LAVAL, Quebec, Jan. 24, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An annual meeting of transport ministers ended earlier this week in Montréal on a joint proposal to implement a basic national training standard for truck drivers by 2020. The Teamsters Union supports the move as it stands to improve road safety.
“We’ve been pushing for better training standards for truck drivers for a long time,” said the president of Teamsters Canada, François Laporte. “Now we need to make sure the new training program is properly developed so new drivers are prepared to hit the road.”
Teamsters are an active lobby group when it comes to the trucking industry. The union regularly partakes in federal and provincial consultations as well as Canadian Council of Motor Transportation Administrators (CCMTA) meetings.
“We have expertise when it comes to trucking. We want to help governments and the industry set up these new training standards, and we’re ready to meet them to get things going as soon as possible,” said John McCann, National Director of the Teamsters Canada Freight Division.
Teamsters represent 125,000 members in Canada in all industries, including 15,000 long-haul truck drivers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, represents 1.4 million workers in North America.
Media requests:
Christopher Monette
Director of Public Affairs
Teamsters Canada
Cell: 514-226-6002
cmonette@teamsters.ca