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By Caden Fanshaw

BC GOV

New training program has truck drivers gearing up for employment

Apr 28, 2023 | 2:23 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A driver shortage has been front and centre for the transportation industry in recent years. As the wheels started turning for demand of goods during the pandemic, the supply chain became crunched due to the shortage.

New programs like the Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project funded by the BC Government hope to help fill the need going forward.

“People in B.C. rely on professional drivers to bring supplies to our communities, yet these skills are in short supply,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “The new training we’re funding gets people the work experience and support they need to land high-demand jobs in the transportation industry.”

Go Team Professional Training LTD is receiving more than $995,000 to deliver the training program.

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“This training program will benefit up to 24 people, including Indigenous people, immigrants and young people, and help them secure long-term careers in the region,” said Laurie Dillman, founder of Go Team Professional Training LTD. “Our program will help participants gain the driving, safety and essential skills they need to become valuable employees for their future employers.”

Participants will receive 15 weeks of employability and skills training, including mandatory entry-level training (MELT); seven weeks of on-the-job work experience with local employers; and two weeks of followup support to prepare participants as Class 1 professional truck drivers.

The first intake of full-time training starts in Williams Lake on May 1, 2023; the second intake starts in Terrace on Aug. 14; and the third intake starts in 100 Mile House on Jan. 8, 2024. People interested in finding out about this or other CEP projects can contact their local WorkBC centre.

“This training has benefited me in lots of ways” said Jordan Harris, graduate of MELT. “Being young and being given this opportunity to have this training is huge for me, and I have always loved big trucks. Being in this training has made me more knowledgeable about trucks and given me something to work toward to get ahead in life. It has also given me the opportunity to learn lots and make new friends in the process of gaining a bunch of great new skills that will make me successful in life and a better person.”

This announcement is part of the StrongerBC: Future Ready plan, which is making education and training more accessible, affordable and relevant to help businesses grow and prepare British Columbians for the jobs of tomorrow.