Several Canadian owner-operator groups have formed a national alliance.
The National Truckers Alliance of Canada said while it was difficult to acheive national consensus at last weekend's meeting, it was satisfying to see regional priorities taking a back seat to the national agenda.
The meeting was convened at the request of Bill Wellman, the president of the Oshawa-based National Truckers Assn., which is in reality a regional group. In addition to NTA, represented at the meeting were the Com-Car Owner Operators Assn., the Eastern Truckers Alliance, the National Association of Professional Drivers, the Newfoundland & Labrador Independent Truckers Assn., and the Ontario Trucking Assn.'s Professional Drivers and Operators Forum.
NTAC discussed the need to bring the driver's perspective to all levels of government, owner-operator and driver safety concerns, as well as economic and quality of life issues.
Each of the provincial groups will retain their autonomy and their membership lists. Existing members of the local associations will now become members of NTAC as well. The provincial representatives will bring concerns to the their respective carriers and governments, while Regional Coordinators will oversee the provincial associations. The Regional Coordinators will advance the concerns of the provincial associations to the national stage as the needs arise.
"A greater benefit for all drivers will arise from national representation," said Rick McCulloch of the Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Eastern Truckers Alliance.
Leo VanTuyl of the OTA's Professional Driver and Operator Forum said he was glad to see everyone together in one room and talking. "All owner-operators face many of the same issues," he said. "It was encouraging to see the effort going into resolving some of those concerns."
The National Truckers Alliance of Canada said while it was difficult to acheive national consensus at last weekend's meeting, it was satisfying to see regional priorities taking a back seat to the national agenda.
The meeting was convened at the request of Bill Wellman, the president of the Oshawa-based National Truckers Assn., which is in reality a regional group. In addition to NTA, represented at the meeting were the Com-Car Owner Operators Assn., the Eastern Truckers Alliance, the National Association of Professional Drivers, the Newfoundland & Labrador Independent Truckers Assn., and the Ontario Trucking Assn.'s Professional Drivers and Operators Forum.
NTAC discussed the need to bring the driver's perspective to all levels of government, owner-operator and driver safety concerns, as well as economic and quality of life issues.
Each of the provincial groups will retain their autonomy and their membership lists. Existing members of the local associations will now become members of NTAC as well. The provincial representatives will bring concerns to the their respective carriers and governments, while Regional Coordinators will oversee the provincial associations. The Regional Coordinators will advance the concerns of the provincial associations to the national stage as the needs arise.
"A greater benefit for all drivers will arise from national representation," said Rick McCulloch of the Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Eastern Truckers Alliance.
Leo VanTuyl of the OTA's Professional Driver and Operator Forum said he was glad to see everyone together in one room and talking. "All owner-operators face many of the same issues," he said. "It was encouraging to see the effort going into resolving some of those concerns."
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