Canadian Trucking Alliance Names Jean-Claude Fortin Chairman
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Jean-Claude Fortin, president of J.E. Fortin Inc., has been named chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance.
J.E. Fortin, a trucking company that specializes in temperature-controlled transportation, is based in Quebec, less than a mile from the New York border. CTA, as its name suggests, is an alliance representing the trucking associations of Canada’s 10 provinces.
Fortin will serve a two-year term. He succeeds Scott Smith, CEO of family-owned logistics company J.D. Smith and Sons.
A long-serving member of the CTA board of directors, Fortin is the third-generation leader of his family’s company. J.E. Fortin has a fleet of 75 tractor units and 150 temperature-controlled vans. The company employs 95 people.
“I love trucking,” said Fortin. “The industry and CTA, in particular, has given me and my family so much and opened up so many doors for my business. As chair, this is my chance to give back to the industry and the community. I believe that in order to have a viable industry, you need to have an effective alliance of provincial associations proudly working together.”
Fortin takes the helm as Canada’s trucking industry navigates the coronavirus pandemic and implements third-party certification for electronic logging devices. (Canada’s ELD mandate takes effect in June 2021.)
Another issue CTA is working on is enhancing safety and training standards in the wake of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. The April 2018 accident, which involved a collision between a semi-trailer and the bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, killed 16 people and injured 13.
Fortin also will oversee the launch of a national social media campaign designed to improve the industry’s image and highlight career paths for young people.
“The severe driver shortage we have faced for decades in this industry is only expected to worsen,” Fortin said. “It’s my goal that, before I retire, the industry is in a strong position to creatively promote all its benefits and the opportunities it offers to a new generation of workers.”
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