Steering Change

Steering Change: Helping you navigate the commercial transportation industry in Alberta, and beyond. Powered by the Alberta Motor Transport Association.

Join AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin, Doug Walton, and many special guests this fall for a 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.

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Join the conversation at: 

Web: amta.ca 

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In this episode, host Kelsey Hipkin chats with AMTA’s Cliff Litke (Senior Advisor, Member Services), Rob Destree (Senior Instructor, Driver Development), and Doug Walton (Senior Advisor, Member Solutions) to discuss winter preparedness as we will inevitably move from this stunning fall into the clutches of our Alberta winters, and with that comes challenging winter driving.

In our conversation, we cover how carriers and their drivers prepare for winter roads and conditions, and what items drivers should include in and on their vehicles for winter readiness.

If you have any questions and would like to contact Cliff, Doug, Rob, or AMTA to learn more, please email: [email protected]. Or you can also reach out to us with questions by emailing [email protected].

Resources for road conditions across Western Canada

• Alberta: 511 - 511.alberta.ca
• British Columbia: Drive BC - www.drivebc.ca
• Saskatchewan: Highway Hotline - hotline.gov.sk.ca
• Manitoba: 511 - www.manitoba511.ca

Rob also mentions the Waze app as another source for traffic conditions in Alberta.

Watch our videos in partnership with Volker Stevin on sharing the road with snowplows: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy7kvThb02M
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc8f_h-yTWA&t=6s

Are you interested in learning more about AMTA’s Truck Driving Simulator Training? Visit our website: amta.ca/simulator-training. 

Be prepared. Be patient. And be safe out there! Winter is coming.

Thank you to all our listeners who engaged on social media with our Best Big Rig Movie Ever Bracket. We greatly enjoyed reviewing these movies and look forward to doing it again. Look out for part 2 coming next summer.

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 Dave Elniski (AMTA’s Industry Advisor, Safety and Compliance), chat with Deborah Nilsen, Industry Specialist, Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) - Alberta. AMTA is very fortunate to work with Deborah and her counterparts in advising on disability management in the workplace.
In our conversation, we discuss the support services that WCB offers to employers and workers for navigating the system, where to start for improving disability management, involving your workers in the process, and Deborah's upcoming presentation at AMTA's GP Safety Summit.

To contact the WCB:

• If your main operations are North of Hwy 11 in Red Deer your contact is:
  Deborah Nilsen
  780-498-7647
  [email protected]
• If your main operations are South of Hwy 11 in Red Deer your contact is:
  Leigh-Ann Moroz
  403-517-6124
  [email protected]
• If your main operations are outside of the province and you have an Alberta WCB account please contact either one. 

If you would like to contact Dave or AMTA to learn more, please email: [email protected].

Interested in learning more about WCB?

• Visit the WCB website for various seminars: https://www.wcb.ab.ca/resources/for-employers/seminars-and-workshops/.
• View the myWCB portal: https://my.wcb.ab.ca/ess/signin.
• Check out the WCB Employer App: https://wcb.ab.ca/resources/for-employers/online-services.html.
• WCB Resource: 99 Things to Do When There’s Nothing To Do.
• WCB Resource: Modified Duty Task List.

Also included in this episode:

• Our next AMTA Regional Meetings, as frequently attended by Deborah or Leigh-Ann, will be in Calgary on October 2, and in Edmonton on October 8.
• Register for our Grande Prairie Safety Summit on October 10, and hear Deborah speak on Understanding Workplace Psychological Injuries in the Transportation Industry.
• AMTA Resource: Psychosocial Hazards (PSH) micro-learns. 
• AMTA Resource: Psychosocial Safety: Shifting from Equality to Equity, written by Dave Elniski.
• AMTA Resource: Education and Training courses.

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with our Best Big Rig Movie Ever Bracket. Vote now on social media for our semi-finalists.

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 Robyn Betts and Michelle Spacil chat with Craig Faucette, Chief Program Officer at Trucking HR Canada (THRC). 

AMTA has long worked closely with Craig and the THRC team, and in this conversation, we discuss our combined efforts to address the driver shortage, our collaboration on Western Women with Drive, and more. 

THRC’s research in industry around human resources (HR) issues, the resources developed and available for employers to strengthen and diversify their workforces, and the programs and projects at THRC focused on aiding employers with their best HR practices are all covered.

Also included in this episode:

• This episode is released in conjunction with the conclusion of the 2024 Driver Appreciation Days. If you would like to learn more, or get involved next year, check out: https://www.amta.ca/events/amta-driver-appreciation-days-2024 
• Register to attend our inaugural AMTA Industry Innovations EXPO happening on September 26 in Edmonton: https://www.amta.ca/events/amta-industry-innovations-expo-2024 
• Hear from Craig in person at our Grande Prairie Safety Summit on October 10: https://www.amta.ca/events/grande-prairie-safety-summit-2024 
• Register now for Western Women with Drive on October 22 in St. Albert: https://www.amta.ca/events/amtas-2024-western-women-with-drive-conference 

Interested in learning more about THRC?

• If you have a question, reach out to THRC: [email protected]
• Read the Labour Market Information Reports: https://truckinghr.com/labour-market-information/ 
• Learn more about the Career ExpressWay: https://truckinghr.com/career-expressway-thrc/ 
• Review the THRC Truck Driver Training Resources: https://truckinghr.com/truck-driver-training-resources/ 
• Learn more about the Top Fleet Employer (TFE) Program: https://truckinghr.com/top-fleet-employers/ 
  • Top Fleet Employers Awards Gala: https://truckinghr.com/event/top-fleet-employers-gala-2024/ 
  • HR Circle Check: https://truckinghr.com/hr-circle-check/ 
• Learn more about Women in Trucking: https://truckinghr.com/women-in-trucking/ 
• Review more resources and reports: https://truckinghr.com/hr-training-resources/ 

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with our Best Big Rig Movie Ever Bracket. That is a wrap on round 1. Stay tuned on our socials for round 2 and vote for which movie you think should move on!

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 Kristin Picken (AMTA’s Advisor, Member Solutions (South)), chat with Katie Marchant, Area Safety Manager with First Student Transportation and Director with ASBCA, and Mark Critch, President of the Alberta School Bus Contractor’s Association (ASBCA). 
With the approach of fall comes the school year and a familiar sight on our roads: school buses. Our conversation discusses school bus safety and seatbelts, recruitment and retention, perceptions of school bus drivers as professional drivers, and more.

• If you would like to learn more about the ABSCA you can visit their website: https://asbca.ca/, or contact Mark at: [email protected].
• If you are interested in attending the Town Hall, you can find more information on the Alberta Student Transportation Advisory Council website: https://astac.ca/town-hall-meeting/  

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with our Best Big Rig Movie Ever Bracket. Let us know on social media which of our two films deserves to move on to the next bracket. This is the end of round 1 and we will be moving on to round 2 shortly. Stay tuned on our socials!

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, Kelsey Hipkin (Manager of Communications), chats with AMTA’s Terri Johnson (Manager of Industry Advancement) and Erin Horb (Technology Advisor & Hydrogen Specialist), to introduce AMTA’s inaugural Industry Innovations EXPO coming up in Edmonton on September 26. 
This event will invite attendees to explore the forefront of low and zero-emission, electric, and alternative-fuel commercial vehicles, alongside cutting-edge emerging technologies and the industry professionals leading the charge. As well, Terri and Erin speak to a few of the many exciting projects our Industry Advancement team is working on.

• Register for our Industry Innovations EXPO on our website: https://www.amta.ca/events/amta-industry-innovations-expo-2024.

• Learn more about the various projects from our Industry Advancement team mentioned in this episode, including our exciting AZETEC project on our website: https://www.amta.ca/innovation-projects.

• Are you interested in learning more or participating in our Hydrogen Commercial Vehicle Demonstrations project? We want to hear from you! Visit our website: https://www.amta.ca/hydrogen-commercial-vehicle-demonstrations, and contact Jamie King at [email protected] to express your interest. We would also love for you to chat with one of our team members at the event in September.

• Learn more about the Zero Emission Truck Testbed collaboration here: https://www.amta.ca/news/alberta-motor-transport-association-collaborates-on-zero-emission-truck-testbed.

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with our Best Big Rig Movie Ever Bracket so far. Don't forget to follow along on social media to see which movie wins this round.

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 Dave Elniski (AMTA’s Industry Advisor, Safety and Compliance), chat with Leo Barros, Associate Editor, Today’s Trucking, to discuss Leo’s history as a journalist, writer, and a former long-haul truck driver, as well as his love of storytelling and reporting on the stories that matter most to the commercial transportation industry in Canada.

• Read the stories discussed in today's episode at TruckNews.com, as well as the many other print and video stories on their website, and sign up for their newsletter.
• If you have a story idea or a question, please don't hesitate to reach out to Leo at Truck News: [email protected].

• Subscribe to AMTA's bi-weekly eNews on our website here.
• If you have any questions about safety management, legislation, or other topics discussed today, please get in touch with Dave at [email protected].

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with our Best Big Rig Movie Ever Bracket so far. Don't forget to engage in our poll and follow along on social media to see which movie moves on to the next round.

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 Michelle Spacil, chat with the leaders from our fellow Western Associations, Aaron Dolyniuk, Executive Director of the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA), Susan Ewart, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA), and Dave Earle, President and CEO of the British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA), to discuss industry initiatives, our mutual interests for our members, and commercial transportation in Canada.

Learn more about each of the Western Associations and their initiatives on their website: 

• Alberta Motor Transport Association
• Manitoba Trucking Association
• Saskatchewan Trucking Association
• British Columbia Trucking Association

In this episode, we discussed many topics. Learn more about each of the following:

• AMTA's Certified Transportation Safety Professional
• MTA's RPM: Trucking Industry Safety
• STA's Women Shifting Gears
• BCTA's CleanBC HDVE Program

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 AMTA’s Kelsey Hipkin and Robyn Betts, sit down with Shelley Walker, CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, to discuss how we’re making progress in the commercial transportation industry for recruiting and retaining women professional drivers, as well as Shelley’s background as a professional driver, and other issues affecting women in industry.

If you want to learn more about the Women's Trucking Federation of Canada, visit their website or contact Shelley at [email protected]. 

• AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days return September 9 - 16, 2024. We are looking for some amazing volunteers to join us (while spots last), as well as awesome swag to fill the gift bags for the commercial drivers. Learn more on our website here.
• Registration is now open for our Industry Innovations EXPO, held in Edmonton on September 26. Learn more, register to attend, or apply for a trade show booth here. (Trade show and registration limited, first come-first served).

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, Josh sits down with Andrew Barnes, Sr. Advisor Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, AMTA, as they dive into the various advocacy work AMTA provides, and we learn about some of the ongoing advocacy efforts and recent victories the transportation industry has had through advocacy.

Check out our recent articles all about AMTA’s advocacy efforts here. https://amta.ca/amta-advocates/

Are you interested in a carrier membership and joining the compliance & regulatory affairs committee, visit here. https://amta.ca/what-we-do/membership/

General guidance Andy referred to for cargo securement in dry vans can be found here.

Want to learn more about AMTA’s advocacy efforts and to attend a future compliance & regulatory affairs meeting? 

Email: [email protected]

Call: 780-395-6145 

Member Services email: [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!