In this episode, host Kelsey Hipkin chats with AMTA’s Andy Barnes, Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Compliance, to discuss the value of AMTA’s involvement with key industry organizations and how these relationships help strengthen our advocacy efforts, improve industry engagement, and ensure that the voice of our members is heard where it matters most.

Learn more about AMTA’s Government Relations and Compliance (GRC) work (formerly known as Compliance and Regulatory Affairs) on our website: https://amta.ca/government-relations.

AMTA’s Q3 GRC Committee meeting will be held in Calgary on September 15: https://amta.ca/portal/events/16, and the Q4 meeting will be held virtually on December 15: https://www.amta.ca/portal/events/27. These meetings are open to Full Carrier, Subsidiary Carrie, and Elite Members. Register now!

Learn more about AMTA Memberships on our website: https://amta.ca/become-a-member, and contact membership@amta.ca with any questions.

• Learn more about Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA): https://www.ccmta.ca/en/
• Learn more about Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC): https://www.pmtc.ca/
• Learn more about the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA): https://cvsa.org/
• Learn more about Driver Inc. by watching AMTA’s three-part video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmicsdS-lHRq-4QW_m2sfu1rhylz87mbg.
• Learn more about Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors: https://www.alberta.ca/transportation-and-economic-corridors

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at memberservices@amta.ca.

• Mark your calendars! AMTA’s Drawdown Dinner is returning this year to the River Cree Resort and Casino on October 15. More details to come.
• Save the date for AMTA’s 89th Annual Conference, also taking place at the River Cree Resort and Casino on April 7-8, 2027. More details coming soon.
• AMTA’s Whitecourt Safety Summit is on October 1. Join us for a full day of content including a keynote presentation, and sessions with WCB, Trucking HR Canada and more. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow. Register now: https://www.amta.ca/portal/events/17
• AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days return this September! Dates and volunteer opportunities will come in the near future. In the meantime, do you have swag that you want to donate? This is the official callout! Email events@amta.ca to learn how you can get involved.

Are you interested in getting involved with the AMTA? Please contact membership@amta.ca for Membership opportunities and learn the value that AMTA can bring to you and your organization.

AMTA seeks to represent our Members in all facets of the industry, but that only works if we hear from you on the issues affecting your day-to-day. We encourage everyone to reach out and share their thoughts and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at memberservices@amta.ca.

Do you have any questions or an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at marcom@amta.ca.

In this episode, host Kelsey Hipkin takes us off course on to the course with our inaugural edition of Fairway Forecast.

This episode was recorded live, with the help of AMTA’s Director of Member Services, Michelle Spacil, during AMTA’s Annual Calgary Golf Tournament at the Blue Devil Golf Club on June 16th. We took the opportunity of having 144 commercial transportation professionals in one place to posit some questions about industry.

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at memberservices@amta.ca.

• AMTA’s Q2 Compliance and Regulatory Affairs meeting takes place on June 23 at the Chateau Nova Yellowhead in Edmonton. This meeting is open to AMTA Full Carrier, Subsidiary Carrier, and Elite Members. You don’t want to miss this one because, as well as a packed agenda, AMTA will be making a special announcement. Register now: https://amta.ca/event/q2-compliance-regulatory-affairs-meeting-edmonton/
• Mark your calendars! AMTA’s Drawdown Dinner is returning this year to the River Cree Resort and Casino on October 15. More details to come.
• Save the date for AMTA’s 89th Annual Conference, also taking place at the River Cree Resort and Casino on April 7-8, 2027. More details coming soon.
• AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days return this September! Dates and volunteer opportunities will come in the near future. In the meantime, do you have swag that you want to donate? This is the official callout! Email events@amta.ca to learn how you can get involved.

Are you interested in getting involved with the AMTA? Please contact membership@amta.ca for Membership opportunities and learn the value that AMTA can bring to you and your organization.

AMTA seeks to represent our Members in all facets of the industry, but that only works if we hear from you on the issues affecting your day-to-day. We encourage everyone to reach out and share their thoughts and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at memberservices@amta.ca.

Do you have any questions or an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at marcom@amta.ca.

Thank you for taking the time to listen. We encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day!

In this episode, host Kelsey Hipkin welcomes back to the podcast Kristopher Marks, founder and CEO of VĪV Mental Health.

In our conversation, we dig deeper into the connection between mental health and workplace safety, explore what psychological safety really looks like in practice, and discuss what employers and workers can do to create healthier, safer workplaces.

• If you are experiencing isolation or struggling with your mental health and need help, there are many resources available: https://www.vivmentalhealth.com/resources/.

If you would like to learn more about VĪV Mental Health, please visit vivmentalhealth.com/, or contact them at info@www.vivmentalhealth.com.

Read Dave Elniski’s Guide: Psychosocial Hazard Control in Alberta’s Trucking Industry: https://amta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Final-Version-of-Psychosocial-Hazards-Guide-Dave-Elniski-AMTA-15-Jul-22.pdf

Get your tickets to VIV’s reVĪVal event, coming up on June 13 in Edmonton: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/revival-celebrating-community-connection-5-years-of-viv-tickets-1987066705005

Watch or listen to our previous episode with Kris here: https://www.steeringchange.ca/episodes/episode-26

If you have any questions or concerns about topics related to what was discussed in this episode, or commercial transportation and driver safety, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Services team at memberservices@amta.ca.

• Get your tickets and spend the day with us in Whitecourt on September 30th for our second and final Safety Summit of 2026. Tickets are only $30!
  Along with Kris Marks as our keynote speaker, join us for a full day of content, including sessions with WCB, Trucking HR Canada, and more. Network with like-minded transportation professionals and explore our event tradeshow.
• Our Calgary Golf Tournament is completely sold out, however there are still a few single spots and one foursome spot remaining for our Edmonton Golf Tournament. Those spots will go fast, so get them before they are gone! https://amta.ca/event/amta-edmonton-golf-tournament/
• AMTA’s Driver Appreciation Days return this September! Dates and volunteer opportunities will come in the near future. In the meantime, do you have swag that you want to donate? This is the official callout! Email events@amta.ca to learn how you can get involved.
• Mark your calendars! AMTA’s Drawdown Dinner is returning this year to the River Cree Resort and Casino on October 15. More details to come.

Are you interested in getting involved with the AMTA? Please contact membership@amta.ca for Membership opportunities and learn the value that AMTA can bring to you and your organization.

AMTA seeks to represent our Members in all facets of the industry, but that only works if we hear from you on the issues affecting your day-to-day. We encourage everyone to reach out and share their thoughts and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at memberservices@amta.ca.

Do you have any questions or an idea for a future Steering Change series? Message us at marcom@amta.ca.

Thank you for taking the time to listen. We encourage you to share this episode with those in your network who would receive value from our conversation. Make sure to hit that subscribe button and have a safe day!