Steinbach, together with other towns and cities across Canada, will be celebrating its truckers and trucking businesses in the month of September. The Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA), in conjunction with other provincial trucking associations and the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is holding the ninth annual National Trucking Week from September 6-13, 2009.
“The trucking industry has played an important role in our city since the beginnings of Steinbach,” said Mayor Chris Goertzen. “Our trucking firms continue to be a great asset to our community both economically and through the employment of hundreds of hard working people.”
The truck transportation industry is both a major industry and employer in Manitoba. In Steinbach, two large international trucking companies, Penner International Inc. and Big Freight Systems Inc. have established strong roots in the community.
MTA President Earl Coleman explained, “National Trucking Week will recognize the important contributions made by the 400,000 Canadian men and women who keep our country’s freight moving and to raise public awareness of the industry’s importance to every Canadian.”
The MTA, CTA and other provincial trucking associations are encouraging trucking companies and their suppliers from coast to coast to undertake activities in their own communities to celebrate the event.
Highlights of the Truck Transportation Industry
• Five of Canada’s top 50 carriers are based in Manitoba.
• There are approximately 425 for-hire trucking companies headquartered in Manitoba.
• 95% of goods moved within Manitoba depend on trucks.
• For-hire trucking directly and indirectly contributes $1.47 billion to Manitoba’s GDP.
• The trucking industry directly and indirectly employs approximately 4.6% of the Manitoba labour force.
• Manitoba is 3% of the Canadian population while the Manitoba trucking industry represents 5.1% of the Canadian industry.
• The Manitoba trucking industry operates 15,000 power units and 20,000 trailers.
• Over 268,000 Canadians are truck drivers, making it one of the top occupations in the country.
• Figures show that for every 10 jobs created in the trucking industry, seven jobs are created elsewhere (i.e. suppliers, service industries, road industries, etc.)
• 80% of Manitoba’s merchandise trade with the United States is shipped by truck