The latest data from Trucking HR Canada and Statistics Canada shows that trucking’s jobs vacancy rate has already hit new record highs as the industry braces for the impact of proposed domestic and border vaccine mandates.

The vacancy rate in truck transportation hit 8 percent in the third quarter of 2021, which was the second highest vacancy rate in the entire economy behind accommodations and food services.

The total number of vacancies for transport truck drivers has now increased to 22,990 jobs, which is an historic high since Statistics Canada began tracking vacancies. This also represents a 20-percent surge in driver vacancies over the second quarter of 2021.

On a regional basis, Ontario accounts for 6,080 positions or 26.4% of all truckdriver vacancies in Canada followed by British Columbia with 4,280 vacancies and Alberta with 3,925.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is anticipating that the proposed border and domestic vaccine mandates will significantly exacerbate vacancies further. The cross-border mandate, as proposed by the Government of Canada, is slated to come into force on Jan 15, 2022; while the US cross-border mandate is rumoured to come into effect on January 22, 2022. Meanwhile, Ottawa has also announced a mandate for all federally regulated workers, including essential workers like truck drivers. However, details on the domestic mandate are yet to be released.

CTA expects to receive enforcement information on the cross-border mandate shortly and will update the industry.