With an area of close to 10 million km2, it’s not surprising that the second-largest country in the world is a leader in the field of transport. Before we look at the profession of Director of Transport, let’s draw a picture of the transportation market in Canada and see what are the challenges awaiting…
Powerful sector to be on guard about
Transport is a very important sector for the Canadian economy (4.5% of GDP), which in 2016 had nearly 897,000 workers (salaried and self-employed). Since most goods transit through the road network (more than by waterways, railway and air), the number of trucking companies is therefore high: more than 66,750 across Canada. Mainly present in Ontario (41.1%), Alberta (16.3%), Quebec (15.1%) and British Columbia (14.6%), they offer either trucking services or courier services or they can also be part of a large organization’s fleet – often the big retail chains. Well anchored in the economic landscape, the transportation world must, however, be attentive to the changes that are beginning to emerge: innovative technologies, revolutionary transport vehicles (automated and connected driverless vehicles), new players (Google, Amazon and many others are working hard on delivery of goods by drone) and increasingly stringent environmental regulations – obliged by the Paris Accord – which will encourage the electrification of transport networks and th development of clean and sustainable energy sources.
Director of Transport
Description: The Director of Transport has the responsibility to carry out the tasks of planning, organization, management and evaluation of goods transport operations, whether they transit by boat, plane, truck, rail… He also defines the procedures in relation to safety and transport of dangerous goods, if applicable. He oversees the financial profitability of his department and also invests in the recruitment and training of its staff. In 2015, close to 65% of Directors of Transport worked for a transport company and 8% for a wholesaler. According to the Labour Force Survey of 2015, more than 30% of workers in this profession were self-employed, compared to 14% for all occupations.
Salary: In Canada, the median hourly wage for a director of transport is $34.62. The maximum hourly wage is $64.90 in British Columbia, $63.08 in Ontario and $49.52 in Saskatchewan.
Employment prospects: Over the 2015-2024 period, a balance is expected between 9,900 positions of director of transport which will need to be filled (jobs created and replacements) and 9,800 job seekers, who will include new graduates or people arriving from mobility or immigration.
Requirements: To be a director of transport, a bachelor’s degree in business administration is recommended. Experience in transport and supervision is also sought, as is an operator’s license in the mode of transport (air, ship, truck).
Since the sector is at the intersection of many roads (environment, economy, new technologies…), transport is a major challenge in the country. It is in this context that the Transport 2030 strategic plan has just been unveiled, which aims to promote economic growth and job creation. With such support, transport companies in general, and directors of transport in particular are on the right track.