Tandet Delivers Solutions for Truck & Coach Apprentices

Catherine Magill, HR Manager

When her company needed apprentices, Catherine Magill, the Human Resources Manager at Tandet in Oakville, decided to register and post a vacancy on www.apprenticesearch.com. “We have a very busy truck service department here, and we need to train young truck and coach apprentices who can learn from the skilled and knowledgeable workers we have on our staff (see related information). We found apprenticesearch a convenient and reliable way to find and hire the right people.”

A diversified organization with 5 separate companies and 12 locations across Ontario and Manitoba, Tandet has grown since being founded over 30 years ago by the Tilley family. “Our service technicians have stayed busy despite the recession,” Catherine said. “Many of our customers are keeping their existing trucks instead of buying new ones (see related article). We currently have 29 technicians and 6 apprentices in our service departments at Tandet, and we’re now looking at adding two more apprentices from the apprenticesearch database.”

Catherine reflects on the forward-thinking approach that Tandet has demonstrated since its beginnings and it is that mind-set contributed to its inclusion on the list of Canada’s 50 Best-Managed Companies. “We need young workers who are passionate about their work here and we need our experienced technicians to share their expertise with them. New technology means there’s lots to keep current with.”

Brothers, Kirk and Scott Tilley, have watched their Company grow into a large operation with 256 full-time employees and over 30 owner-operators. All along they have remained committed to apprenticeship. “We recognize the connection between apprentices and the future success of our company,” said Catherine Magill. “We are impressed with the Mohawk College based training many of our employees bring here when they are hired. We take advantage of the apprenticeship tax credit every year. And we continue to collect resumes of potential future apprentices via www.apprenticesearch.com. Apprenticeship is important to us.”