The Ontario Trucking Association hopes secondary school students will consider the trucking industry as a career, and has launched a new strategy to make that happen.

The OTA is offering an 11-part video series about trucking industry careers to Ontario secondary schools throughout the province. The videos spotlight industry job opportunities, include a hip music video and dispel some of the myths about the industry. OTA is sending each school a sample copy of one of the videos plus the facilitators' guide. Schools can order the remaining videos free of charge by returning the offer card to the association before June 15.
In addition, local trucking companies will invite students to take a tour of their operation.
"Trucking is an essential service," says David Bradley, OTA president. "Canada's trucking industry already has an immediate need for 50,000 men and women to drive its trucks and others to operate its IT, sales, dispatch and maintenance departments. Without a trucking industry that has enough employees to keep the trucks rolling -- Canada would literally stop.
"For most people career interests begin at a young age, that's why it is important to acquaint kids early on about how high tech and dynamic the trucking industry is."
The video series includes one video that provides an overview or "tour" of the industry, and eight videos that profile specific jobs. The series is rounded off with a video that addresses industry safety and also a short music video.