The B.C. Trucking Association (BCTA) has created a reference guide for carriers looking to recruit drivers from overseas.
Guide identifies key considerations for carriers that wish to hire immigrant drivers. It provides an overview of the trucking environment in 10 countries to help motor carriers understand how the skills and experience of an immigrant driver may translate to a professional career in B.C., the association announced.
The International Trucking Reference was developed with input from carriers about the information they require to make hiring decisions about drivers who’ve gained the majority of their experience outside of Canada.
“Given that most B.C. trucking companies are small- to mid-sized, they may not have the staff to research the background of a job applicant with foreign experience. BCTA is pleased that funding from the federal and provincial governments has allowed us to create the International Trucking Reference, a dependable, easy-to-use resource that will save employers time and help them make better-informed hiring decisions,” said Louise Yako, BCTA president and CEO.
The guide was authored by Ottawa-based training and consulting firm Graybridge Malkalm. Countries included in the guide are: India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Korea, Romania, Russia, the Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The guide provides a profile of the driving environment in each country, including training standards and commercial vehicle types.
“Immigrants who call B.C. home bring a wealth of talent to our province – talent that employers can tap into as long as they know how to recognize the skills and experience. BCTA’s project will help employers understand the working environments of qualified professional drivers who have immigrated from other countries, and give them confidence they are hiring people with the skills their companies – and our economy – need,” said Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour, Shirley Bond.
