School District 73 (Kamloops/Thompson) and the BC Trucking Association (BCTA) have announced they will partner to develop and deliver a Professional Driver Training Program through NorKam Secondary School’s new Trades Centre of Excellence, with enrolment of students in Grade 10 targeted for September 2014.
The program, the first of its kind for high school students in BC, will join three other technical trades training programs at the NorKam Trades Centre of Excellence, which is now in the design phase following the signing of a formal project agreement with the provincial government in March 2013.
Louise Yako, President & CEO, BCTA, says that this partnership couldn’t have come at a better time for the trucking industry. “Trucking companies across Canada are facing a shortage of from 25,000 to 30,000 professional drivers by 2020, largely due to retirements in the industry. BCTA has been aware of the shortage for some time, but the challenge was to find a way to engage youth and promote their interest and entry in the industry. We’re extremely excited to be taking part in this program.”
BCTA will work in cooperation with School District 73 to develop a training curriculum suitable for youth. This would consist of introductory modules for students in Grades 10 and 11, followed by a full semester of driver training in Grade 12, including training “in-cab” using a driving simulator. BCTA was instrumental in the development and pilot test of an industry-supported Professional (Truck) Driver Training Program, completed in 2010 with the BC Industry Training Authority, which may serve as the model for the NorKam program.