Susan Ewart, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Trucking Association

Each year, January marks the beginning of the Association’s annual membership renewal drive and this year, support from our members is critical. As we work diligently, regarding issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to move the needle forward in Saskatchewan on business issues that are important to our members.

One of the important issues we at the Association realize is the need for having accurate membership data. Data is defined as a collection of facts that can be translated into a form that a computer can access. Big Data is the ‘buzzword’ trend right now and good data allows our organization to create benchmarks and baselines for goals to keep us moving forward. It also allows us to get the results we want and need as well as find critical solutions to problems that the industry may need to overcome.

When we have accurate membership details on trucks, trailers, people and fuel data, it allows us to back up statements and issues with government stakeholders when we are working towards creating a level playing field for trucking in Saskatchewan.

Sometimes it can feel like ‘survey overload,’ having another form or questionnaire to complete for the Association, while we try to be as efficient as possible in collecting the information; however, having updated and accurate information is our best defense when working with our partners in government.

Data can assist when creating strategic approaches with how governments look at our ‘asks’ in a favourable light. When we can easily pull data from our CRM (Client Relationship Management System) with the number of carriers who haul a specific commodity, it can then survey that group to find out issues that may be important to them.

The STA recently completed a survey of its members on the Ministry of Highways and we received great feedback that we will be able to use in the coming months when communicating our members needs to the government.

On the forefront of everyone’s mind is the upcoming ELD regulation on June 12, 2021. While a significant number of our carrier members are ready, there is still some work to do on ensuring our members know of available suppliers, which ones are in the third-party certification process and how they can effectively be ready for June 12, 2021. We heard that 76% of our membership is ready for the upcoming regulation. We need that number to be a bit higher. The data we collected from the survey will help us to shape our communication strategy for the next few months.

The next time your Association asks you to complete a membership renewal application or a survey on a current issue facing trucking, you will understand the impact that your voice is having in shaping trucking in Saskatchewan because we are only effective together.