Steering Change

In this episode, we are taking a closer look at how technology is helping both experienced and potential drivers build confidence, sharpen critical driving skills, and prepare for real-world conditions in a safe and controlled setting.Host Kelsey Hipkin is joined by AMTA’s Cliff Litke, Senior Advisor, Member Services, and Rob Destree, Senior Instructor, Driver Development, on location in both our south and (new!) north mobile simulator trailers. In our conversation, we discuss the various scenario modules that are available, how training can be tailored to each driver's needs, and how these simulators can benefit both our members and the industry in general. In addition, stay tuned to the end of the episode as we sit down with Rob Destree to discuss AMTA's new Professional Driver Improvement course (PDIC), and stay tuned to our website for the release of this course: https://www.amta.ca/courses/amta-elearning.Learn more about AMTA's mobile training simulators on our website: https://amta.ca/simulator-training, and contact us at [email protected] to book the simulators for your organization.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 [email protected]’s Whitecourt Safety Summit is on October 1. Join us for a full day of content including a keynote presentation, and sessions with WCB, Trucking HR Canada and more. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Register now: https://amta.ca/event/amta-2026-whitecourt-safety-summit/AMTA's Drawdown Dinner has returned! Join us in Edmonton at the River Cree Resort and Casino on October 15. Registration is now open: https://www.amta.ca/portal/events/amta-2026-edmonton-drawdown-dinner.Save the date for AMTA's 89th Annual Conference happening on April 7-8, also at the River Cree Resort and Casino, in Enoch, Alberta: https://amta.ca/conference/.Are you interested in getting involved with the AMTA? Please contact [email protected] for Membership opportunities and learn the value that AMTA can bring to you and your organization.AMTA seeks to represent our Members in all facets of the industry, but that only works if we hear from you on the issues affecting your day-to-day. We encourage everyone to reach out and share their thoughts and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Do you have any questions or an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at [email protected].

In this episode, we are discussing the improvements being made to the Highway 3 corridor between the BC border and Medicine Hat over the last several years in the way of passing lanes and twinning in the name of aiding traffic flow and improving safety. In our conversation, host Kelsey Hipkin chats with Gordon Reynolds, The Highway 3 Twinning Development Association (H3TDA) President and Mayor of Bow Island, Alberta, and Brad Beerling, AMTA Senior Vice Chair of the Board, as well as co-host Josh Hannaberry, AMTA Senior Advisor of Strategic Partnerships, to deep dive into the progress being made, commercial transportation and economic impacts, and the highway history, including the many years the H3TDA has been advocating for the roadway.Learn more about the H3TDA on their website: https://www.twin3.ca/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 [email protected] will release its 2027 Education Course Calendar at the end of September. Effective September 28, 2026, government-issued photo ID will be verified at the start of all online and in-person classes, and webcams will be required to be turned on for all online and instructor-led courses. Learn more on our website: https://amta.ca/training-policies, or contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.AMTA’s Whitecourt Safety Summit is on October 1. Join us for a full day of content including a keynote presentation, and sessions with WCB, Trucking HR Canada and more. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Register now: https://www.amta.ca/portal/events/17AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days return this September! Dates and volunteer opportunities are open and on our website: https://amta.ca/portal/events/amta-driver-appreciation-days. Spots are filling quickly!Do you have swag that you want to donate for the swag bags? Email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.Are you interested in getting involved with the AMTA? Please contact [email protected] for Membership opportunities and learn the value that AMTA can bring to you and your organization.AMTA seeks to represent our Members in all facets of the industry, but that only works if we hear from you on the issues affecting your day-to-day. We encourage everyone to reach out and share their thoughts and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Do you have any questions or an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at [email protected].

For AMTA’s 50th milestone episode, we are discussing Women in Trucking.Host Kelsey Hipkin brings back Shelley Walker, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada (WTFC), and the Founder and President of Know Human Trafficking, to the podcast to discuss Shelley’s history as a Class 1 driver, the experiences of women in trucking, mentorship, the significant obstacles and issues facing industry today, and how they are raising awareness for human trafficking across Canada.Learn more about the Women's Trucking Federation of Canada on their website: https://www.womenstruckingfederationofcanada.net/. Learn more about Know Human Trafficking on their website: https://knowhumantrafficking.com/. Save the date for WTFC’s Bridging the Barriers event in Calgary on May 26-27, 2026Contact Shelley directly with any questions at [email protected]. Interested in AMTA’s advocacy work? Learn more on our website: https://amta.ca/advocacy/, or contact [email protected] for Membership details to become a part of our Compliance and Regulatory Affairs meetings, and get in on the action.Registration is open for AMTA’s 88th Annual Conference! Join us at the Grey Eagle Event Centre on April 22-23, 2026. AMTA’s Annual Conference is Alberta’s premier gathering of those who challenge, drive, and shape – as well as supply and support – the commercial transportation industry in Alberta. Register for the event now and browse our sponsorship opportunities on our website: https://www.amtaconference.ca/. AMTA’s Award Nominations are also open. Do you know someone who goes above and beyond in the fields of safety? Was a trailblazer of industry? A supplier who turned your business around? A friend to industry? Or an AMTA staff member who goes above and beyond? They deserve to be recognized, and this is your opportunity to do so! Award-winner prizes include tickets for two to our Awards Celebration, a night at the Grey Eagle, and a cash prize. Nominate someone today: https://amta.ca/amta-2025-award-nominations-now-open/. AMTA’s special edition Holiday Networking Regional Meetings are coming up in Calgary on December 3, in Edmonton on December 9, and in Grande Prairie on December 11. Stay tuned for full details and registration coming soon.Important!! AMTA launched a new events platform directly on our website. To register for AMTA events, you must have an AMTA Portal account. Please create an account or log in before registering. We understand setting up a new account may be a small inconvenience, but this change is part of our efforts to provide a more streamlined, secure, and cohesive online experience for our members. If you have any questions, or need assistance, please reach out to us at [email protected] there a way AMTA can be more engaging with you, our Membership, and our listeners? Let us know your ideas and email [email protected] with “Steering Change” in the subject line, and share your thoughts.Do you have an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at [email protected]. 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 [email protected], 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: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociationLinkedIn: 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!

In this episode, we are revisiting the incredible conversation held during our September virtual Regional Meeting, “More Than a Driver: Putting Professionalism Back Into The Industry”.AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin brings back Kalina LeGoff (Manager, Safety and Compliance, Western Canada, Tri-Line Carriers), and Doug Walton (Senior Advisor, Member Solutions, AMTA), from the Regional for this episode, with the addition of Cliff Litke (Senior Advisor, Member Services, AMTA), to dive deeper into driver supports and workplace culture, the importance of training and mentorship, longevity of the job, and more.As mentioned in this episode, the quality of the recording from our latest Regional Meeting on September 10 is not to our satisfaction. But if you are still interested in listening to the original meeting, you can do so here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etCp_3R-gM0&list=PLmicsdS-lHRrsRJdVXki5CZt5oBN72CpA&index=11AMTA Regional Meetings are an opportunity for members, stakeholders, and anyone interested in commercial transportation to gather and learn about industry updates, WCB, Alberta Sheriffs, AMTA events, and guest speakers. Our next Regional Meeting in November will be held virtually. Registration is open now: https://amta.ca/event/amta-november-regional-meeting-virtual/Join us on Wednesday, October 22, at the Sherwood Park Safety Summit for a full day of content, including a keynote presentation and sessions with information and tangible takeaways relevant to commercial transportation. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Tickets start at only $30, and booths start at only $149. Both are on sale now! https://amta.ca/event/amta-safety-summit-sherwood-park/Save the date! AMTA’s 88th Annual Conference registration will open in November. This year’s conference returns to the Grey Eagle Event Centre on April 22-23, 2026.Important!! AMTA has launched a new events platform directly on our website. To register for AMTA events, you must have an AMTA Portal account. Please create an account or log in before registering. We understand setting up a new account may be a small inconvenience, but this change is part of our efforts to provide a more streamlined, secure, and cohesive online experience for our members. If you have any questions, or need assistance, please reach out to us at [email protected] drivers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in maintaining safety on Alberta’s roads. Each day, they navigate challenging conditions, weather, and traffic to deliver goods safely, while also taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of everyone around them. AMTA’s "Angels of the Highway" program is designed to celebrate and acknowledge these selfless efforts. This initiative not only recognizes the commitment truck drivers make to road safety but also empowers them with the tools and resources to continue their vital work while staying healthy, safe, and supported on the road. Nominate your driver today! Is there a driver in your fleet with an exemplary record? Do they go above and beyond not only for industry but for the motoring public? Nominate them for AMTA’s Driver of the Month program: https://amta.ca/driver-of-the-month/Do you have an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at [email protected]. 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 [email protected], 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: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociationLinkedIn: 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!

In this episode, we explore retention in commercial transportation in Alberta, with a focus on drivers, but also on all aspects of what makes a carrier, supplier, and more, tick in this industry.AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin chats with Leah Mawer, Vice President of Human Resources, Caron Transportation Systems, in our first segment, and then is joined by Alero Okujagu, Senior Program Manager, and Tanara Ferguson, Senior Project Manager, at Trucking HR Canada (THRC) for our second segment.Learn more about Caron Transportation Systems on their website: https://www.carontransport.ca/ Interested in learning more about THRC?If you have a question, reach out to THRC: [email protected] the Labour Market Information (LMI) Reports: https://truckinghr.com/labour-market-information/ Learn more about the Top Fleet Employer (TFE) Program: https://truckinghr.com/top-fleet-employers/ Top Fleet Employers Awards Gala: https://truckinghr.com/event/2025-top-fleet-employers-gala/ Learn more about Women in Trucking: https://truckinghr.com/women-in-trucking/ HR Resource Library: https://truckinghr.com/hr-training-resources/ We are currently in the middle of our Driver Appreciation Days. Over the course of the week, members, staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters express their appreciation – on behalf of all Albertans – to professional commercial drivers within the province. Volunteers are stationed at eight Commercial Vehicle Inspection Stations across Alberta and distribute gift bags to the drivers. If you are interested in getting involved and donating swag for next year (2026), please email [email protected] there a driver in your fleet with an exemplary record? Do they go above and beyond not only for industry but for the motoring public? Nominate them for AMTA’s Driver of the Month: https://amta.ca/driver-of-the-month/ It’s BACK! AMTA’s Drawdown Dinner returns October 16 at the River Cree Entertainment Centre. Tickets are available on our website: https://amta.ca/event/2025-amta-drawdown-dinner/. Join us on Wednesday, October 22, at the Sherwood Park Safety Summit for a full day of content, including a keynote presentation and sessions with information and tangible takeaways relevant to commercial transportation. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Tickets start at only $30, and booths start at only $149. Both are on sale now! https://amta.ca/event/amta-safety-summit-sherwood-park/Important!! AMTA has launched a new events platform directly on our website. To register for AMTA events, you must have an AMTA Portal account. Please create an account or log in before registering. We understand setting up a new account may be a small inconvenience, but this change is part of our efforts to provide a more streamlined, secure, and cohesive online experience for our members. If you have any questions, or need assistance, please reach out to us at [email protected] you have an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociationLinkedIn: 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!