News Archives: GPRC, Caron partner to meet Class 1 driver demand
Tuesday, November 20th, 2018
A growing partnership between GPRC Continuing Education and Caron Transportation Systems has students on the road to a new career.
Caron currently employees three professional drivers who received training thanks to a partnership between GPRC and Caron Transportation Systems, a Sherwood Park-based trucking company that is one of Western Canada’s largest carriers of bulk commodities.
In 2018, GPRC offered sponsored programing to train professional Class 1 drivers and Caron funded three students through the program. The training program was a success and the students excelled, graduating with the training they needed to meet the high standards Caron sets for its drivers.
The 48 hours of one-on-one, in-truck training with a GPRC instructor and 60 hours of in class training provided students the additional skills and knowledge that they wouldn’t have received through any other Class 1 driver training program currently available. This additional training set the students up for success ensuring a strong understanding of the importance of safe and proper operations both out on the highway and in the oilfield.
“We worked closely with Caron to customize a training program to meet their exact needs. We were very impressed with their desire to increase one-on-one truck training to give students that valuable hands-on driving experience,” said Chad Boone, research and development lead for GPRC Continuing Education.
Caron is a leader in its commitment to quality instruction for Class 1 driver training and safety and it reflects where the entire industry is moving toward, said Boone.
Caron’s partnership with GPRC was effective given their similar goal to increase the labour market and train more safe, qualified, professional Class 1 drivers.
The shortage of qualified truck drivers is only going to increase in the coming years. By 2020 it is expected that demand for professional drivers will exceed supply by more than 33,000 jobs. Caron sees its partnership with GPRC as part of the solution to the shortage of well-trained professional drivers.
The graduates of GPRC are happily behind the wheel now and see a lot of opportunity with Caron and in the industry for their career in the future.
Caron a company founded on philanthropic values, understands the importance of investing in and giving back to the communities it operates in. Caron generously leased a tractor to GPRC and donated a trailer unit for use in their program.
Caron sees the need and is committed to supporting these types of partnerships within our industry. By providing Caron equipment to the college, students are exposed to configurations used in the bulk transportation industry. The more exposure students receive, the better the understanding and awareness of the many opportunities within this industry. The donation will increase GPRC’s capacity to offer Class 1 driver training.
“These kinds of partnerships help GPRC meet the needs of industry, so we’re extremely grateful for Caron’s support of our training programs,” said Boone.
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