more about Learning Pathways for Class 1 on the Alberta Government’s website.

• Interested in our Certified Transportation Safety Professional (CTSP) program? Visit our Education page on our website to learn more, and view the 2025 Education Course calendar while you’re there.

• Learn more about our Certificate of Recognition (COR) program on our website.

• Please visit our Industry Advancement page on our website to view our projects, including AZETEC, and contact our team if you are interested in Hydrogen Vehicle Demonstrations and trials.

• Learn more about our Advocacy efforts and our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (CRA) department on our website, and read some of our Advocacy wins for the year in our AMTA Advocates blog.

If you have any questions or concerns about commercial transportation, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

**Trigger warning: this episode contains discussions around mental health and brief mentions of PTSD, past trauma, and suicide.

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Doug Walton chat with Kris Marks, founder and CEO of VĪV Mental Health, for the fourth and final episode of our special edition four-part series: Road to Wellness. These episodes are dedicated to the health and well-being of the commercial drivers who keep goods on the move 24/7.
In our conversation, we address an important topic that is often overlooked in our industry, and that is our mental health. Our goal with this discussion is to raise more awareness about mental health, break the ice and reduce the stigma, inspire listeners to foster healthy support systems and connections, and identify when and how to seek help.

• If you are experiencing isolation and need help, there are many resources available: https://www.vivmentalhealth.com/resources/. 
• Government of Canada provided by Health Canada: Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

If you would like to learn more about VĪV Mental Health, please visit vivmentalhealth.com/, or contact them at [email protected]. 

AMTA Award nominations are now open! Every year, AMTA celebrates the brightest and best of industry who make outstanding contributions to the commercial transportation industry and the Association through these awards. Our winners will be announced at our 2025 Awards Celebration Dinner during our Annual Conference in April. Submit your nominations here. Nominations must be submitted by NOON, Friday, February 14, 2025

If you have any questions or concerns about this or other topics related to commercial driving and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

AMTA's Doug Walton and Dave Elniski chat with Rodolfo Giacoman, Fatigue Management Specialist at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), for the third episode of our special edition four-part series: Road to Wellness. These episodes are dedicated to the health and well-being of the commercial drivers who keep goods on the move 24/7.

In our conversation, we delve deeper into the importance of sleep and fatigue management for commercial drivers, and actions that can be taken by drivers and all parties involved to reduce risk and improve driver safety. Proper fatigue management is the responsibility of more than just the driver.

• If you are interested in taking the free training provided by the NAFMP on their website, including Module 3 which Rodolfo mentions, take the training here.
• The webinars mentioned in the episode can be found on the NAFMP website here.

If you would like to learn more about the North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP), please visit https://nafmp.org/. To learn more about the CVSA, please visit www.cvsa.org/ or contact Rodolfo at [email protected].

If you have any questions or concerns about this or other topics related to commercial driving and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and Doug Walton chat with Dr. Mark Manera, founder and CEO of Offshift, for the second episode of our special edition four-part series: Road to Wellness. These episodes are dedicated to the health and well-being of the commercial drivers who keep goods on the move 24/7.
In our conversation, we want to help change the narrative, provide some tangible and driver-friendly takeaways for improved health behind the wheel, and as Dr. Mark says, put the ‘health’ back in ‘health and safety.’ 

• If you would like to learn more about Offshift, please visit: https://offshift.ai/.

• If you are interested in learning more about the study ‘Improving the Health and Working Conditions of LongHaul Truck Drivers in Alberta’, prepared for the Government of Alberta: Occupational Health and Safety Branch, read it here.

• Visit our Micro-Learn Library on our website and our YouTube page for instructional videos that seek to help promote safety in the workplace: Psychosocial Hazards (PSH), Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI), and Slips, Trips, and Falls (STF). 

If you have any questions or concerns on this or other topics related to commercial driving and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team: [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day! 

In this episode, hosts Kelsey Hipkin and Doug Walton chat with Justin Barber, co-founder of my-eforce, for the first episode of our special edition four-part series: Road to Wellness. These episodes are dedicated to the health and well-being of the commercial drivers who keep goods on the move 24/7.
In our conversation, we discuss how technology can contribute to driver safety while out on the road and within the cab.

If you would like to learn more about my-eforce, please visit: https://www.my-eforce.com/ or contact Justin Barber: [email protected].

For more information on this and other safety technology, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team: [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.  

Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

X: AMTA_ca 

Instagram: amta_ca/  

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen, we encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day!