The Manitoba government is taking action to enhance driver safety, training, and retention in the trucking industry, based on recommendations from a recent report commissioned by a joint government-industry steering committee.
The initiative was announced by Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor.
“This report came about because the trucking industry is vital to Manitoba’s economy, and its long-term health requires a strong, well-trained workforce that is ready to meet industry demand,” said Moses. The report offers a series of policy options aimed at improving driver safety, training, and retention. Moses expressed gratitude to the industry committee members for their valuable insights and ongoing advocacy for the sector.
The joint steering committee, co-chaired by the province and the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA), tasked MNP with examining the recruitment, training, and retention of professional truck drivers in Manitoba. Drawing from best practices in other jurisdictions and stakeholder feedback, MNP identified over 40 policy options. These focus areas include recruitment and workforce diversity and inclusion, regulatory oversight of training, accessibility and efficiency of driver training, and standards for driver testing.
“As a first action toward implementing the recommendations, our government is centralizing the oversight of truck driver training through a single regulatory body to enhance both driver and public safety by improving the regulation and monitoring of training standards, testing, and outcomes,” Naylor stated. She noted that driver training schools would benefit from streamlined administrative and regulatory processes, enabling them to focus on delivering high-quality training for the industry’s future workforce.
The ministers also announced that the joint steering committee will be made permanent to oversee the implementation of the report’s recommendations, starting with changes to the regulatory oversight of driver training.
“This is the start of a new chapter in our industry’s long story in Manitoba,” said Aaron Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association. “Drivers are the foundation of our industry, and this report recognizes that changes are needed to improve professional driver training outcomes. Streamlining regulatory oversight for driver training providers under one organization is a solid first step to ensure that professional drivers are successful. We welcome this change and look forward to continuing our work on the joint steering committee.”
The joint steering committee was established in 2022 to address workforce challenges in Manitoba’s trucking sector. In addition to the co-chairs, the committee includes representatives from Advanced Education and Training, Manitoba Public Insurance, Transportation and Infrastructure, and various carriers.
