Apprenticeship Success at BTSI, Bryant Trailer Services Inc.

Anyone who has used our area roads and highways in the last decade will agree that truck traffic has increased noticeably. It comes as no surprise then that the job of keeping these rigs on the road safely and in compliance with Ministry of Transportation standards has sparked substantial growth in the Truck & Coach Technician apprenticeship field.

BTSI is a Brampton employer that provides truck and trailer repairs in their 22,000 square foot, 15 bay facility and also with their '24/7' mobile repair service trucks.. With 41 staff, BTSI performs mechanical repair and various services for  many fleets based in Southern Ontario. BTSI also offers value added services through their web-based fleet maintenance system at www.bryanttrailer.com.

Trends in the Trade

According to Pete Bryant, President of BTSI, new and more sophisticated technology continues to have an impact on Truck & Coach service and repair. ABS brakes, air suspension systems, electronic controls and computer diagnostics make the job more interesting but also more challenging. In Europe according to Pete, a combination of stringent regulations and safety consciousness continues to drive advances in new technology: disc brakes are standard in Europe, while we are just beginning to see their introduction in trucks here.

Apprenticeship
  

BTSI is also no stranger to apprenticeship and has an excellent record of indenturing and training - up to 30 apprentices in the last 15 years, many of whom have stayed on to progress within the company. Some have moved out of province or are now working with other companies, but all have benefited from acquiring transferable skills in this occupation. In 1991 BTSI was awarded recognition by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for their commitment to training apprentices. Click here for more information about the apprenticeship process, including how to indenture an apprentice.

 Hiring Process

Interviews are usually held by Pete or his Operations Manager Paul Hicks, once they have reviewed resumes and checked references. Although Grade 12 is preferable, it is not essential if the person has the right attitude and willingness to learn. BTSI has helped previous employees obtain their Grade 12 in order to formally indenture as an apprentice with the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities, and have found that people who are hired without it soon see the value and relevance and are therefore more motivated. 

According to Pete Bryant, the essential qualities he looks for in an apprentice are:

  • a good attitude - reliable and conscientious
  • willingness to listen and learn
  • mechanical aptitude and interest

Apprenticesearch.com

Pete Bryant saw a bus bench ad for apprenticesearch.com and posted a job vacancy for Truck & Coach Technician on our website. He was pleased to hear from a number of potential apprentices, recently hired two and would use our services again.

Apprentice Pathways

Richard - one of the recently hired apprentices - participated in cooperative education while at secondary school, once in the paramedic field, and later on in the automotive industry. Exposure to work as a paramedic through co-op led him to realize that the paramedical field was not for him.

 

Richard found out about apprenticesearch.com and initially used the website to research what an apprenticeship actually was. Through exposure to the automotive repair field in co-op, Richard knew that he liked the mechanical aspect of the job, but preferred to investigate the growing opportunities in Truck & Coach technician. He feels he is learning each and every day, and enjoys the very organized, clean, safety conscious shop where he is being trained.

Mike - also recently hired as an apprentice through our website - is a former truck driver who knows a lot about trucks, but wanted to get into the mechanical end of things. Mike heard about apprenticesearch.com through radio ads, and as a new arrival to the area without a network of contacts, found the website to be a "blessing", a "great site with good information on the trades, connecting to employers."

Mike has been mechanically inclined all his life, likes to be productive and safety conscious, and is committed to the safety and compliance aspect of the job, fully realizing that the work he performs has an impact on lives. After all, "who wants to be behind or in front of a poorly serviced or maintained truck?"

Mike notes that being in good shape and having physical stamina is important in doing the job, but finds that it is rewarding. The biggest barrier Mike notes is the cost of tools: they can cost anywhere from $3,000 and up.

If you are interested in sharing your success story please click Contact Us on our website and drop us a line!