The “race to the bottom in new truck driver training is well and truly underway” in various regions throughout Ontario, reports Trucknews.com.
As reported by Leo Barros, truck driving schools are witnessing a steep drop in enrolments
after the federal government announced curbs on international student numbers a couple of months ago. Some truck driver training schools in Peel Region say enrolment has plummeted 40-60%, reports Barros, and international students worried about their status in Canada tell the publication they are shying away from a trucking career.
Alarmingly, however, many of the scores of schools in the area are reducing fees – and in some cases “cutting corners” and training time in a desperate bid to sign up the potential truckers that are available.
“The over-proliferation of schools is creating a cutthroat mentality, where people are cutting costs in order to try and stay alive,” said Philip Fletcher, president of the TTSAO. He notes he recent saw Black Friday MELT program specials for $3,000. “They are cutting corners, and they are cutting training time.”
Trucknews.com interviewed people in the sector who suggested that some schools are skimping on the in-class training or abandoning it altogether. There is also talk of students getting a few stints behind the wheel before being sent for a road test.
Manan Gupta, president of Skylake Immigration, said most international students are coming to Canada to work, not study. “That is why the labor market impact assessment and temporary foreign worker programs are being abused,” he said.
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