A local Trucking company owner was voted in once again to the Board of Directors for the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA). Portage Transport's Bernie Driedger is First Vice President. The association is comprised of members from the trucking industry who lobby the government for changes in rules and regulations to better suit the current situations they face.

"We are lobbying government for easier access to immigration so we become a skilled trade versus just another guy fighting to bring somebody in. We're looking for easier access. The forms are very cumbersome. There's a $1,000 fee for each person. If you fill something out wrong, you lose $1,000 per person. So, we're looking to make changes to that."

He continues, "Currently, carbon tax is a big issue because it's a lot of money off our plate, which we're hoping to pass on to the general public. That is always easier said than done."

He notes his company will have to pay $140,000 this year for carbon tax in its current form, and that will increase substantially in the next few years. Driedger says it's a big hurdle for the trucking industry.

"I started in 2012 on the executive, and then last year became First Vice President. In April, 2020, I'll become President if everything carries on, and serve two years in that capacity. After that, I'll serve two years as Past President."

He outlines some of their accomplishments through the years.

"We've been very successful in the Greener program over the years," adds Driedger. "Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) will be coming in. It's not in play yet, but that should take place in 18 months. This has been a big push for the MTA and CTA as well. CTA lobbies the federal government and MTA lobbies the provincial government. That'll be a big accomplishment once that is done."

He explains ELD regulates the drivers' hours, and, in Canada, drivers can currently use a paper log. They fill that out to the best of their abilities. Driedger says when the ELD commences, it's tied to the truck's computer and regulates hours more accurately and automatically. He adds the United States began this about a year or so ago, and in another year and a half it should begin in our country.

Looking ahead, Driedger says they're hoping to change the image of transportation to improve itself in the general public's eye, so they can attract more qualified people to join the industry.