REGINA — As the age of Saskatchewan truckers continues to climb, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association is concerned about the significant financial barriers to education for new truck drivers in the province.
Currently, the average cost of the training required to obtain a class 1A driver’s license in Sask. is about $14,000. Students in the 1A driver training cannot apply for student loans to enrol and the small tax rebate promised by the provincial government to support them has not yet been launched, the association says.
The 1A training, which is provided by private companies that meet requirements set out by SGI, allows those who complete the education to operate large on-highway commercial vehicles.
Susan Ewart, executive director of the STA says she is concerned about the lack of support for those entering the industry.
“The trucking and transport sector is crucial to driving Saskatchewan’s economy forward and due to inaction from government, fewer young people can afford to get into the trucking industry, putting the future of the entire industry at stake.”
Currently, over 50 per cent of truckers in the province are older than 45 years old according to data from the provincial government.
“It is crucial that the government support the training of new truck drivers right here at home in Saskatchewan,” Ewart says.
“The future of Saskatchewan depends on trucking and the future of trucking depends on Saskatchewan.”
The STA is calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to create a loan program that can lessen the financial burden for those joining the trucking industry in Saskatchewan.
