Underlining the need for improving the provincial economy, the Ontario Trucking Association has called upon the Ontario Government to make strategic investments in trucking supply chain in budget 2023.
OTA in a submission given to the Ontario Government stated that it is the need of the hour to fortify trucking industry by dealing with the supply-chain issues and creating jobs. The Association further emphasized upon the role of truck drivers in keeping the economy stable adding that the government must draw out a plan to safeguard the future of truck drivers.
Pointing towards the shortage of truck drivers, OTA also expressed its concern over the problems faced by drivers adding that timely redressal of the issues will go a long way in retaining the good workforce.
The investment plan shared by OTA with the Ontario Government is as follows:
- Ontario Government should invest in preliminary driver training and employment-ready training for -hire trucking industry from Skills Development Fund.
- The Ontario Budget should have expansion plan of truck driver rest areas across Northern and Southern Ontario.
- Bradford By-Pass and Hwy 413 must be constructed on priority.
- More investment in WSIB enforcement officers to safeguard the interests of truck drivers being violated by Driver Inc. trucking fleets and temporary placement agencies.
- Two vocational schools should be created on the lines of training schools in Quebec, which specialize in graduating highly skilled, work-ready truck and transit drivers and heavy duty vehicle technicians.
