JAMAICAN trailer drivers are now in short supply, at least, in Canada. And according to a Canadian recruiter, his company wishes to contract the services of between 300 to 400 people annually to fill this void.

“Right now, there is a need for well over 200 trailer drivers,” Andy Roberts, president of Mountain Transport Institute Limited told Auto.

“We represent 13 or 14 employers in Canada,” he continued.

Roberts said his company, which is based in Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, prepares drivers for their roads.

“The training lasts about 10 days… They are trained in fuel economy, keeping proper log books, as well as manoevring snowy roads,” he told Auto.

The company president said Jamaican drivers are ideally suited for the jobs being offered as English is their first language and they are already familiar with North American units.

“If we can’t get enough Jamaican drivers, we will have to go to other regions. Canada’s population is ageing, so there is a short supply of skilled workers,” he said.

With a GDP of US$1.82 trillion, Canada is the world’s 11th largest economy.

To be considered for the programme, drivers should forward their resumés to the Ministry of Labour, downtown Kingston. The ministry would, in turn, forward the résumés to the respective employers, who would create a shortlist of potential employees. Interviews with the selected candidates for employment would then be interviewed via Skype.

Roberts noted that Jamaican drivers chosen for employment would need to present a clean police record and pass a medical test, after which there would be a face-to-face interview at which time a final decision would be taken by the recruiters.

“Applications by the recruiting organisation for the necessary visa would then be done,” he said.

Roberts told Auto that the recruiters would prefer if the drivers seeking employment in Canada would wish to be employed to the programme for some time.

“Employers wish to know that those selected are committed to long-term career, as the drivers recruited would be expected to migrate to Canada with their families,” he said.

“Most of them, depending on their job descriptions, could earn between C$4,000 and C$7,500 per month,” Roberts said.