Workplace Support Services

This guide has been prepared by Workers’ Compensation Board – Alberta, and AMTA, to assist employers with the tools and resources required for return-to-work and modified work requirements for injured workers.

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Approaches to attracting, recruiting, and retaining workers for small- and medium-sized carriers
Rob Dombowsky, MBA, CPHR
AMTA Industry Advisor, Human Resources & Labour

In this paper, AMTA will outline best practices that are best applied to small and medium-sized companies but may still be applied to large companies. We will cover three areas. First, we will explore attracting potential employees to your company. Next, we will look at strategies for hiring and getting the right people on board. Finally, we will look at how to develop a retention strategy.

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A Guide to Improving Psychological Safety for Small- and Medium-Sized Carriers
Dave A. Elniski, AMTA Industry Advisor, Safety and Compliance
Psychosocial and psychological hazards need to be addressed by safety management systems in the trucking industry. In addition to the compliance requirements under both federal and provincial legislation, carriers risk falling behind other carriers and industries by not taking steps to mitigate risk from these hazards.

However, trucking safety professionals are not as prepared to manage psychological safety; for many, this area of safety still feels new, and trucking-specific resources are scant.

AMTA has prepared this guide to addressing psychosocial hazards in trucking company safety programs as a way to assist individuals and carriers in addressing the psychological aspects of their safety programs.

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Cliff Litke
Senior Advisor, Workplace Support Services

As Senior Advisor of the Workplace Support Services team at AMTA, Cliff acts as the face and sounding board of AMTA to members and industry. The position encompasses all facets of the AMTA including the Injury Reduction & Training (IRT), Certificate of Recognition (COR), Partners in Compliance (PIC) and Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (CRA) departments. Cliff also leads the AMTA Driver of the Month and Road Knight programs. Lately you’ll see Cliff on your computer screens and in person as the producer behind AMTA’s regular regional meetings. With 35 years experience in the commercial transportation industry in Alberta as a dock worker, class 1 driver, sales professional, manager, trainer and instructor (LCV, PDIC, TDG), Cliff can use this wealth of experience, as well as the help of the WSS team, to help carriers navigate uncertain territory. In his spare time, Cliff enjoys spending time with his family, and takes time for outdoors recreation, fitness, hockey and golf.

Dave Elniski
Industry Advisor, Safety & Compliance

Dave Elniski (he/they) is AMTA’s Industry Advisor in Safety & Compliance and works in the Alberta Motor Transport Association’s Workplace Support Services (WSS) department.  In this role, he offers advice to carriers and individuals on occupational health and safety as well as transportation-specific safety and compliance.  Dave started in the transportation industry doing a brief bit of dock and local work before hitting the road as a long-haul flatbed driver.  After working in fleet safety management for an Alberta-based carrier, he was hired by the AMTA and is one of the early Certified Transportation Safety Professional (CTSP) designation holders.  Dave also holds the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation and recently completed a Master of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge where he studied the effect of various social factors on safety performance in the trucking industry.  Outside of transportation safety, Dave is an active reserve soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Rob Dombowsky
Industry Advisor, Human Resources & Labour
Rob Dombowsky is a Human Resources and Safety Industry Advisor with the Alberta Motor Transport Association. He has diverse industry experience in transportation and logistics, manufacturing, construction and human/professional services. He is also an instructor at the University of Lethbridge,
where he teaches Occupational Health and Safety as well as Human Resources and Labor Relations. With over 20 years of experience Rob has been actively engaged in the Human Resources and Safety community at local, provincial and international levels. Rob is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces having served with the United Nations, in the former Yugoslavia and other postings. Post military, Rob graduated from the University of Alberta and pursued expat opportunities in Russia, Taiwan and China. While living in Taiwan, Rob earned his Masters in Business Administration from National Taiwan University and a Certificate in International Human Resources from Cornell University. Upon returning to Canada, Rob obtained his CPHR (Chartered Human Resources Professional) designation. He is also currently enrolled at the University of Alberta in the OHS Certificate Program. In addition, Rob is a certified Lean Sensei Green Belt, with a focus on HR/Admin process improvements and work automation.

Bulletins

Federal versus Provincial Safety Regulation
June 15, 2023 – Click here to read

Working Alone
May 23, 2023 – Click here to read

Mandatory Emergency Equipment in NSC Vehicles
May 16, 2023 – Click here to read

Updated Grants for Alberta Employers
March 28, 2023 – Click here to read

Using Existing Resources
March 14, 2023 – Click here to read

UPDATED Canada-Alberta Job Grants and You
March 6, 2023 – Click here to read

Unconscious Bias
Dec. 12, 2022 – Click here to read

Class 2 Commercial License Plates
Nov. 24, 2022 – Click here to read

EAPs, EFAPs, and Psychosocial Hazards: Exploring the practice of external employee support systems
Nov. 10, 2022 – Click here to read

Changes to the Canada Labour Code – Paid Medical leave
Nov. 8, 2022 – Click here to read

Post-Incident Debriefs and Mental Health First Aid
Oct. 20, 2022 – Click here to read

Hazard Assessments – Federal and Provincial
Sept.6, 2022 – Click here to read

Queen Elizabeth II’s Holiday – Does it Apply to my Trucking Company?
Sept. 15, 2022 – Click here to read

Policies, Procedures, and Psychosocial Hazards
Aug. 30, 2022 – Click here to read

Changes to Federal Privacy Legislation Could Cost Federally Regulated Carriers
Aug. 4, 2022 – Click here to read

Alberta OHS Releases OHS Legislation Search Tool for Albertan Employers
July 29, 2022 – Click here to read

The Impact of Micro Traumas on Mental Health and its Role in the Prevention of Workplace Violence
June 23, 2022 – Click here to read

USDOT Operations as a Canadian Carrier
June 21, 2022 – Click here to read

Providing Effective Feedback: SBI/BI Model
May 26, 2022 – Click here to read

Investigating Common Workplace Injuries: OHS Prevention Initiative Incident Investigations
April 29, 2022 – Click here to read

WCB Occupational Injury Service
Updated April 7, 2022 – Click here to read

Psychosocial Hazards Survey Results
Updated March 29, 2022 – Click here to read

Working Alone, Intersectionality, and the Caring Person Test for Safe Work Practices
March 22, 2022 – Click here to read

Federal Minimum Wage Increases on April 1
March 17, 2022 – Click here to read

A Tale of Two WCB Accounts
March 10, 2022 – Click here to read

WCB seeking industry feedback on three policy updates
March 8, 2022 – Click here to read

Safety Fitness Certificates in Alberta
Updated February 28, 2022 – Click here to read

Pink Shirt Day and the Connection to Workplace Bullying
Feb. 22, 2022 – Click here to read

Light Vehicle Weight Management
February 16, 2022 – Click here to read

Partnerships in Injury Reduction for Trucking
February 7, 2022 – Click here to read

AMTA COVID-19 Update – Important WCB, OHS and CLC Information
Feb. 3, 2022 – Click here to read

Ongoing Driver Training Ideas
January 26, 2022 – Click here to read

Psychosocial Hazards in Alberta’s Trucking Industry
January 19, 2022 – Click here to read

Incident Reporting Requirements
Updated January 12, 2022 – Click here to read

Employee who fell in her home’s stairwell eligible for worker’s compensation
Dec. 22, 2021 – Click here to read

Exemptions from and Modifications to Hours of Work Provisions Regulation
Dec. 16, 2021 – Click here to read

Update: 2022 WCB Industry Rates Announced
Dec. 2, 2021 – Click here to read

Changes to WCB Employer Report of Injury or Occupational Disease
Nov. 25, 2021 – Click here to read

Alberta Jobs Now Program Second Intake Opens
November 16, 2021 – Click here to read

What is the Canada-Alberta Job Grant?
Nov. 10, 2021 – Click here to read

In-Cab Documents
October 28, 2021 – Click here to read

Legislation, Best Practices & Everything in Between
October 14, 2021 – Click here to read

Commercial Vehicle Dual Registration
Sept. 23, 2021 – Click here to read

Alberta’s Changing Insurance Landscape
Sept. 1, 2021 – Click here to read

Canada-Alberta Job Grants and You
July 16, 2021 – Click here to read

COVID-19 and infectious diseases: Guidance and recommendations for employers
July 8, 2021 – (Click to read)

Safety Fitness Certificates in Alberta
Updated processes for applications and renewals, and the importance of the February 28th, 2022 deadline
June 15, 2021 – (Click here to read)

Collision Reviews: A New Process in Alberta for Challenging Carrier Profile Collision Points
On May 1st, 2021, the process for Alberta-based carriers to challenge Carrier Profile points from collisions changed
May 25, 2021 – (Read bulletin here)

Workplace Resources

• Alberta OHS – Musculoskeletal Injuries Resources
• OHS Prevention Initiative

Regional Meeting Recordings

Update: We’re returning to in-person! Calgary will take place April 6, Edmonton April 12 and Grande Prairie, April 14. Questions? Reach out to amtamsc@amta.ca.

Regional meetings are an opportunity for AMTA membership, stakeholders and industry experts with a passion for safety and commercial transportation come together to talk initiatives, programs, events, legislation and more. Below is a collection of recorded virtual events.

Dec. 14, 2021
Nov. 3, 2021
April 28, 2021

For full Regional Meeting details, click here!

Programs

Driver of the Month

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? Maybe this driver is a veteran of the road, or maybe they are new to the profession but showing great skill and a passion for safety. Click here for details.

AMTA Road Knights

Our team of AMTA Road Knights stand ready to visit communities throughout the province to deliver a message of how to safely share the road with trucks and to raise awareness of industry career opportunities. AMTA Road Knights are professional transport 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 a truck. Learn more.