00:00:11:01 - 00:00:33:13 Unknown Welcome to the Move Rural Canada podcast, where every week we showcase incredible businesses and real in Northern Canada businesses that are not only growing but are looking to hire. We're here to show you companies and communities outside of the big cities that are building stronger and more inclusive workplaces, workplaces that want and are encouraging newcomers, immigrants and refugees to work with them.

00:00:33:15 - 00:00:52:07 Unknown Let us be your guides to help you find the best places in Canada to not only immigrate, but build a career and settle. I'm your host, Leah Mitchell, and I am your co-host, Lindsay Rubeniuk. Join us as you learn about all of the amazing career opportunities in places that you may not have ever thought of moving. Let's get started.

00:00:55:13 - 00:01:23:04 Unknown Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Move Rural Canada podcast. Today we have on Bill Rempel. He is the CEO of Steve’s Livestock Transport. Welcome, Bill. Good morning. It's great to be here. Good, good. Thank you for thank you for coming today. We really appreciate it. We love having companies on and talking about what they're doing, the support.

00:01:23:04 - 00:01:49:20 Unknown So we're going to to get right into it. So how about we just start off with, can you tell us, about your company? Yeah. Steve's Livestock Transport was started in 1987 by, an individual named Steve Brandt, who was still part of the business today. Started with needing to provide an income for his family and started with a gooseneck trailer, and one truck hauling dairy cattle to different places.

00:01:49:20 - 00:02:14:01 Unknown And today we employ, 475 people. And, we're in, the prairie provinces. So we have terminals in blue Manitoba and the southeast. And Brandon and in central Alberta in, in Red deer, there's four different business units that, I look after the trucking end. There's Bluewater Wash, which we're in the same locations. We have about 160 employees.

00:02:14:07 - 00:02:33:17 Unknown And that business, we have United, Training School. That's a class one training school that is in, also in blue Minot, Steinbach and Winkler in Brandon. And then we have BT Truck and Trailer Repair, which is a heavy, heavy duty repair shops, where we employ about, 60 people.

00:02:33:17 - 00:02:36:23 Unknown all the, like you said, all across the prairie provinces, which is also great.

00:02:36:23 - 00:02:42:20 Unknown you do a couple of different things. And can you speak a bit to what each company does?

00:02:42:20 - 00:02:58:10 Unknown So it's all built around the transport side. So the trucking is the core of our business. That's the majority of our business. And that is today we're in the agricultural space. So we want to ultimately be the leading provider, on the agricultural transport side.

00:02:58:10 - 00:03:22:00 Unknown So we haul a lot of pigs, cattle and grain. And that's the core of what we do. Then once you start a business like that on the, livestock transport side, biosecurity is critical. And so we started with building wash bays, and today we own 27 bays where we wash trailers, we dry trailers, we heat treat trailers at high temperatures to kill bacteria and diseases.

00:03:22:02 - 00:03:40:08 Unknown And then same thing if you have trucks and trailers, you need a shop. And so we have the heavy duty heavy duty repair shops. And we do retail work and for our own fleet. So it's a mix of both and the same on the washing side, we do a lot of washing for outside people, so it's open to the public.

00:03:40:10 - 00:03:48:23 Unknown And the training school. So if you have a trucking business, you need to train drivers. And so we have training schools. So it's all built around the trucking.

00:03:48:23 - 00:04:00:01 Unknown That's absolutely amazing. But I do want to actually, Casey, you mentioned that you are in agriculture and you have, transport. And so you have multiple things going on.

00:04:00:03 - 00:04:15:16 Unknown So being a workforce consultant, I have to ask, where do you get all your workers from? And how does that how does that all evolve? Do you have, like, newcomers? Do you hire people from within Canada? How do you how do you recruit and attract your workers?

00:04:15:16 - 00:04:22:12 Unknown We try to have different channels where we attract, workers from so that you're not reliant on one particular channel.

00:04:22:14 - 00:04:43:11 Unknown So historically, being livestock transport, a lot of rural kids, rural people who live on farms, they have some hobby farms. They're familiar with animals. That mill used to be 20 years ago, where the majority of our workforce came from. That has shifted. So as more people move off the farm into more to the urban areas, that has really shifted.

00:04:43:11 - 00:05:10:11 Unknown So we have channels from new people to Canada. So through the immigration programs, we do hire people with no experience so that we train them, put them through the schools. That's part of why we have United so that we can help them get their class one license, and then on the job training as well. So if you're hauling livestock, even if you have class one training, aren't familiar with, animals, we'll do up to six weeks of in cab training.

00:05:10:17 - 00:05:13:08 Unknown So where we have a driver trainer with you,

00:05:13:08 - 00:05:15:14 Unknown helping you load and unload animals.

00:05:15:14 - 00:05:30:23 Unknown So, Bill, how important is that? Because, we all know that class one is, you know, extremely hard to obtain at times. So tell us how important it is to have, your class one and what all goes into that, and is it regulated?

00:05:30:23 - 00:05:51:11 Unknown And how does that all work for people who may not be familiar with your industry? Yeah. So the trucking world has certainly made some improvements over the last decades. And particularly, there was very public accidents in Humboldt, a number of years ago. And that drove a lot of legislative change straight across the country. A lot of that has been really good.

00:05:51:16 - 00:06:15:20 Unknown I wish it was more uniform across the country, so that the different provinces had exactly the same regulations, but it's better than what it was. So there's typically there's a few different programs. The main one that we're part of is 244 hours of training before you go for your license so that you have the required hands on training, in order to get your class one license.

00:06:15:20 - 00:06:27:10 Unknown So if you're new, you haven't driven before. That's certainly something that we would be looking for that you have that, then we will do, training once you're you're in a truck here. Will still do in cab training.

00:06:27:10 - 00:06:31:21 Unknown Okay. And so I think I just want to dig a little further into that because you talked about,

00:06:31:21 - 00:06:34:09 Unknown the incident that happened and so on and so forth. So

00:06:34:09 - 00:06:45:08 Unknown if we have people that are, you know, newly arrived to Canada and they're interested in getting into the transport industry, what advice would you give them? Where should they look?

00:06:45:10 - 00:06:56:11 Unknown So they are doing it properly and legally. So just if you can expand on that, I think that'd be a great help to our listeners. And red flags too, right. What should they be looking out for exactly?

00:06:56:11 - 00:07:06:14 Unknown Yeah. For, I would encourage everyone, if they're sitting down with potential employers, listen to the conversation and listen to the questions that they're asking you.

00:07:06:18 - 00:07:08:22 Unknown Do they talk about values at all?

00:07:08:22 - 00:07:24:02 Unknown what's the heartbeat of the organization? Because we try to get to know them. And that should be they should want to get to know you so that three months in, you're not surprised. And they're not surprised. So you want to get the heartbeat of that company?

00:07:24:02 - 00:07:33:13 Unknown What? They're part of what's important to them. And do they talk about values? There are certainly flags to want. And in the trucking industry, there's unfortunately,

00:07:33:13 - 00:07:47:13 Unknown I think what's often referred to as driver Inc. and, and that's it's grown substantially over the last number of decades. And definitely that should be a red flag if they're trying to if you're an employee, you're going to be driving their truck.

00:07:47:16 - 00:07:49:00 Unknown You're an employee,

00:07:49:00 - 00:07:50:16 Unknown if they offer you,

00:07:50:16 - 00:07:52:05 Unknown a contract.

00:07:52:05 - 00:08:03:21 Unknown So the value proposition might be that you'll make more money, there will be no deductions. And so what you earn is what will go into your pocket that is illegal.

00:08:03:21 - 00:08:16:03 Unknown and for you as a potential employee, it's also not good for you because with those benefits there, health and dental benefits, there's worker's compensation that helps you and it helps your family.

00:08:16:03 - 00:08:31:16 Unknown And particularly if you're new to the country, those are the benefits that you're entitled to. So don't but those are flags that I certainly would be watching for. And it's unfortunate that we even have to talk about these things, but we need to talk about them so that people are aware.

00:08:31:16 - 00:08:34:10 Unknown This one more question then, and we'll get there to jump in.

00:08:34:10 - 00:08:42:19 Unknown But, is there some websites or is there some resource material that we can post, for our for our listeners,

00:08:42:19 - 00:09:01:05 Unknown Manitoba Trucking Association and the Canadian Trucking Alliance both have detailed information as far as what Driver Inc. is, but it's often referred to as Driver, Inc. and the shortcuts that are there. So there's certainly those two websites for the, Canadian Trucking Alliance and Manitoba Trucking Association.

00:09:01:05 - 00:09:20:13 Unknown Both have good information on that. I think the similar, in when you're looking at training schools and if you don't have your class ones and you're evaluating training schools that you're going to go to do it, a little bit of due diligence as far as what that landscape looks like, ask for some references of students that have gone through it.

00:09:20:19 - 00:09:33:04 Unknown They good companies will gladly give you those references. And if they're hesitant to do that, that's just a small flag. But it's a flag. You should ask a few more questions. Ask them where they sit with pass rates.

00:09:33:04 - 00:09:51:08 Unknown Try to inquire. And again I talked about values before. Try to get their heartbeat. What did they talk about? Is their goal to get you your class one license as quickly as possible, or is their goal to equip you, to teach you to have hands on so that you're comfortable when you get behind the wheel of a truck?

00:09:51:13 - 00:10:12:15 Unknown Do they want you to be a safe, driver? What are what is that conversation when you're having it with them? It's if you're going to be paying them to help you, train you ask those questions. It's your it's it's good for yourself to understand that. And it's your right to know those things. And if they're hesitant at any point, that should be a flag.

00:10:12:15 - 00:10:15:16 Unknown No. Absolutely no. Thank you. So

00:10:15:16 - 00:10:22:13 Unknown I have a couple questions. So obviously you're in the transportation industry and I think a lot of times in people think transportation,

00:10:22:13 - 00:10:35:07 Unknown they simply think trucking. But there's so many more opportunities in transportation than being a driver. So can you talk about some of the other opportunities that people have, working in the industry as well?

00:10:35:07 - 00:10:37:05 Unknown Yeah. So we have a number of people that have,

00:10:37:05 - 00:10:57:08 Unknown been drivers with us, or owner operator. So I've started as drivers and then become an owner operator, owner operators, where they go out and buy their own truck, and then they license it exclusively for a particular carrier. So we have a number of those, you take on more risk, but you also get a little bit of higher pay so that there's a reward for that risk.

00:10:57:08 - 00:11:14:22 Unknown We've had a number of people that moved into administration. So whether it's dispatch into management, so there's it opens a door. And so if you love being on the road and trucking, that might be a good fit for you. But if you want to keep going and move on, most of our driver trainers,

00:11:14:22 - 00:11:16:20 Unknown I shouldn't say most of them, all of them

00:11:16:20 - 00:11:18:22 Unknown have all been on on the truck.

00:11:19:00 - 00:11:29:00 Unknown And then as they get older, they want to be home more. They've gone into getting licensed and trained to be driver trainers and and help others obtain their license.

00:11:29:00 - 00:11:34:12 Unknown And so just because my background is, you know, in the realm of language and some pretty newcomers in that realm,

00:11:34:12 - 00:11:39:01 Unknown are there challenges with hiring newcomers, maybe with lower level language?

00:11:39:01 - 00:11:49:17 Unknown How do you adjust to that? Do you offer any sort of supports to help people progress through, or what does that look like? If someone comes to you and maybe has a little bit of a lower level of English,

00:11:49:17 - 00:11:57:02 Unknown it depends on the role. So I mentioned earlier and Blue Water Wash, we have 160 employees. So you need to be able to take general direction.

00:11:57:02 - 00:12:20:23 Unknown So you need to have a minimum level of English language in order to to do the job appropriately. On the trucking side, it's, it's a higher level that's required because you need to be able to interact with the customer. You need to be able to interact with, different law enforcement levels if you're going across the scales and, and also with the people, that send information.

00:12:20:23 - 00:12:25:04 Unknown So your reading has to be good because most of it is electronic.

00:12:25:04 - 00:12:29:11 Unknown and yeah, so we do offer and have recommendations that we,

00:12:29:11 - 00:12:39:07 Unknown direct people towards if they're coming in, the language isn't quite there. We direct them to the different resources that are available in the community. Okay.

00:12:39:07 - 00:12:50:18 Unknown Well, I think I'm going to add on to that, maybe not in terms of English, but since my backgrounds in immigration, I'm just going to jump right into that in terms of Bill, are you aware, like given your position and your,

00:12:50:18 - 00:12:53:13 Unknown you may not be as familiar with it, but I

00:12:53:13 - 00:12:55:18 Unknown are you aware of the different immigration programs

00:12:55:18 - 00:13:04:16 Unknown that your company assists with in terms of helping people that are, you know, temporary workers and then they want to transition into permanent residency?

00:13:04:16 - 00:13:14:07 Unknown So we're aware of some of them. I'm not sure if we're aware of all of them, but we've certainly hired through different programs. So at the start of the Ukraine war, there was a program there.

00:13:14:07 - 00:13:20:01 Unknown We hired several different groups through that. So we have a vibrant Ukrainian workforce,

00:13:20:01 - 00:13:34:23 Unknown particularly based out of Brandon. We have a lot of them there, in Bloomington as well. So certainly through that program, also in Alberta, we hire through that program, the LMR program, we have a little bit through there as well. So we have a different,

00:13:34:23 - 00:13:39:21 Unknown several different programs that we've utilized in, in, in recruiting.

00:13:39:21 - 00:13:58:23 Unknown have you seen, you had talked about people kind of climbing the ranks in your, in your businesses. And so do you have any success stories or a key to success in general about, newcomers and their ability to rise and be promoted? Throughout your various businesses?

00:13:58:23 - 00:14:09:19 Unknown Yeah, we have some phenomenal success stories. And it is motivating for me to see that when people grab those opportunities and I'm going to tell you about one particular person.

00:14:09:19 - 00:14:32:05 Unknown And unfortunately, she just told us she's leaving us. Oh, but I'm super happy for her. Oksana came, and moved to Canada at the start of the start of the Ukraine war. Her and her brother together, they went from Ukraine to Germany. They were in Germany a few months, and then, were able to get into Canada, get a visa.

00:14:32:07 - 00:14:55:17 Unknown And she applied with us and both her brother, drives truck for us. And, Oksana started in dispatch. So she was an administrative person in our Brandon office, and, they adjusted, adopted. They got involved in the community. And part of what attracted them to Brandon was the Ukrainian community. They knew that there was a vibrant, Ukrainian community.

00:14:55:17 - 00:15:19:18 Unknown And in that area, they connected with them, were able to, find a place to live, housing costs definitely. You know, in some parts, like this is better than moving to Toronto, Vancouver, some of those other bigger centers. And that, was also. And then she got the job and she, she got engaged. And so whether it was with the people in the workplace, she started volunteering in the community.

00:15:19:20 - 00:15:32:15 Unknown And she started her as has a partner and started her own business in, in Brandon. So that's what she's, leaving us for. Yeah. So multicooker. Brandon, that's what Oksana is going to.

00:15:32:15 - 00:15:45:16 Unknown We also hired an individual, in our wash bay that was new to the country and, and limited English skills. And he started washing trailers, in the wash bay. But he was a quiet, resilient,

00:15:45:16 - 00:15:59:09 Unknown individual. And he kept learning. Never complained. He got promoted within the first year to a lead hand, then to a shift supervisor and just has that ability to wants to learn, wants to grow.

00:15:59:15 - 00:16:04:23 Unknown And those opportunities are there. And I think it's fantastic when when people,

00:16:04:23 - 00:16:07:02 Unknown you know, see those opportunities.

00:16:07:02 - 00:16:21:07 Unknown And I think too, that's one of the biggest success. The keys to success if you're moving to new countries, like you said, to get involved, to volunteer and, and take those opportunities when they come, you know, because you don't know when it or you don't know what's going to lead in to.

00:16:21:07 - 00:16:22:04 Unknown Right. And,

00:16:22:04 - 00:16:30:03 Unknown you know, a lot of people forget it takes a long time to learn English. I always say takes about 500 hours per one level. So it's going to take years. So people have to kind of,

00:16:30:03 - 00:16:37:16 Unknown you know, unless you're going to sit at home for ten hours a day, it's going to take time. So just exactly get involved, get opportunities and just you'll continue to grow.

00:16:37:16 - 00:17:01:06 Unknown And Oksana is a great example. Did some due diligence ahead of time, connected with certain communities, did their research and they felt Brandon was going to be a good fit because of the cost. There was a Ukrainian community that they could be part of. They asked that community a bunch of questions, then started looking for jobs and what would be a fit for them continue to develop in their, English language.

00:17:01:12 - 00:17:13:18 Unknown And I would say that's a phenomenal example of how to, how to go through this, process. Top of that, they got involved almost right away in volunteering in the community.

00:17:13:18 - 00:17:27:19 Unknown But you hit on something that is so important. And I feel in my industry as an immigration consultant, and I feel that as newcomers this is really overlooked, is that I'll give you a great example.

00:17:27:22 - 00:17:35:18 Unknown RSA, the rural community immigration pilot just came out. Right. So various communities across Canada were awarded this. And it's it's a phenomenal program.

00:17:35:18 - 00:17:50:09 Unknown However, what I see far too often right now is people saying, oh, you know, Steinbach has it, which is where you're you're closely, situated. Right. Brandon has it. And and so right away they say, okay, here's the trades, here's the industry sector, here's all this.

00:17:50:11 - 00:18:08:21 Unknown But what they don't do is they don't say, you know, what you should really do is check out the time or take the time to check out the community. And if it's for you, because what happens a lot of times is that people come in, they come into a community where they know nothing about, they fail to do their research and then

00:18:08:21 - 00:18:10:07 Unknown they take the position.

00:18:10:09 - 00:18:34:01 Unknown And unfortunately, the community is not a match for them or it's not what they expected. And then it's not a win win for the employer or the community or even actually even for the newcomer, obviously. So I want to just say thank you for pointing that out. And I think that's a great example. When you do your research into a community, not just about a job or immigration program, that how successful you can actually be.

00:18:34:01 - 00:18:39:05 Unknown So that's I love that great example. Thank you for sharing that. And a I think

00:18:39:05 - 00:19:06:13 Unknown there's plenty of jobs available. We're fortunate to you know, we go through different economic seasons where my shift a bit. But for the most part Canada, the prairie provinces there's a lot of jobs. So if you take a little bit of time and and I'm sure it's intimidating when you're new to ask questions, but ask friends, try to get involved in the community and ask because there is lots that is available that that I'm sure they're not aware of.

00:19:06:13 - 00:19:08:13 Unknown And, and in our business, we have,

00:19:08:13 - 00:19:27:08 Unknown a training and development subsidy. So we have internal training. So once you become become part of the business, we we provide you training like the class ones. But beyond that we provide a subsidy program that if it's for future development, will often do, 50% if it's specific to the job, it's 100%.

00:19:27:13 - 00:19:35:11 Unknown But you can go and do additional training and development. But it's a great way to build your career and increase your earning potential.

00:19:35:11 - 00:19:42:22 Unknown Yeah. No. Exactly. So in terms of like Lindsay was talking about sort of, you know, doing your due diligence, doing your research,

00:19:42:22 - 00:19:44:08 Unknown do you at all,

00:19:44:08 - 00:19:47:00 Unknown help people sort of settle in the area?

00:19:47:00 - 00:20:05:00 Unknown Let's say you had someone come in. Do you offer sort of someone that kind of help them find that place locally, find those homes and settlements or what does that look like? If you have someone, say, coming from a different province, they got hired. What what would that look like for them?

00:20:05:00 - 00:20:11:05 Unknown So that's a great question. We have a number of different people in our organization that that help people settle.

00:20:11:05 - 00:20:28:00 Unknown So not necessarily that will go out and do things for them, but we connect them with different groups and direct them to the programs that are available. And each community is maybe slightly different, but we certainly connect them with the right people that can help them.

00:20:28:00 - 00:20:34:19 Unknown So, let's talk a little bit about your history, and I'm wondering if you can tell everyone about,

00:20:34:19 - 00:20:40:00 Unknown your experience as immigrating to Canada when you were, when you were a young person.

00:20:40:00 - 00:21:05:08 Unknown Yeah. So I was, 12 years old, when I moved to Canada, I knew a few words of English, but it was very, very limited. And, you know, a 12 years old versus the excitement of travel going to a new place. I've heard of this Canada and, I came from South America. So seeing black dirt, I interpreted that a swamp.

00:21:05:10 - 00:21:13:02 Unknown So all I saw was swamp. When I came to Manitoba. So there's so many different things that

00:21:13:02 - 00:21:16:03 Unknown that are new, and the smells are new.

00:21:16:03 - 00:21:25:23 Unknown The. You know what I talked about the the black dirt, I was used to red dirt. So when I saw black, you know, the only black dirt I knew was in the swampy areas.

00:21:26:01 - 00:21:47:07 Unknown It's a lot of those things that are new. There's excitement with that. The first winter was definitely an adventure. That was something that nobody, that can prepare you for. I trust me, you cannot explain what frostbite feels like until you've experienced that a few times. And then you know why they put, thing called a tuk on your head and cover your ears.

00:21:47:09 - 00:22:15:03 Unknown But, at that age, there's there's a lot of that stuff that was good and fun playing and snow was fun. The then going into the school and immigrating, transitioning was very difficult. There was many seasons that I found, difficult. So those, grades seven, eight, that that era for me was, a lot of trauma. And so that was a very difficult season for me to transition into.

00:22:15:05 - 00:22:30:22 Unknown And you're transitioning your whole life. It's language. It's how what you eat, it's it's the smells. It's how you, dress. All of that is new. And to transition that for me was a very difficult season.

00:22:30:22 - 00:22:38:04 Unknown And I think that's often what I think about today when people come here, what are they experiencing? What are their children experiencing?

00:22:38:04 - 00:22:53:14 Unknown How's the family? Where's their connections? And because for me, I experienced a lot of trauma was a very difficult season in being bullied, not knowing the language, struggling. I had a great childhood growing up, but it was different. That looked different.

00:22:53:14 - 00:23:07:01 Unknown I felt good. I had good confidence. I lost most of my self-confidence, self-worth through that process because you start to feel and then, you know, kids aren't always the kindest when you go through that.

00:23:07:01 - 00:23:25:10 Unknown They tell you that and you start to believe that. And so that was kind of in my 20s. I really had to work on that. I was fortunate that I was able to access programs that I benefited from to work through the some of those trauma pieces to, put them in the right perspective. So to move on from that.

00:23:25:10 - 00:23:47:04 Unknown So what kind of, tips would you have for, for us as Canadians, when we have, new people coming into our communities, especially to rural communities, what kind of things can we do better, to, to lessen that, that trauma. But from your own personal experience, what what would you have liked to have seen?

00:23:47:04 - 00:23:53:12 Unknown I would say listen and then listen more and try to listen when there's a little bit of silence.

00:23:53:12 - 00:24:16:01 Unknown What are they not saying? For me, if somebody would have asked me a bunch of questions, I probably wouldn't have opened up. So it's not that I'm not saying that you that solves everything, but the certainly at the start, is there things to it that that are underneath the surface. And if you take a little bit of time, get to know people, try to connect with people and and listen.

00:24:16:01 - 00:24:20:21 Unknown And particularly if people aren't, integrating

00:24:20:21 - 00:24:22:13 Unknown that that's concerning.

00:24:22:13 - 00:24:38:01 Unknown Well, and I think you bring up an interesting, point and thank you for sharing all of that. I think it's very, you know, it's important for people to know it's it isn't easy. Right? There's a lot of things that happen. And, that integration piece is a big it's key, right?

00:24:38:01 - 00:24:55:11 Unknown You know, I, I talk a lot about a lot of times companies hire people, and they put them in the positions where they're, they don't need any English. And then everyone goes home and speaks their first language. But then they're frustrated because they're not moving up in positions, and it's like, you have to have you need to integrate.

00:24:55:11 - 00:25:15:15 Unknown And a big piece of that is, is the language, like you said it and talking about it and, and and getting through some of these challenges. So it it's a big piece of success in Canada to being able to, to grow and and and get into those positions. People want to be in. And I think too, it's hard in the, in the schools, like I used to be a teacher in the education system.

00:25:15:15 - 00:25:39:07 Unknown I mean, junior high is the hardest. You could pay me enough to be a junior. I got to do my kids. I love them all. But, you know, it's a tough time. And to come in to not have the language, I mean, that that age, I mean that social friends is the number one thing, right? Everyone wants and unfortunately, right now, you know, there's not a lot of supports, I don't think, for newcomer kids in schools, you know, so it's it's a challenge.

00:25:39:07 - 00:26:01:18 Unknown Yeah. There's, aspects to that, that, that the support is available there, not just in the schools but in the communities. And families. I think if families can get connected and the sooner that that happens, there's different outlets of school isn't going to. Well, is there other outlets sometimes that sports sometimes that's friendships, and family that's outside of that.

00:26:01:18 - 00:26:10:15 Unknown But the more points of connections that you can have, then you're not reliant on one. So if one isn't going well, that there's other area or other outlets.

00:26:10:15 - 00:26:18:22 Unknown Exactly. That's exact. And I like that. The more more points of contact you have a variety, the more opportunities you can have to exactly get what you need. Yeah,

00:26:18:22 - 00:26:23:04 Unknown it's a bill we have down here today because we really want to, to get to know your company.

00:26:23:04 - 00:26:43:04 Unknown And we want to celebrate. Well, how well you've done, and terms of just making all your employees, whether they be newcomers or just, you know, live their whole life here in Canada. We want to celebrate that, you know. So is there anything else you want to say? Is there any other messages you want? Our listeners to know?

00:26:43:04 - 00:27:06:10 Unknown Because we'd love to hear it from you. You are the. You are the specialist in this industry. Yeah. We try to leverage the people that are already here. So when we're recruiting our hope, the different channels are important, how we promote our business and offer the jobs that are there. But the people in the business are actually your best recruiters.

00:27:06:12 - 00:27:38:13 Unknown So you can go to outside firms and hire them. But the people inside the walls, I would much rather pay them. And so that's what we've shifted over the last number of years, far more into a, referral program. So today, if one of our drivers, goes out and recruits another driver, there's $2,000 that goes to them over the first six months of that referred, employee, or shops the same thing or we're typically looking for experienced mechanics.

00:27:38:13 - 00:27:56:22 Unknown And if one of our existing mechanics, refers somebody, it is, $1,000, that they get and we've paid out substantial amounts of money. Same thing on the wash bay. There's an $800 referral program. Then we have a number. I talked about the training and development subsidies.

00:27:56:22 - 00:28:05:14 Unknown We have that. In addition to that, if there's a driver that gets hired, he's been driving for us for at least a year and he's in good standing with us.

00:28:05:15 - 00:28:24:02 Unknown So then we, we will support them in buying their own truck. So if they want to get into their own truck and become an owner operator, we'll give them a $5,000, a start up subsidy. And so that's, that's not alone. That's, that's a, that's money that we pay to them to help them get started for the first year.

00:28:24:08 - 00:28:46:18 Unknown There's requirements then that we want from them to take some training because they need to have a business plan that goes with that. So we try to keep the money inside because if if you're giving it to them, it makes us as a business more sticky. And hopefully they want to stay longer. It gives them an opportunity to go out and earn that money versus paying outside recruiters.

00:28:46:18 - 00:28:49:00 Unknown So just one more question I built

00:28:49:00 - 00:29:07:09 Unknown is that, so with with my company I specialize in the skilled trades. And so I often run into those who are fairly new to Canada, in terms of, you know, they want their children to go on to adversity and even them themselves, they, you know, they're they want to do that professional job.

00:29:07:11 - 00:29:29:03 Unknown But, knowing where the industry is specifically in skilled trades is heading and truck and transport, would you say you're just as competitive, if not more competitive for a great career for, newcomers in Canada in terms of like, do you do you have to go to university to, you know, be successful or can you get a position with your company and be just as successful?

00:29:29:03 - 00:29:44:06 Unknown So first, if you know what your gifts and your talents are and what you're naturally geared towards, pursue that, because that's what's going to give you and drive you probably where are you going to have the most success. So if you're at that stage, you kind of know that. So if you want to be a doctor,

00:29:44:06 - 00:29:45:14 Unknown go get get at it.

00:29:45:18 - 00:30:08:21 Unknown Like we don't want to hold you back from that. But if you have want to use your we want to be a hands on type of person. The trades end of it, there is plenty of opportunity. We have technicians that are making $40, $45 an hour. You can earn $100,000 being a mechanic, it's might start at $20 an hour, but you can work your way through that.

00:30:08:23 - 00:30:30:12 Unknown And there's plenty of opportunities. And I can tell you there's lots of work in that space. There's over time, if you want to work in that space on the truck, side, there's anywhere from early on as you're learning. Yes, you're earning less. You're might be in that 60, 65,000 a year. But we know for a fact because we pull our annual teeth forward, what drivers earn.

00:30:30:14 - 00:30:48:07 Unknown And there's plenty of drivers that are in in that 100,000, 90 to 110. So that's kind of the upper end of the spectrum. So there's lots that are sitting in that 80 85,000. And a lot of our work, not all that, but a lot of our work is regional. You might be gone one night, two nights. Lot of our guys are home every night.

00:30:48:12 - 00:31:03:06 Unknown It might be starting early. And then we have obviously some that are gone for a week at a time, 5 or 6 days at a time. But there's plenty of ways, and, and trades that are out there where there's really good, money to be made

00:31:03:06 - 00:31:04:16 Unknown and no school debt.

00:31:04:16 - 00:31:20:03 Unknown That's right. You can. And the beauty if you become a technician so you can start, you can get some experience some hours under your belt, then you go to school while you're still employed, and there's plenty of subsidies and funds there.

00:31:20:03 - 00:31:26:12 Unknown You keep your job, you keep your 1010 year, you keep your benefits, you come back and you get right back at it again.

00:31:26:12 - 00:31:36:12 Unknown Yeah. And I was going to add to all that too. And your living rule. So it's cheaper. So you get way more out of your money too. Yeah. Yeah it's cheaper. And the air is clean.

00:31:36:14 - 00:31:37:17 Unknown Yeah.

00:31:37:17 - 00:31:47:00 Unknown There's odd places where there's a heavy smell of money. But, that's okay to. We all like that smell. Yeah. Yeah.

00:31:47:00 - 00:31:57:22 Unknown So do you require, you know, a lot of times people talk about, you know, people aren't hiring me because I need Canadian experience. What are your thoughts on that? I always say, you know, it's not Canadian experience.

00:31:57:22 - 00:32:13:18 Unknown It's really more about, you know, talking about maybe your experience from your home country and how does it transfer to what you're doing in the positions in Canada. What are your thoughts on that Canadian experience? I love that question. I'm glad you brought it up. It's relevant experience.

00:32:13:18 - 00:32:19:00 Unknown So there is a gap. So whether if you're we have, Filipinos, a lot of Filipinos.

00:32:19:00 - 00:32:34:05 Unknown So if you've driven truck in the Philippines, it looks different. It is different than it is here. But there is some things that are still applicable. And then if you've gone out and gotten your license here, the biggest piece that we watch for if you've never driven in winter,

00:32:34:05 - 00:32:37:11 Unknown we do a winter training course before winter is here.

00:32:37:11 - 00:32:50:17 Unknown So in fall time, any class one driver that has not gone through a winter, we'll do some extra training. So yes, there are some Canadian specific things, but it's really we try to focus on relevant work experience.

00:32:50:17 - 00:32:52:13 Unknown And and what does your

00:32:52:13 - 00:32:57:05 Unknown current hiring process look. So let's say someone listens to this interview today.

00:32:57:07 - 00:33:10:13 Unknown What would you recommend their their next steps be? In terms of, you know, I'm all about you know, it's important to network, have those connections. You know, you don't just want someone email saying can you hire me? Like what? What do you want to see

00:33:10:13 - 00:33:13:05 Unknown have happen for people wanting to apply?

00:33:13:05 - 00:33:18:15 Unknown Yeah. So it's the different positions are slightly different, but it all starts, similar at the same place.

00:33:18:15 - 00:33:40:04 Unknown You can go to our website, which is so Teka, if you search, Steve's livestock transport, there's a link there you can go and apply. Someone will reach out to you. There's also several different, social media outlets that you can send us messages through, and somebody will reach out. So there's several different channels that way, and then somebody will get in touch with you.

00:33:40:04 - 00:33:57:19 Unknown So there will be some basic questions online that will be, asked. And then that'll kind of put you into a queue as far as what type of a job that you're looking for or whether you're applying for a specific job. And that starts the process. But reaching out and then we're at a lot of different places as well.

00:33:57:20 - 00:34:06:06 Unknown So if you are not necessarily looking for a job tomorrow and have some time where we're in several different, trade fairs,

00:34:06:06 - 00:34:13:03 Unknown the brand of winter fair, we're at those places. So we're at a number of different, events that you will see us,

00:34:13:03 - 00:34:18:00 Unknown and we'll have all those links, at the, in the show notes as well, so people can, can look there.

00:34:18:00 - 00:34:31:16 Unknown So, so what you're saying is, you know, don't just wait till you see a job. It's okay to apply even if there's not a specific position that people are like. I think a lot of times people don't apply because they don't see a job, but you never know what's going to come tomorrow, right? So it's important

00:34:31:16 - 00:34:33:19 Unknown for a driver, process.

00:34:33:19 - 00:34:56:10 Unknown It's more that's probably the longer process because you have to have all your work history related to that. You need to provide your driver's abstract so that process is longer. There's, several interview process. There is we then do a, a driver evaluation. So we want you to come in. We want to see if you can drive what level you're at.

00:34:56:12 - 00:35:13:03 Unknown And because we're handling with livestock, we really want everyone to do a ride along. So take a day and spend a day with our existing, guys that are on the roads. We have a number of them that would gladly take you along and you can see what it's done. So if it's not a fit,

00:35:13:03 - 00:35:15:23 Unknown then then we want you to know that very early on.

00:35:15:23 - 00:35:36:02 Unknown Yeah. They say, 80% of the jobs that are open, no one sees. You only see 20% of the job market. So I like that point too, is that you just need to apply to different companies and you never know. And also building your network is a very good thing. So anyways, well, I think that, that wraps it up for us today, right?

00:35:36:04 - 00:35:58:19 Unknown You or I could actually talk to you all for like, or listen to you for hours because this is so fascinating and I think you've really developed a wonderful company. And, we're just really appreciate, you know, your industry and the businesses within your industry and how well, you guys, take care of your employees. So thank you so much.

00:35:58:21 - 00:36:16:21 Unknown From from us here. Before we finish, I have two more questions, if that's okay. Yeah, I like to ask because say, yeah. In terms of spouses, what are your opportunities for spouses? Right. If someone's coming, let's say from Toronto, their partner might want work. Do you have a lot of,

00:36:16:21 - 00:36:22:01 Unknown maybe partners that both partners work at your or how how have you found that challenge?

00:36:22:01 - 00:36:43:04 Unknown Yeah. So we have, a number of jobs. So, for example, if they're interested in driving, we have, a lot of couples that are team drivers, so they might not be a full team. So we have several of them where the spouse, doesn't work full time. They only go on certain amount of runs. So that is on the driving side.

00:36:43:04 - 00:37:06:12 Unknown That's the number one. And then we have a number of different, positions where there's husband and wife working here. So there's we have a variety of opportunities. So if one has wants to drive or be a mechanic, the other one in in administration, we have those positions as well. And we also try to help them. We're fortunate with the regions that we're in that there is a lot of networks in our communities and opportunities.

00:37:06:17 - 00:37:19:19 Unknown So if it's not that we can help them and connect them to different groups. So if there isn't a job here most of the time are recruiting, people they know, what's in the community and what's, what's available in the community.

00:37:19:19 - 00:37:26:08 Unknown Okay. So so you kind of that you have those connections that you can lease. If there's not an opportunity with you, you can connect them to other opportunities so that they can.

00:37:26:13 - 00:37:32:21 Unknown That's great. And do are there any positions as well, that require French in your, in your company.

00:37:32:21 - 00:37:55:22 Unknown It's not a requirement but it's a benefit. Because we even though we're in Western Canada, our trucking is all over North America. So we regularly truck into eastern Canada. We're into all over the United States. So we move loads of livestock to Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, lots into the grain Belt, into Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, that area there.

00:37:56:01 - 00:37:58:22 Unknown But all over North America is where we truck.

00:37:58:22 - 00:38:09:12 Unknown We'll see with your with your job opportunities. People can see like all the United States and Canada. So that's, that's a bonus in itself. It is. It is.

00:38:09:12 - 00:38:17:00 Unknown So yes, I think I Lindsay, did you have any more questions or. No, that is good. Because if I keep going, I'll just keep going.

00:38:17:02 - 00:38:37:08 Unknown Well, that's the way how I am. Well, I going to ask you one more just because we want to. Like I said, we're big believers in, in rural and supporting, rural areas. So can you tell us what is one, maybe a favorite rural restaurant or even just a favorite rural place that you like to go to just so we can, you know, showcase that today.

00:38:37:08 - 00:38:46:22 Unknown So I like Mexican food and, so anywhere at any place that has a good, Mexican place. And there is one particular thing that I can't remember the name,

00:38:46:22 - 00:39:01:15 Unknown but it's in Brandon. It's right by City Hall. It is by far my favorite Mexican restaurant. Every time I rent Brandon and everybody in the office there knows already if we're going for lunch or going for dinner, they know where I'll be.

00:39:01:18 - 00:39:22:19 Unknown Okay. Yes, yes, I know exactly where that is, and I yeah, it's great dishes there. So definitely and I forget the name as well. So we'll also put that on the link. I, I did an exchange to Mexico. So Mexican food is my food I love Mexico and I will be stopping in Brandon. We, actually, I don't know if you know this, but, Lindsay and I are both actually farmers.

00:39:22:19 - 00:39:23:11 Unknown We both,

00:39:23:11 - 00:39:24:12 Unknown farm a little bit, so,

00:39:24:12 - 00:39:29:06 Unknown I'll be. I'll be stopping there also on my way to the family farm. So,

00:39:29:06 - 00:39:41:05 Unknown Great. I'll just, just add something. You're part of the business and part of what I. An early on in my career, I was working in a job, and I had just come out of a meeting, and I showed up to work.

00:39:41:05 - 00:39:51:07 Unknown I worked hard, I love what I. What I do and what I did back then and came out of a meeting where I just felt deflated. There was a lot of criticism. There was a lot of,

00:39:51:07 - 00:39:55:23 Unknown it should have been better than what it was. And I always thought to myself, there's got to be a better way.

00:39:55:23 - 00:40:15:11 Unknown Like, I want to show up to work. I want to work hard. I want to help the company be successful, and I want to have fun doing it. And I feel super excited and blessed that I get to do that today. We're part of working with people. We want to be successful with, people we want others to be successful.

00:40:15:13 - 00:40:19:23 Unknown I have a firm belief that if we help people be successful,

00:40:19:23 - 00:40:22:22 Unknown undoubtably we as a business will be successful.

00:40:22:22 - 00:40:36:10 Unknown We're far from perfect. We have many things that aren't perfect, but we strive to help others be successful and in turn we will be successful. So building into people we talk a lot about, we want to take care of people.

00:40:36:14 - 00:40:51:10 Unknown Those people that take care of us, we want to take care of them, and we want to go above and beyond and taking care of them. Those that want to take advantage of us, I want to move on as quickly as we possibly can. But those that take care of us, I want to take care of them.

00:40:51:10 - 00:40:56:14 Unknown And I think we can have a lot of fun and build a beautiful thing. If we do that

00:40:56:14 - 00:41:04:08 Unknown 100, I think you have it. When you invest in your employees, they invest in you. And that's really the key to success, I think. Yeah.

00:41:04:08 - 00:41:08:19 Unknown You said they love it because, the grass is greener always on the other side.

00:41:08:19 - 00:41:29:14 Unknown Right. And, so people always think, well, you know, I'll start with this and I'll move on to there. But, you know, as a person, no matter where you're from, you all, you always should give any type of job your best shot because you never know where it will take you. It may not be something that you planned, but I think that the path last walked is often the path to best.

00:41:29:14 - 00:41:52:02 Unknown You know. Is this the one that turns out the best for people? So I think that's a really great point to make. We did a, employee survey, a few years ago and ask them what kind of a company they wanted to be part of. It was part of us building our value system. And there was three things that they really came back to us, and we summarized that, and we went back and forth with our employees, numerous times.

00:41:52:02 - 00:42:11:05 Unknown And they recognize that we're not perfect. They don't they don't mind reminding us of the things that we could do better, but they said we want to be part of that. So let's make it better together. Was the slogan that they came up with. They want us to, act with integrity. So as a whole, when nobody is looking, that will do the right thing.

00:42:11:07 - 00:42:16:10 Unknown And they said, we want you to listen. You can respond openly and candidly, but listen.

00:42:16:10 - 00:42:30:05 Unknown So those were the three things that that our employees came back to us and said, this is what we want to be part of. We want to be part of an organization where collectively we can make it together, where will act with integrity, where we'll listen and respond openly

00:42:30:05 - 00:42:31:09 Unknown 100%.

00:42:31:11 - 00:42:33:04 Unknown that's amazing. Thank you for that.

00:42:33:04 - 00:42:43:22 Unknown Well, thank you once again, for coming on. We really appreciate it. Thank you to our listeners for listening to another amazing company.

00:42:43:22 - 00:42:55:05 Unknown People, if you are interested, we're going to have all the information in the show notes. So I definitely recommend checking it out, applying and checking out the communities as well.

00:42:55:05 - 00:42:58:02 Unknown We'll have information on that. So thank you again.

00:42:58:02 - 00:43:07:01 Unknown Yeah. So thank you very much. You have a great company and I want to thank our listeners. And until next time remember live real live well thank you.

00:43:10:00 - 00:43:25:12 Unknown If you feel this could assist other people like yourself. Please like and share our podcast as well. We will leave links below to the topics we spoke about today. Thank you for listening and join us next time to learn about another great company and community that is a great place to work and settle.