AMTA’s Kelsey Hipkin welcomes us back for the second episode of our special three-part series - Trucking: Past, Present, and Future.

In our last episode, we took you back to when trucking emerged in Alberta, and you heard from some of the voices of the province’s commercial transportation past.
In this episode, we look at what is going on in Alberta today that impacts commercial transportation. You'll hear from Alexandra Bennet, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC), with an update on the Class 1 Learning Pathway program, and we'll check in with AMTA’s Dave Elniski, Industry Advisor, Safety & Compliance, who has recently published a book on safety technology and compliance-focused safety management.

• Learn more about the Alberta Carrier Excellent Safety (ACES) Program here: https://amta.ca/aces-program-highlights-alberta-carrier-on-road-safety-performance/.
• Listen to the Steering Change episode on the launch of the Class 1 Learning Pathway here: https://www.steeringchange.ca/episodes/episode-35.
• Learn more about the Class 1 Learning Pathway program and how it works on the Alberta Government website: https://www.alberta.ca/class-1-learning-pathway. Here you can watch the ‘Day in the Life’ video series, as mentioned in this episode (scroll to the bottom of the webpage).
• For details on Alberta Driving Schools, please contact memberservices@amta.ca.
• If you are interested in learning more about the Employment Pathway Grant, visit the Alberta Government website: https://www.alberta.ca/employment-pathway-grant.
• If you would like to learn more about what AMTA President, Robert Harper, calls the scourge of Industry, Driver Inc., watch our three-part video series on unscrupulous carriers on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmicsdS-lHRq-4QW_m2sfu1rhylz87mbg.

If you are interested in learning more or have any questions for Dave Elniski, please reach out to them at dave.elniski@amta.ca.

• Interested in reading Dave Elniski’s book “Pro-Tech & Pro-Active: Understanding and Leveraging the World of Safety Technology to Move Beyond Compliance-Focused Safety Management”? Read it freely here: https://amta.ca/amta-announces-book-release-pro-tech-pro-active/
• Dave also mentions his other work, 'Psychosocial Hazard Control in Alberta's Trucking Industry'. Read that here.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at memberservices@amta.ca.

If you would like to sign up for our bi-weekly eNews and stay on top of all things AMTA, register here: https://www.amta.ca/#enews.

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions, and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.

Join the conversation at:

Web: amta.ca

Instagram: amta_ca/

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen. We encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day!

AMTA’s Kelsey Hipkin kicks off the first episode of our special three-part series - Trucking: Past, Present, and Future.

To know Alberta’s trucking past is to know the individuals who built the foundation of what commercial transportation represents today.

In this episode, we take a trip down commercial transportation memory lane in Alberta – and we’re doing that with some actual voices of Alberta’s Commercial Transportation past, including those who continue to support and advance industry after years in the field.

*All photos and recordings used in this episode are from the AMTA archives.

If you would like to delve even deeper into the voices of the past, we encourage you to read "Big Wheels Across the Prairie: A History of Trucking in Alberta" by Paul M. Rubak, a former recipient of the AMTA Historical Award.

• Volunteer registration is now open and filling fast for AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days, taking place Sept. 8-17. The only locations yet to fill all volunteer slots are Dunmore, Whitecourt, and Hinton. Learn more and register now: https://www.amta.ca/events/amta-driver-appreciation-days-2025.
• Curious about the various AMTA memberships or how you can get involved? Reach out to membership@amta.ca for more information.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at memberservices@amta.ca.

If you would like to sign up for our bi-weekly eNews and stay on top of all things AMTA, register here: https://www.amta.ca/#enews.

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions, and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.

Join the conversation at:

Web: amta.ca

Instagram: amta_ca/

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen. We encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day!

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin chats with Andrew Barnes, Sr. Advisor, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, AMTA.

In our conversation, we discuss the biggest commercial transportation issues we’re seeing when it comes to interprovincial trade barriers, takeaways from this year’s Canadian Council of Motor Transportation Administrators conference, collaboration with other provinces, and what it will take to move forward on infrastructure disparities, and more!

If you would like to contact Andy to learn more about what is discussed in this episode or to discuss any issues you are having, please reach out to him at andrew.barnes@amta.ca. The voices of our Carrier Members are critical to informing us of issues that need to change in our industry.

As Andy mentions, our Member Services team at AMTA is ready to be a resource for you and your company and help in any way we can. Please contact us at memberservices@amta.ca, or visit amta.ca for more information and resources.

Visit the Government of British Columbia website to view the Road Transport Manual: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/vehicle-safety-enforcement/information-education/commercial-transport-procedures

If you would like to sign up for our bi-weekly eNews and stay on top of all things AMTA, register here: https://www.amta.ca/#enews.

• AMTA’s Draw Down Dinner is returning. We look forward to seeing you on October 16 at the River Cree Resort and Casino for networking, dinner, entertainment, and prizes. Registration opens in mid-July, so keep an eye on amta.ca and our social media.
• Keep an eye out for details coming soon for AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days taking place September 8-17, 2025. Learn more: https://www.amta.ca/events/amta-driver-appreciation-days-2025
• Coming up next on Steering Change, we will be presenting a three-part series - Trucking: Past, Present, and Future. Join us as we hear from the voices of Alberta’s Commercial Transportation past, what AMTA and industry are up to today, and what industry can expect when it comes to the future of transportation in Alberta, and beyond.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at memberservices@amta.ca.

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions, and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.

Join the conversation at:

Web: amta.ca

Instagram: amta_ca/

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Thank you for taking the time to listen. We encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day!