Alberta is a land of opportunity right now, especially for those who have earned their Class 1 licenses.
    Job boards are filled with employers seeking trained truck drivers.
    “Class 1 and 3 licenses are in demand. There is a shortage of truck drivers across the province. With a Class 1 license, you can find work anywhere in Alberta,” said Rob Lunman, business and industry team leader with the Drumheller Alberta Works branch.

With a province-wide shortage, job boards are filled with listings from employers seeking trained class one and three truck drivers.

    The demand is being driven by the transport industry and, like for many other careers, the oil and gas industry.
“The demand is mostly from long haul trucking, so the transportation logistics industry, and shorter distances, like oil field and construction,” said Lunman. “They need people to drive anything from dump trucks to vac trucks.”
    The training to earn a Class 1 license is a long, hard road, but there are many programs out there to help train aspiring drivers. Most program will cover how to drive large trucks, plus a number of secondary skills, such as vehicle maintenance and load control.
     “There are a number of training providers out there and it can take some time and money to get it done, but it’s certainly a good investment in that there are so many opportunities out there,” said Lunman.
    “One of the things we’ve heard from employers is they prefer people with experience. It can be a challenge for people to get their training, licenses, and then some real world experience, but there’s such a shortage that if you have the right attitude the opportunities will come and if you can get into a training program that covers most of those, you’ll certainly have an advantage.”
    Although the cost can be steep, the wages being offered are such that whatever you spend on training and obtaining your licence will be repaid quite quickly.
    “There is a pretty good range of wages. You can make quite a bit of money as a driver. I would say starting, you’re looking at around $25 per hour, but could be more. If you’re working full-time, you could make $80,000 per year or more,” said Lunman.
    Alberta is growing and to help drive that growth, people with Class 1 licenses have plenty of opportunities.

    National Trucking Week is being marked all across Canada from September 1 to 7, a time to recognize all individuals that keep the country and its economy moving.
    National Trucking Week began in the 1990 by the National Trucking Alliance.
    “National Trucking Week has been embraced by the industry as a way to spotlight the contributions of the hundreds of thousands of men and women of the Canadian trucking industry who keep the country’s freight moving, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,’ said David H. Bradley President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Trucking alliance.
    Throughout the country, there will be all kinds of ways the industry will be marking the event. Along with celebrations come awareness.

National Trucking Week spotlights the contributions of the hundreds of thousands of men and women of the Canadian trucking industry who keep freight moving, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    “During National Trucking Week, various events will be occurring across the country where the trucking community in Canada – and we hope others – will come together to celebrate a job well done, to recognize those who make it happen and to promote the industry’s dedication to safety – not only of our own but that of the people with whom trucks share the roads and highways – and to environmental enhancement,” said Bradley.
    He points out that while the economy continues to rebuild, so does the trucking industry and this will take hard work.
    “While we are far from out of the woods yet in terms of the economy, it is a testament to the hard work, the dedication and the perseverance of everyone in every company that there is every reason to believe that the industry is poised for new growth and new opportunity. As I have said before, the glory years of trucking are yet to come. We have the best people, providing the best possible service,’ said Bradley.
 He offers his thanks and praise to the entire industry.
    “So, to all those people who make the industry -- drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, or if you work at any one of the hundreds of other jobs that keep our economy moving, I thank you on behalf of the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the provincial trucking associations. It is surely a privilege and an honour for me to be associated with such a remarkable group of individuals.
    Most of the people of the trucking industry are unsung heroes. While you may feel you toil in anonymity, be proud of what you do, know that you are appreciated and enjoy National Trucking Week 2013.”