Trucker assault prevention video to be launched at TTSAO conference February 29
Female Truck drivers and their male counterparts who identify as visible minorities are the most likely truckers to face assaults on the job, according to a recent report. Because they aren’t the only ones at risk, the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario (TTSAO) and the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada (WTFC) have partnered with Cupid’s Sting to create a new safety video, scheduled to be launched at TTSAO’s February 29th conference.
“The goal of the video it to help keep all Truck drivers safer by learning to recognize situations that would put them in harms way,” says Shelley Walker of the WTFC, who will be speak about the video and the need for more of this kind of training at the TTSAO conference.
According to the Crime Prevention for Truckers report, female truck drivers, and their male counterparts who identify as visible minorities, are the most likely truckers to face assaults on the job, research by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has found.
“Threats of harm and actual physical harm are the most common types of crime committed against women and minority truckers; however, they are experienced differently among the two groups,” researchers noted after an online survey of 653 truckers, which led to the Crime Prevention for Truckers report.
Female drivers were more exposed to crimes of sexual nature. One third of women responded they’ve been touched inappropriately at least once during the last two years on a job. They were two to four times more likely to be touched without consent, compared to non-minority male colleagues. Women drivers are also more likely to be pushed, hit or physically hurt. While 15 per cent of female respondents indicated this experience in the survey, 13 per cent of non-minority men and 7 per cent of minority men have also reported such assaults.
Attendees to the TTSAO 2024 Annual conference in February will be able to contribute to this video by bidding on items in the silent auction. TTSAO has acquired a number of pieces of Gordie Howe memorabilia including a Rookie Year trading card; these pieces will be sold through Silent Auction with proceeds going to fund production of the new assault prevention safety video.
The video will be available to all TTSAO members through its website.
At the February 29th conference, the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario (TTSAO) is encouraging industry members to take “a quantum leap into the future,” says president Philip Fletcher.
“We selected the date, leap year February 29th, very consciously,” Fletcher notes.
“There are so many ways that our members and our industry can and will be taking great leaps forward this year. These areas include technology; awareness of safety; and the renewed appreciation of how important a profitable Trucking industry is to the entire North American economy. These are all opportunities pointing to a quantum leap forward for all of us, together.”
The conference this year will be held once again at the Lion’s Head Golf and Country Club in Brampton with a conference room package available at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Toronto Mississauga.
Keynote speaker Heather Grondin will bring a multi-media update on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, which is a once-in-a-generation undertaking.
Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria has confirmed his attendance and will bring greetings.
Illustrating one of the first and most important quantum leaps of 2024, Caleb Krahn of DriverVerified will share information on the recent “Heavy G” training program launched jointly by TTSAO and DriverVerified.
PJ Barkley of Impirica Solutions will present the newest information on the ExceleRATE proactive driver risk evaluation program and also DriveABLE a tool that measures cognitive impairment of medically at-risk drivers.
“Last year was a big event, a great accomplishment in that we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario and all the work this organization has done over the decades to make our roads safer, our industry better and our members more successful,” says Ken Adams, board chair of the TTSAO.
“We are not resting on our laurels. There is a lot of work yet to be done, possibly some of the most important work in the TTSAO’s history. We are up for the job, and ready to take a ‘quantum’ leap to achieve significant improvements in every area.”
For more information on the February 29th event, visit this link.
