Member Spotlight: Alberta Motor Transport Association
Safety and advocacy for 87 years
In 1938, Jack Taylor - the owner of a Calgary print shop – was tasked with leading the establishment of a group advocating for local trucking companies that would become known as the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA).
At that time, the association was designed to look after common issues faced by Alberta’s commercial transportation industry. At the time, diesel engines had only been in Canada a handful of years, and the Duff Commission (only six years prior) had released a report recommending a general regulation of motor transportation in the country. Taylor would remain at the wheel of AMTA – seeing membership increase from five to more than 1,300 – before retiring in 1966.
In the 1950s, key initiatives rolled out to ensure AMTA would remain a voice for industry. Trucking emerged as direct competition with the railway in the movement of goods. Significantly, AMTA held a province-wide dump truck strike, which resulted in a rate increase of 13 cents per cubic yard mile to 15 cents, establishing the association as a major force in representing and promoting trucking interests in Alberta.
In the 1970s, AMTA requested the Alberta Government increase weight limits to 20,000 pounds for single axle, 35,000 pounds for tandem, and 110,000 pounds gross combination weight. And in the 1990s, AMTA and Alberta Government formed a partnership in which a permanent program was established to highlight carriers of excellence – Partners in Compliance, which in 2025 was replaced with the Alberta Government’s Alberta Carrier Excellent Safety (ACES) program.
Today, AMTA has more than 300 Carrier Members, 172 Supplier Members, and 18,000 Associate Carriers through the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Alberta for General Trucking (50714), Specialized Trucking (50701), and Garbage Collection/Disposal (57901).
Recent advocacy efforts resulting in wins include approval of a steerable tridem axle trial and NSC data forwarded to AMTA for analysis on safety trends to aid growth of industry. The Association successfully launched the Certified Transportation Safety Professional (CTSP), and Coordinator (CTSC) program designed for experienced safety and compliance professionals ready to lead, which is now expanding into other provinces.
AMTA is also emerging as a leader in industry advancement having completed a Cooperative Truck Platooning Trial, Hydrogen Truck Demonstrations, the Alberta Zero Emission Truck Electrification (AZETEC) project, and most recently Zero Emissions Vehicle Awareness Initiative (ZEVAI) includes developing and executing educational tools and safe operating procedures for commercial drivers and first responders, and increasing hydrogen awareness.
AMTA serves to enrich Alberta’s commercial transportation industry while ensuring safety is the driving force for all we do. The Association believes in strong collaboration and has healthy and effective relationships with the Alberta Government, WCB, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, trucking associations across Canada, and more.
AMTA’s members move every aspect of Alberta’s economy and there is no question they are vital to the success of the province. We are here to ensure from essential driver training tools and cutting-edge safety resources to exclusive advocacy updates and tailored legislative advice, AMTA keeps industry current and connected.
As Alberta continues to grow and evolve, so will AMTA’s efforts to aid in keeping our roadways safe, ensuring the dream that started with Jack Taylor more than 87 years ago, will continue to grow into the future.
Contact Information
Website: amta.ca
Email: info@amta.ca
Phone: +1 (800) 267-1003
Follow on Social Media:
