The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) celebrated 80 years of driving industry at the 80th annual Leadership Conference and AGM at the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, April 20-21.

• AMTA AGM

The Conference is an opportunity for industry leaders to network and attend sessions on current issues in transportation – and is also the home of the association’s Annual General Meeting. In addition, time was taken this year to celebrate Lorraine Card, who is retiring from the helm of the AMTA after four years. The AMTA’s involvement in 80 years of industry was also celebrated with each Conference room bedecked with photos of past board members, events and conference and AGMs.

Friday, April 20

The event kicked off with a welcome address from outgoing AMTA Chairman Grant Mitchell, and an update from Alberta’s Minister of Transportation Brian Mason.

“You contribute to the economy on so many levels,” Minister Mason said to the crowd of more than 100. The Minister added transportation must take “a more robust” approach to ensure carriers are following the rules and that we all have a collective duty to ensure roads are as safe as possible.

The Minister also touched on technology in transportation saying it will change the way we see things in industry; and added there is $8.6 billion earmarked in Alberta for transportation projects over the next five years, including the Edmonton and Calgary ring roads.

Next attendees sat in on a Q&A with Canadian Trucking Alliance President Stephen Laskowski. Laskowski welcomed incoming AMTA President Chris Nash and highlighted issues in his talk Leveling the Playing Field and Preparing for the Future – including electronic logging devices and fleet safety compliance.

Next was a Q&A with Alberta Transportation Assistant Deputy Minister Shaun Hammond, who said Albertans can expect to see construction begin on two rest areas in the Red Deer area this year.

The day’s sessions ended with a panel discussion on the Legalization of Cannabis. The panel was comprised of Dr. Xiangning Fan, director of Medical Services with Alberta Labour; Ryan Wass, Executive VP, Highstreet Insurance; Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler, Chief Medical Review Officer, DriverCheck Inc.; and Wendy Doyle, Office of Traffic Safety. Westcan Bulk Transport’s Dan Columbus served as the panel’s facilitator. Panel participants touched on everything from education and training being a big part of the legislation to how HighStreet, as an insurance company, is fielding calls daily with questions on the legalization legislation.

The evening began with the introduction of AMTA’s Road Knights and an awards presentation including Service to the Industry, Associate Trades, Safety Person of the Year, Historical Award, Provincial Driver of the Year and National Driver of the Year.

The 2018-2019 Road Knights are Glenn McNeilly and Ed Stasyshyn.
Road Knights are professional drivers with first-class driving records who meet with the community to raise awareness of industry careers and how to safely share the road with commercial vehicles.

AMTA Awards

Service to the Industry

Grant Mitchell – Kenan Advantage Group Inc.

Grant Mitchell was named Chief Operating Officer of the Kenan Advantage Group, Inc. (KAG) in January 2018. Previously Grant served as Executive Vice-President of KAG Canada (since November 2013) and Chief Executive Officer of RTL-Westcan Group of Companies (since January 2013).

Before joining RTL-Westcan as President in 2012, Grant served as General Manager of RST Industries Ltd. and Sunbury Transport Ltd., a large-scale bulk carrier based in Atlantic Canada. From
1992 to 2002 he held various operations and sales positions
with Trimac Transportation, Ltd.

Grant has held board positions with numerous transportation organizations such as Atlantic Provinces Transportation Association, National Tank Truck Carriers Association, and the Alberta Motor Transportation Association where he served as Chairman of the Board in 2017. Grant is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Grant attended Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He then went on to receive his Executive Masters of Business Administration degree from The Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Associate Trades Award

Sherry Barge – BFL Canada Insurance Services

After the passing of her father in 1992, Sherry Barge found herself the head of a Trans-Mutual Truck Lines Ltd., equipped with 27 trucks and nine employees. Sherry remembers the support she received from the competition at this time, including one carrier who sent her truck specs and showed her the ropes when it came to buying trucks.

In 1999, Sherry became Chairman of the AMTA Board of Directors, the first, and only woman so far to hold the title.

In 2003, Sherry shifted her industry focus from carrier to insurance, joining Trilagy Insurance Services. She would remain there for two years, before moving to BFL Canada Insurance Services where she is National Practice Leader for Transportation. With BFL, Sherry assists transportation companies in lowering their insurance premiums while retaining insurance coverage.

Sherry remains very active with the AMTA, sitting on the Draw Down Dinner and Golf Tournament Committees and sharing her time for events such as the Western Women With Drive Leadership Conference and Driver Appreciation Days.

AMTA Safety Person of the Year

David Cousins – Bison Transport

David started in industry as a drive in the mid-‘70s, and since then has dedicated the majority of his career to transportation.

In 1999, David joined Bison as a long-haul driver and earned the distinction of becoming a member of Bison Transport’s Million Mile Club attaining more than one million consecutive collision free miles with the Carrier. He has achieved both Silver and Gold Club status for years of service as well as Driver of the Month.

From 2005 to 2009, David served multiple terms as a member of Bison’s Driver Advisory Board, providing valuable perspective and insight. While continuing to drive and maintain his responsibility to Bison’s Driver Advisory Board, David dedicated himself to formally mentoring drivers by taking on the role of In-cab Instructor in 2006. He immersed himself in the responsibility by obtaining his Class 1 Instructor Certificate, PDIC Instructor, and LCV Instructor Training Certificate.

In 2009, David transitioned to the Driver Development Department in the role of Driver Instructor, providing classroom, online and simulator-based training to Bison’s driving fleet. He was also called upon to provide safety counseling. His willingness to share skills, knowledge, and expertise, and connect with drivers of all experience levels, has made him an effective instructor, safety counselor and trusted mentor.

In 2011, David was heavily involved in Bison’s Alberta Entry Level Driver Program, leading weekly meetings with students and in-cab instructors, ensuring driver skill competency had been achieved before any driver progressed to the next level. His involvement helped to establish Bison’s successful New Driver Finishing Program.

Wanting to further improve safety and prevent injuries, David became involved in Bison’s Workplace Health and Safety Committee, where he remains today. With a focus on driver injury prevention, David has helped the committee to significantly reduce driver injury numbers.

In 2013, David moved to the role of a Safety Counsellor, allowing Bison to further channel his considerable skills in developing drivers.

David was a recipient of Bison’s STAR Award in 2014 for excelling in the areas of service, teamwork, action and resourcefulness.

David is involved also with the AMTA, including participation in the rewriting of the LCV program, the Driver of Month Committee, Return to Work Subcommittee, and is co-chair of the Injury Reduction & Training Committee.

David’s drive to continuously improve safety performance has contributed to Bison Transport being recognized by the TCA (Truckload Carriers Association) as the Safest Fleet in North America for the 12th consecutive year and in receiving the ATA (American Trucking Association) Safe Fleet Award for the 7th consecutive year.

Historical Award

Stan Weber

Gerry Weber founded Cardinal Coach Lines in 1947. Four years later, Gerry’s son, Stan Weber, was born into what was to become a transportation legacy.

Stan entered the employee pool at Cardinal in 1967, as a wash bay attendant. Even with his father and uncle running the company, Stan followed a core principal: “Start at the bottom and work your way up.”

Stan eventually moved into driving a bus, dispatching and learning the maintenance needed to keep the buses rolling. In 1977, he moved into a management role with Cardinal Coach Lines in Calgary, learning the ropes from Gerry.

On January 1, 1987, Stan became President of Cardinal Group of Companies. It was at this time, that Cardinal would become a major supplier of equipment, drivers and service during Calgary’s 1988 Olympics.

Over the years, Stan has been a mentor to many in the bussing industry. He has been instrumental in helping introduce organizations such as the Alberta Student Transportation Advisory Committee (ASTAC); the Alberta School Bus Safety Committee (ASBSC) and the Alberta School Bus Contractor’s Association (ASBCA).

Stan has always stood for the advancement and improvement of the industry. Stan has also been a faithful partner and supporter of the Huntington Society and Webber Academy, and was an avid volunteer to groups such as the Boy Scouts, Heart and Stroke Foundation and Rotary Club.

With that value of safety, Stan was integral to many features of busing today including:

• Installing strobe lights on all school buses in Alberta, prior to the practice becoming law;
• Installation of crossing gates to ensure rural children having to cross the road could do so well in front of the bus, for best visibility, also prior to the practice becoming law;
• Installing Child Check Mate systems on all school buses to guarantee drivers had a tool for ensuring a bus was checked for sleeping children each and every time it was shut down; and
• Implementing a policy that no bus would make a left-hand turn on or off a four-lane highway throughout all operations. This was a recommendation from an independent study resulting from a fatality in southern Alberta.

Cardinal Coach Lines was one of the first members of Partners in Compliance and although the name has changed, First Canada ULC continues on in the program 21 years later with a fleet of 2,000 units. First Canada ULC is also a Carrier Member with the AMTA.

Stan is an avid supporter of the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and over the years has hired numerous apprentice mechanics, who 35 years later are still employed with the company.

Stan was awarded the National Student Transportation Association’s Hall of Fame award in 2010, recognizing ‘Excellence’ in long-term industry efforts.

Stan Weber’s retirement from busing in 2016 saw a province come out to celebrate his achievements and legacy to the busing industry. He was presented and recognized for his outstanding contributions to both ASTAC and ASBCA.

AMTA Driver of the Year

Lawrence Reichert, Bushell Transport

Lawrence was born in Fairview, a small town in northern Alberta. Being raised on a farm, he was always exposed to large machinery and equipment. At the age of 10, he was constantly imitating ‘truck noises’ and his Grade 7 yearbook read, “was last seen driving his desk in social class.”

Lawrence had family friends and an uncle that drove truck, so anytime day or night he had a chance to go on a run, he went in hopes he’d be able to help drive. It happened often and he was hooked.

Before receiving his Class 1 license, Lawrence drove a winch-tractor part-time for local companies, hauling equipment and camp shacks.

In the ‘80s Lawrence decided to make a career driving and wanted to get out on the highway doing it. He moved
to Calgary in 1982, rented a truck and trailer, and got his Class 1. Three days later he was working for Byers Transport. He started out making local deliveries and worked his way up to hauling turnpikes and triples. From there he graduated to making switches in the mountain passes. Lawrence worked at Byers for 15 years. After a back injury, he left transportation for five years, receiving a diploma in computer engineering. In 2002, he decided to go back driving, starting with a local construction company hauling aggregate with Super B’s and moving equipment.

When construction was slow, Lawrence would run oversized loads for another carrier across the border before he had the opportunity to get into hauling oversized units fulltime pulling
10 and 13-axle, the largest combinations to date 240,000 lbs., 142' long , 20' wide and 24' tall.

Lawrence says. “The bigger the loads, or more trailers I can hook on behind, the more I enjoy it. I get to travel all over North America to places that aren’t considered holiday destinations, which is exciting because you generally don’t hear about them. I love driving truck. I can go to work each and every day and it is always something different. There is never a dull moment and it does not feel like a job!”

National Driver of the Year

John “JR” Robinson – Westcan Bulk Transport

John started driving in 1976 at the age of 18, with a five-axle refrigerated trailer hauling hanging beef and produce. He would go on to haul everything from cattle to peanuts to motorbikes.

In 1982, John started hauling liquids with Economy Carriers Limited (ECL). At 24 years old, he was the youngest driver to be hired by ECL at that time. In 1989, John was the first employee at ECL to drive extended double tankers (101' long) to the US. He also trained new drivers on how to properly handle gas/diesel and sulfur loads.

Over his professional career, John has hauled gas, diesel, sulfur, propane, chemicals, condensate, asphalt, bulk oil, and van loads of package oil. He has also participated in the ‘King of the Highway’ program, taking various people on trips purchased at silent auctions.

In 2010, Westcan Bulk Transport purchased ECL Group of Companies, and John still drives for them today. This April marked his 35th anniversary with the company.

John and wife Barb have been married since 1981 and have two sons, –Joel, 28, and Brett, 24. John says, “Some of my proudest moments have been watching our sons achieve their goals, both professionally and personally. When I’m at home, Barb and I enjoy golf and travel, especially camping in the mountains with family and friends.

Saturday, April 21

Saturday morning kicked off with the AMTA Annual General Meeting. Doug Paisley of Lethbridge Truck Terminals was named Chairman of the Board with Grant Mitchell moving to Immediate Past Chair. Jude Groves of Diversified Transportation is Senior Vice-Chairman and Real Durand of Bison Transportation is Vice-Chairman.

The morning sessions began with WCB’s Pieter Lambooy discussing The Importance of Your Safety Association. Lambooy highlighted employers with a Certificate of Recognition have
33% fewer claim costs and 23% less lost time claims.

Lunch sessions included Janice Isberg, CEO Supply Chain Management Association of Alberta and Chris Nash, AMTA President. Isberg said transportation is a critical component of the supply industry and needs strong leadership to work. Nash caught the crowd up on the latest from the AMTA including maintaining the association as the voice, the standard and the resource of industry into the future.

After lunch Amanda Pick, CEO of the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC), presented on Protecting Canadian Children with Innovation and the Power of Partnerships. AMTA is one of MCSC’s many partners and Pick challenged those present to join MCSC’s nation of digital volunteers standing together to protect children.

New to the conference this year was a supplier network, in which a number of suppliers set up a small tradeshow allowing attendees to stop in and learn more.

Before the evening Masquerade Ball, attendees participated in a reception honouring retiring AMTA President Lorraine Card. Alberta Transportation’s Assistant Deputy Minister Shaun Hammond, Acting Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Chief Jacquie Daumont and AMTA Finance and Administration Director Kimberley Burfoot were among those sharing fond words of farewell. Card’s retirement marks the end of a long career in transportation, having spent 22 years with Greyhound Canada as well as stints with Diversified Transportation and Alberta Government Carrier Services and Driver Programs and Licensing.