government issues

                                                  The Truckers Voice

                         Canadas leading Lobbyist and advocate since 2003  

Date 9 16 2021

Minstry of University and Colleges  

To who this may concern.

I am requesting a meeting with the superintendents of the university and colleges and their staff to discuss the enforcement of the Melt program for truck driving schools. To open the communication lines concerning the state the trucking industry. It is my intention to make the trucking industry safer. 

As you know that we have spoken the MTO and have started discussion’s. since this is a multy  layer issue between law enforcement agencies, MTO and University and collages , we all need to be on the same page to how we can meet the high standers that the government agencies have set!

As you might know I have been given a Mandate by membership  this need to address quickly.

We would like to set up a meeting asap.

When the Ontario Trucking Association was holding their meeting regarding the “Melt” program, I was not invited to the table nor was I allowed to submit any responses/suggestions to the Melt program!

Since the Melt program was implemented, our roads and highways have become a very unsafe workplace!

The perception of 80% of commercial drivers believe that the new drivers have not been trained enough! Our research shows that many schools only teach the students just enough to pass the final road test that the testing center’s use.

The reality is that commercial accidents across Ontario are up 2800%  over the last 3 years. The majority of these accidents are between North Bay, Ontario and the Manitoba border on Highway 11 and Highway 17. The rest of the accidents are mainly on the 400 series highways!

We also have many members that have paid and graduated from these schools  and cannot get hired because of a lack of experience.

But the industry has chosen to hire foreign drivers instead.

I do realize also that the licensing testing center has been a very big part in allowing unqualified drivers to obtain a commercial license.

It is our opinion that the government needs to take back the management of these testing center’s!

The videos and pictures that we have clearly show that many new drivers have no clue or just don’t care about the safety of other users of our highways and roads as stated in the Melt program.

Also, many new drivers cannot back a trailer to a dock within the prescribed time allowed for this maneuver. Do the testing center’s even test the drivers’ ability to perform this task of backing up a trailer, as prescribed in the MELT program?

The MELT program is a good program but with lives at stake, it needs to be a great program.

In my opinion, no one could retain all this information in 6 weeks or 103 hours.  Some schools realized this and have increased their amount of training hours. 

Our research shows that many schools only teach the students just enough to pass the final road test that the testing center’s use.

This has always been a trade, but for some unknown reason the government and industry have refused to make it a trade. Similar trades have apprenticeships like electricians, mechanics, plumbers and ship captains (Maritime Apprenticeship). This only adds education and safety to these trades. 

Not ever one can be a captain of ship , driving a truck has the same responsibility as a captain. But our consequences are more severer than a captain.  Not everyone can be a trucker.

Graduating licensing should be implemented similar to the G1 and G2 restrictions.

 As an example, a new driver who just obtained a commercial license, should only be allowed to haul a combination of truck and trailer totaling no more than 7 axles after being fully trained on the weights and securement of such loads for a period of time. 

Questions;

1) What are the consequences for the schools that do allow drivers to obtain a commercial driver license without proper training?

2) Is there any follow up on trucking schools?

3) Is anyone tracking the new drivers that are involved in accidents in their first year of driving?

4) Are the schools following the melt program?

5) Are the new drivers being spot checked after a period of time?

The consequences from the lack of enforcement are:

1)     Loss of life

2)  Drivers have left the industry because it has become unsafe

3) The industry has chosen to hire foreign drivers instead of Canadians

4) Insurance rates are almost out reach for most owner/operators and small fleets . This is a direct result of lack of training and lack of over sight 

Looking forward to discussing this with you, 

Peter Turner

Owner& founder

THE TRUCKERS VOICE

613 831 1332

www.thetruckersvoice.ca

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