Transport professionals across Canada won't have to go far to access a Sudbury transport company's new training and staffing offerings.
Sudbury's Total Personnel Solutions (TPS) made hundreds of transport training courses available through their website in February, at the same time announcing the acquisition of the Ottawa-based personnel company, Transport Help.
Kevin Pattison created TPS in 2001, and while they first dealt solely in transportation, they expanded into trades, specialized labour and industrial safety services in the following years. Since their beginnings, TPS has doubled their staff, and Pattison said the Ottawa office added three new positions and 20 per cent growth to their company.
Transport Help has been providing transport professionals to the Ottawa area for more than a decade.
“Our beginnings closely parallel each other and we seek to constantly challenge ourselves to provide solutions in staffing, cartage, and recruiting in the Ottawa region. Our employees are trained in all types of transportation modes,” said Al Copland, Transport Help's general manager.
“It aligns well with our business because it-s in the people placement business,” said Pattison.
Prior to the Transport Help acquisition, TPS acquired the Northern Academy of Transportation Training (NATT) in 2008, through which they will be running the new, online training programs. Programs cover AZ to DZ training.
TPS can also provide an administrative role through the new system.
“When the Ministry of Labour walks in, you have to be able to provide documents to show everybody has been trained,” said Pattison. “We will manage people's training, progress from cradle to grave. Any company that has no source of managing employee safety and records, we are going to offer that.”
The training can be accessed by clients across North America, and Pattison said they have interest coming from outside the continent too. But, TPS will remain firmly based in Sudbury.
“We are trying to expand and grow our company outside of Sudbury,” said Pattison. “but we're staying true to our Northern Ontario roots.”
