Mirabel, October 29, 2012 – On October 24, the Centre de formation du transport routier Saint Jérôme (CFTR) hosted the visits of representatives of 27 firms for the second edition of Employers Day. This activity gave many students an opportunity to introduce themselves and give their resumés to prospective employers.

Future graduates of the School’s vocational program in truck driver training were offered internships and interesting jobs by well known companies, such as Schneider National, Golden International, Groupe Morneau, GFS Montréal, Extra Multi-Ressources, Groupe Manucam, Lou Mac, Challenger, Summum ressources humaines, DFS, Transport Guilbault, Transport Jules Savard, Transport Jocelyn Bourdeau, Coca-Cola, Groupe Transport St-Michel, Robert Transport, Fedex, Transport Bourassa, Simard Transport, Unique Personnel, Trans West Group, Truck’N Roll, Transport SLH, GOJIT, Sanimax, Transport Jaguar International and Express Mondor.

Jonathan Déziel of Transport St-Michel had several resumés in his pocket by the end of the day. Like Mariane Villemure of Groupe Robert, he said: “We met some excellent candidates. They were motivated and asked relevant questions. We have internships to offer them that will lead to employment as Class 1 drivers, if all goes well.”

The CFTR plans to hold a third edition of Employers Day in the spring of 2013. Several firms have already confirmed that their representatives will attend. So circle the date on your calendar!

Since its establishment in 1976, the Centre de formation du transport routier Saint-Jérôme (CFTR), part of the Commission scolaire de la Rivière-du-Nord (CSRDN), has distinguished itself as a leader in the teaching of skills required in transportation industry occupations. About 1,000 students graduate from the School every year and their job placement rate is nearly 90%.

Quebec’s Team Will Be in Moncton!

Mirabel, July 5, 2012 – The Centre de formation du transport routier Saint-Jérôme (CFTR) enthusiastically welcomes the new measures introduced by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) to combat driver fatigue. The new measures supplement the strategy developed by the CFTR in 2010 to deal with the problem of driver fatigue. According to CFTR Director Bernard Boulé, “Although compliance with the Regulation respecting the hours of driving and rest of heavy vehicle drivers is a mandatory and necessary measure, we found that it was not enough to compel drivers to take necessary action to avoid driver fatigue. We believe that drivers should be provided with information and training to help them avoid driver fatigue.”

Consequently, in 2010, the CFTR made it a requirement for all students to keep a record of and monitor their hours of on duty and off duty time. Student drivers use a detailed record to keep track of how they use their time outside their classes. As Mr. Boulé explained, “It is not a question of monitoring the students’ activities. However, it is the CFTR’s responsibility to ensure that all students comply with the spirit of the regulations before they are allowed behind the wheel. The detailed record is therefore used to record all types of paid work and all periods of off duty time.”

The CFTR introduced this practice to ensure that students record 8 hours of off duty time for every 24 hour period and at least 24 consecutive hours of off duty time for each 14 day cycle. For example, it would be unthinkable for the CFTR to allow a student to drive if he or she had worked all night and reported for classes the next morning without having had 8 hours of off duty time. The same applies to a student who has worked weekends and not had 24 consecutive hours of off duty time during a 14 day cycle.

The detailed record is a key component of the CFTR’s strategy to encourage its future graduates to adopt healthy work habits and lifestyles. Students can use the detailed record to schedule their periods of off duty time, organize their work time and take other requirements in their personal lives into consideration (family life, emotional life, household tasks, etc.) in accordance with their new status as heavy vehicle drivers.

To consult the SAAQ news release on driver fatigue, go to
http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/salle_presse/commJo.php?GUID=13fbdb88591df117f6b982d93c799cb8

Mirabel, June 5, 2012 - On June 15, 2012, Pierre Lavoie will join experienced, committed cyclists in the fourth edition of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, an impressive 1,000 km cycling event that attracts participants from across Quebec. Sébastien Roy, Assistant Director of the Centre de formation du transport routier Saint-Jérôme (CFTR) will be participating in the race for the second consecutive year as a member of the Association des cadres scolaires du Québec team. He explained, “If, through my involvement in the Grand Défi, I succeed in persuading my friends and co workers of the importance of developing healthy lifestyles, I will have achieved my personal goal.” Roy is also training for his third Ironman race.

Once again, the CFTR gets involved

As it did last year, the CFTR will provide a tractor trailer that will follow the convoy of cyclists. CFTR Director Bernard Boulé pointed out that it was important for the training centre to get involved in this cause promoting the development of healthy lifestyles to young people and their parents: “The CFTR is pleased to be participating for a second year in Quebec’s biggest health promotion event.”

A spectacular cyclists’ marathon

The 1,000 km race is the “adult” component of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie. It consists of a spectacular cyclists’ marathon involving more than 900 cyclists, who must cycle in relays behind Pierre Lavoie, who will cycle the entire route from SaguenayLac Saint Jean to Montreal in 60 hours.

The 1,000 km trek is more than a sports achievement. For Pierre Lavoie, this event is primarily a forum for raising our community’s awareness of the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles if we want our young people to have a future.

All profits from the event will be donated to the Fondation GO to support medical research into orphan diseases and provide funding for projects promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

To find out more about the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, go to : Web Site

Mirabel, June 6, 2012 - The CFTR was pleased to participate in the 10th edition of Energotest, which was held from May 28 to June 6, 2012, in order to learn about energy efficient technologies together with industry leaders. The tests will be held over several days in accordance with the environmental concerns of the CFTR and the companies and partners concerned.

Three instructors took three trucks to the test track in Blainville to carry out fuel consumption tests with trucks fitted with semi trailer side skirts and tests involving fuel additives. One of the instructors, in collaboration with PMG Technologies Inc., gave a demonstration using a dynamometer to representatives of the Quebec departments of Transport and of Natural Resources and Wildlife. The objective of this project was to simulate on road driving conditions in a controlled environment so as to be able to measure polluting emissions resulting from the use of new technologies. In addition, the repair shop team helped to install and program six test units. The CFTR weigh scale was also used to standardize the weight of semi trailers used in the tests.

In the future, this association with Energotest, will give the CFTR privileged access to a multitude of information on fuel economy and environmentally friendly driving that will subsequently be given to our students and incorporated into the CFTR culture. As a result of its involvement in this initiative, the CFTR now has a semi trailer fitted with side skirts. CFTR Director Bernard Boulé would like to thank the instructors and the team of mechanics for their involvement in promoting energy efficiency.

The next Energotest campaign will be held from September 10 to 19, 2012.

For an overview of the tests conducted in 2007, go to :
See video

STRONG SHOWING BY CFTR STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTORS IN THE 2012 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mirabel, May 30, 2012 – The Centre de formation du transport routier Saint-Jérôme (CFTR) and the Centre de formation en transport de Charlesbourg (CFTC), together with the Association du camionnage du Québec (ACQ), held the second edition of the Student Championships in Charlesbourg on Sunday, May 27, to highlight the hard work invested by students to obtain their vocational studies diplomas (DEP) in truck driver training.

CFTR students and instructors had to carry out a series of tests on a closed circuit track in order to have their tractor trailer driving skills assessed. They also had their knowledge evaluated in a written test on the Highway Safety Code.

Representatives of Via Prévention and the Comité sectoriel de main-d’œuvre de l’industrie du transport routier au Québec (Camo-route) were on hand to present scholarships to the winners.

The winners will represent their training centres at the Championnat provincial des chauffeurs professionnels du Québec (Quebec professional truck drivers championship), which will be held on Saturday, August 11 at the CFTR, located at 17000 Aubin Street in Mirabel (Saint-Janvier district).

Fanny-Anne Lévesque, a future concrete mixer driver, had only good words to describe the Championship: “It is a good competition in which all participants are given encouragement throughout the day. I obtained second place largely because of my instructors who encouraged and supported me throughout my training.”

Fanny-Anne Lévesque

The directors of both schools, Bernard Boulé of the CFTR and Eddy Vallières of the CFTC, our partners, the employers, the instructors and the entire staff would like to congratulate the students and instructors on their unstinting hard work during the 2012 Championships, which were a fine opportunity for students and instructors to demonstrate their skills.

CFTR and CEP STUDENTS REWARDED FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE

Mirabel, May 17, 2012 - On Saturday, May 5, the annual convention of the Association du camionnage du Québec (ACQ) was held at the Fairmount Hotel in Mont-Tremblant. Representatives of the Fondation pour la formation en transport routier 2012 presented five scholarships to students registered in the vocational studies diploma (DEP) program in truck driver training at the Centre de formation du transport routier Saint-Jérôme (CFTR) and one scholarship to a student registered in the vocational studies diploma (DEP) program in heavy road vehicle mechanics at the Centre d’études professionnelles Saint-Jérôme (CEP). The names of the scholarship donors and recipients are listed below.

To receive a scholarship, recipients had to pass their course with excellent marks, attend classes regularly, demonstrate an ability to persevere despite personal problems or challenges and obey safety rules. Additional criteria to be met were unstinting hard work throughout the training and respect shown in their relationships with fellow students and with instructors.

In addition, five CFTR students (Éric Provost, Robert Major, Lorène Bastien, Ion Sarbu and Hélène Marie Savoie) were invited by the Foundation to attend a networking activity bringing together employers and players in the transportation industry. The employers had an opportunity to make their labour requirements known to the graduates.

The mission of the Fondation pour la formation en transport routier (road transportation training foundation) is to promote training for the next generation of workers in the transportation industry by awarding scholarships to students interested in careers in the transportation industry. This year, the Foundation demonstrated innovativeness by offering a greater number of scholarships through its recognition program for students registered in the vocational studies diploma (DEP) programs in truck driver training and heavy road vehicle mechanics.

On June 17, 18 and 19, 2011, Pierre Lavoie will meet with the experienced and committed cyclists participating in the third edition of the 1,000 km event. The objective of this one of a kind, popular event is to promote healthy lifestyles for young people between the ages of 6 and 12 as well as for their parents through training.

The Centre de formation du transport routier Saint Jérôme (CFTR) and the Centre de Formation en Transport de Charlesbourg (CFTC) are very pleased to introduce the first edition of the student championships.

The Centre de formation du transport routier Saint Jérôme (CFTR), in collaboration with the Centre de Formation en Transport de Charlesbourg (CFTC), is very pleased to present a new championship called the 2011 Student Championships.