Introduction

The JobStart/Future Skills Sector Partnerships Program of Saskatchewan Learning enabled a sector study of the trucking industry in Saskatchewan. This industry profile is based on that study, published in 1998.

The trucking industry established a partnership of industry members and key stakeholders through funding and support from the Sector Partnerships Program. These partners worked together to carry out a study that identified current and future hiring needs and training requirements.

Strategic planning enables industry and training providers to work together to provide training opportunities that match the skills the industry requires.

For more information about the Sector Partnership Report and this industry visit the Executive Summary. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file.

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Saskatchewan Overview

• Comprehensive data about the size and composition of the Saskatchewan trucking industry does not exist. Some conclusions can be drawn based on the data that is available.
  
• There are approximately 920 trucking companies operating in the interprovincial trucking industry in Saskatchewan.
  
• These companies employ about 6,900 people.
  
• The industry has two aspects: core businesses that conduct trucking operations and allied businesses that provide supplies and services to the industry.
  
• The trucking industry is an important part of Saskatchewan’s economy, creating jobs, investment and trade.
  
• Research shows that growth is likely in the provincial trucking industry, but there is a shortage of properly qualified and experienced drivers and mechanics.
  
• Drivers in the industry want people who are considering the occupation to know that:
  
• there can be significant time spent away from family
  the hours of work are often long
  
• the pay may not reflect the time involved
  
• competition can reduce the rate of pay
  

Kinds of employers

• Core businesses in the trucking industry include:
  for-hire carriers who transport goods for a fee
  
• private carriers, non-trucking companies who maintain their own fleet for the transport of their own goods
  
• owner-operators who own or lease a unit and take hauling contracts with private or for-hire carriers
  
• contract carriers who contract with one company to transport goods
  
• leased operators who transport goods for other companies on a leased basis
  Allied businesses in the trucking industry include:
  
• dealerships that buy, sell and repair transport trucks and equipment
  
• repair shops that repair transport trucks and equipment
  personnel companies that provide personnel to trucking companies
  

Who works in the industry?

• Women make up less than 1% of mechanics and 2.5% of drivers.
  
• Aboriginal people make up 2% of mechanics and 2.6% of drivers.
  
• People with disabilities make up less than 1% of both mechanics and drivers.
  
• People between the ages of 25 and 44 make up 71% of mechanics and 76% of drivers in Saskatchewan. There are fewer mechanics and drivers over the age of 55 than in the general labour force.
  

Saskatchewan Trends

• There are shortages of skilled and qualified drivers and mechanics. There is a high turnover rate of drivers (18%), largely due to movement between companies.
  
• A sample of 30 companies surveyed in the 1998 study employed a total of 1,772 employees and expected to employ 2,039 in the following five years. This is an increase in employment of 15% over the five-year period.
  
• Drivers, mechanics, trainers, parts personnel, parts managers and electrical technicians are seen as growing job areas by people in the industry.
  
• The total number of mechanics employed by a sample of 151 companies surveyed in 1998 was 527. The total number of drivers employed by the surveyed companies was 2,446.
  

Related Jobs

The following list provides an idea of some of the jobs in the trucking area.

Where there is a relevant occupational description in Saskatchewan Job Futures, you can click on the job to go directly to that description. You’ll learn more about the occupation, including education and training requirements, work duties, wage information and employment trends.

National Occupational Classification (NOC) numbers follow the job title. You can use the NOC numbers to look up the occupations in the NOC.

Driver (7411) Mechanic (7321) Dispatcher (147) Manager (071)

Partsperson (147) Supervisor (722) Electrical technician (7321)

Other related jobs include: trainer, clerical staff, accountant or accounting clerk, marketing/sales person, welder, warehouse person, and swamper.

Earnings

• The average yearly salary for journeyperson mechanics is $38,896.
  
• Most drivers make between $30,000 and $40,000 annually and 15% of drivers earn over $50,000 per year. But these figures do not take into account the hours of work.

Skills and Training

Driver training is offered at SIAST, a number of regional colleges, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, and private trainers.

A truck and transport mechanics program is offered at SIAST Woodland Campus.

Want to find out what kind of trucking industry-related education and training programs are offered in Saskatchewan? Check into What to Study? to find out what’s available and where.

Skills and knowledge that workers in the industry need include:

Driver

Safe driving Class 1A license Defensive driving First aid Loading/unloading Dangerous Goods Logistics/route planning Knowledge of regulations, including safety

Weight distribution of loads Paperwork/log books Mechanical/maintenance Airbrakes Border crossing Customer service Interpersonal skills Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Mechanic

Detect/prevent problems High mechanical skill level Computer skills Welding Heavy duty mechanical repairs

Brake systems Electronics Safety Communication skills Work independently General maintenance

Both drivers and mechanics will need to keep up with technological changes. Mechanics need continuous skills upgrading as manufacturers change their technology. Some of the areas include: computer skills, electronic skills, central tire inflation systems (CTI) and refrigeration systems. Drivers are also expected by some to need training in areas such as computer skills, anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and electronics.

The Future

Changing technology will lead to changes in the training of mechanics, clerical workers and drivers.

With the exception of welders and swampers, companies interviewed in 1998 expected to hire more people over the five years to 2003. The occupation that was expected to have the largest job growth was that of trainer. Dispatchers, parts personnel, managers and other office staff, such as data processors and accountants were also expected to grow.

The companies surveyed expected a 30% increase in the number of mechanics they employ and a 26% increase in the number of drivers they employ.

One of the reasons for job growth is the increasing specialization among mechanics and the prevalence of computers and electronics.

 

Related Information

Visit the following Web sites for more information on the Trucking industry:

Saskatchewan Trucking Association
Cantruck.com — The Canadian Trucking Alliance
Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council

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