PTDC - 75 Years of Driver Excellence

03/14/25 • 34 min

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin and long-time planner of the PTDC, Michelle Spacil, chat with Members of our Professional Truck Driving Championship (PTDC) Committee: Matt Geib, PTDC Marshall, Don Achtemichuk, PTDC Co-Marshall, and Don MacDonald, PTDC Track Master.

In our conversation, we highlight AMTA's Professional Truck Driving Championship (PTDC) which returns May 31, 2025, celebrating 75 years of Driver Excellence! We discuss how this event works, the specifics of the course and what it takes to navigate it, our collaboration with the Alberta Sheriffs, the importance of having an event that celebrates commercial drivers, and more.

Commercial drivers ensure goods and services in Alberta get to where they need to go, and this event serves to highlight the skillsets required behind the wheel. Drivers participate in one of four categories: Straight Truck, Tandem Single-Axle Pup, Tandem Bunk, and B-Train.

Driver and Volunteer registration opens Monday, March 17 (registration closes May 23)! Please note registration for both Drivers and Volunteers goes quickly. Learn more about PTDC on our website.

Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton, are available on our website, and tickets are going fast!
The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is 4pm on April 1, 2025.
Please note, our Tradeshow is officially sold out. Some sponsorship opportunities remain, please contact [email protected] to learn more.
Commercial drivers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in maintaining safety on Alberta’s roads. Each day, they navigate challenging conditions, weather, and traffic to deliver goods safely, while also taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of everyone around them. AMTA is introducing an "Angels of the Highway" program designed to celebrate and acknowledge these selfless efforts. This initiative will not only recognize the commitment truck drivers make to road safety but also empower them with the tools and resources to continue their vital work while staying healthy, safe, and supported on the road. Nominate your driver today!

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 [email protected].

Listeners, don’t forget about the AMTA Mailbag! We want to hear from you with your industry queries. DM us with your questions and we will answer via the AMTA Mailbag segment in future episodes or directly via our team of advisors.

Join the conversation at:

Web: amta.ca

Instagram: amta_ca/

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

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!

Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton, are available on our website, and tickets are going fast!
The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is 4pm on April 1, 2025.
Please note, our Tradeshow is officially sold out. Some sponsorship opportunities remain, please contact [email protected] to learn more.
Commercial drivers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in maintaining safety on Alberta’s roads. Each day, they navigate challenging conditions, weather, and traffic to deliver goods safely, while also taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of everyone around them. AMTA is introducing an "Angels of the Highway" program designed to celebrate and acknowledge these selfless efforts. This initiative will not only recognize the commitment truck drivers make to road safety but also empower them with the tools and resources to continue their vital work while staying healthy, safe, and supported on the road. Nominate your driver today!

Join the conversation at:

Web: amta.ca

Instagram: amta_ca/

Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociation

LinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Previous Episode

Beyond Compliance: Safety Technology in the Industry

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin, Dave Elniski, and Andy Barnes chat with Steve Keppler, Co-Director of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting.

In our conversation, we discuss voluntary safety programs like Beyond Compliance and how facilitating best practices, safety management systems, training and coaching services, and new technologies can help carriers of all sizes to reduce collisions, empower drivers, and improve safety within your company.

If you would like to learn more about Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, please contact Steve at [email protected] or visit the website: https://scopelitisconsulting.com/.
If you are interested in speaking with Andy Barnes, expert on all things Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, please contact him at [email protected].
If you are interested in speaking with Dave Elniski, expert on all things Safety and Compliance, (or to ask him more about their fascinating research and white paper) please contact them at [email protected].
If you would like to hear Dave and Steve talk more about ‘Technology & Safety in Transportation’ live on stage at AMTA’s AMTA’s Annual Conference, join us on April 8-10, 2025, at the River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton. Tickets are still available on our website.
The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is April 1, 2025.
Distracted driving is a growing threat on Alberta’s roads, contributing to thousands of convictions and countless preventable collisions each year. At AMTA, we’re taking action to make a difference—starting with you. Through education, awareness, and a shared commitment, we can reduce distracted driving incidents and create safer roadways for everyone. Take the AMTA Distracted Driving Pledge on our website and show your dedication to driving focused. Together, we can change habits, save lives, and set a new standard for safety on the road.

Join the conversation at:
Web: amta.ca
Instagram: amta_ca/
Facebook: AlbertaMotorTransportAssociationLinkedIn: alberta-motor-transport-association

Next Episode

Don’t Read Between the Lines

AMTA's Kelsey Hipkin, Manager of Communications, and Doug Walton, Senior Advisor, Member Solutions, chat with Constable James Kendrick of the Edmonton Police Service.

In our conversation, we discuss something that has become an epidemic, and is affecting the safety of Alberta’s highways and beyond ... distracted driving. Constable Kendrick provides examples of distracted driving that he and other officers with EPS have seen on the local roadways, some misconceptions that people have with using smartphones or ELDs and operating vehicles, and the penalties that drivers face when caught driving distracted.

When the risk is your own and others’ lives on the road, it is not worth it. Just don’t do it.

Since January, AMTA has been behind the wheel of a Distracted Driving campaign. We’re inviting you to take a stand against distracted driving by joining us in taking the pledge to make our highways safer. It’s time for us to come together and protect what matters most – our loved ones, our communities, and our beautiful province. We can make every drive safer by not reading between the lines!

By taking the pledge against distracted driving, you’re joining our community that’s committed to safety and positive change. Submit your video or words today and make sure you share with your friends, what are you waiting for? It’s a simple step that could save a life tomorrow.

Take the Pledge

Tickets for AMTA’s Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2025, River Cree Resort and Casino, Edmonton, are available on our website, and tickets are going fast!
The deadline to register for the Annual Conference or Awards Celebration is 4pm on April 1, 2025.
Please note, our Tradeshow is officially sold out. Some sponsorship opportunities remain, please contact [email protected] to learn more.
AMTA's Professional Truck Driving Championship (PTDC), which returns May 31, 2025, celebrates 75 years of Driver Excellence!
Commercial drivers ensure goods and services in Alberta get to where they need to go, and this event serves to highlight the skillsets required behind the wheel. Drivers participate in one of five categories: Straight Truck, Pup Trailer Day Cab, Day Cab, Bunk Truck, and B-Train.
Driver and Volunteer registration is open now! (registration closes May 23)!
Please note registration for both Drivers and Volunteers goes quickly. Learn more about PTDC on our website, or contact [email protected].
Commercial drivers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in maintaining safety on Alberta’s roads. Each day, they navigate challenging conditions, weather, and traffic to deliver goods safely, while also taking extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of everyone around them. AMTA is introducing an "Angels of the Highway" program designed to celebrate and acknowledge these selfless efforts. This initiative will not only recognize the commitment truck drivers make to road safety but also empower them with the tools and resources to continue their vital work while staying healthy, safe, and supported on the road. Nominate your driver today!