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Wanted: Women behind the wheel

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Women could be the key to resolving Canada’s truck driver shortage.

It’s a discussion the commercial vehicle industry is having, on this International Women’s Day.

With close to 6,000 current vacancies, the driver shortage is being called a crisis.

Dave Earle with the BC Trucking Association says the industry is trying to address issues that may be preventing women from entering the field.

“Some of those needs include the hours of work in terms of what is required for some operations. Other things such as better rest stops and more secure rest areas – we are actively working with government to put those in place.”

He says people have the perception that all truckers have to spend long periods of time away from home.

“Many people think that every truck driver is a long-haul truck driver. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are thousands of jobs available in local communities where people can work variable hours,” he says.

“You can think about what we call occupational trucks – like waste management and concrete or cement delivery. All of the jobs are available and the hours are flexible. And the rates of pay are pretty good.”

According to Earle, starting wages are in the mid-to high $20/hr and increase rapidly after that.

He points out because of the shortage, last year wages for commercial drivers in BC rose by seven per cent.

Only about five percent of commercial drivers in BC are women.

Earle says if vacancies aren’t filled, goods won’t get to their destinations.

“We are going to see real tangible impacts where loads aren’t going to move.”

The shortage comes from drivers who are retiring but aren’t being replaced. Half of the workforce is in the 45-64 age bracket.

But Earle says there’s a fear among young people that driving jobs won’t exist in the future. He agrees automation is coming, but he says the highway infrastructure across Canada isn’t yet designed to handle high-tech travel.

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