Today's Pickup: Canadian Province Tackles Driver Training

While advocates for more training for truck drivers continue their push in the U.S., one Canadian province is taking training to new levels. The Government of Saskatchewan announced that all drivers seeking a Class 1 commercial license will be required to achieve 121.5 hours of training. This includes 47 hours of in-class training, 57 hours behind the wheel, and 17.5 hours of yard training.

"It's all about safety on the highways," Joe Hargrave, Minister Responsible for SGI, said, according to 620 CKRM. "Better trained drivers and rigorous testing will make our roads safer."

Current Class 1 holders are grandfathered. The new rule goes into effect on March 19, 2019.

According to CKRM, the training will focus on basic driving, professional driving, inspections and air brakes.

Ontario currently requires 103.5 hours of training and Alberta has announced entry-level training, but has yet to detail what that training will entail.

The Saskatchewan Trucking Association praised the move. "I think we've done a really good job. I'm really pleased with what's happened today," said Susan Ewart, Executive Director.

Did You Know?

The world's longest rail freight route runs from the Chinese city of Yiwu to Madrid, Spain. It takes approximately 18 days to cover the 8,200 miles.

Quotable

"The outlook for truckload and intermodal rates in the 2019 contract season is unclear but we believe that a more muted pricing outcome has become more likely." — UBS analyst Thomas Wadewtix

In Other News

Understanding the role robotics, augmented reality has in the supply chain. DHL is investing in robotics, augmented reality and IoT, but what does that mean for the supply chain? (Forbes)

Uptake named a top innovator. AI-powered Uptake has won an innovator of the year award for its work to improve the supply chain. (Supply Chain Dive)

Manufacturers push infrastructure. A group of manufacturers is making a push to educate and encourage the new Congress to take up infrastructure investment in the new year. (Transport Topics)

Europe wants to make truck driver jobs more attractive. New European Council rules changes seek to make the job of truck driver more attractive by standardizing pay. (Loadstar)

Headwinds gather for trucking. UBS is seeing a pricing headwind for trucking with more muted prices heading into 2019. (Seeking Alpha)

Final Thoughts

A pause in the trade war between the U.S. and China is a positive development, but with no rollback of current tariffs, it amounts to the status quo. The mere fact that the countries will begin negotiating, though, is a major development that could lead to improved trade and more goods movement between the countries.