A Canadian trucking company is offering $10,000 to any driver willing to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by mid-January 2021.
Fuel Transport, a Canadian trucking company with around 300 employees and 90 truck drivers says that this cash offer is intended to retain the employees they already have, boost overall vaccination rates, and alleviate potential delays at the border for their drivers and the products they are hauling.
“It wasn’t just a pure play to motivate them to be vaccinated, but the opportunity was there to put it in and it was well-received,” CEO Rob Piccioni said in a phone interview to Global News.
“We know we kept you out of our buildings. We know we kind of alienated you. Thank you for sticking through it,” he continued.
As of January 15th, 2021, all truckers crossing into Canada will need to be fully vaccinated, and non-residents who are not vaccinated will be turned away at the border. Residents of Canada who are not vaccinated will have to show proof of a recent negative test and quarantine for two weeks in order to enter the country.
Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Canada, says that this upcoming change is bound to have effects on the trucking industry, but says that it is not clear exactly how prominent the effects will be. “We just don’t know how severe,” she said.
Fuel Transport says its $10,000 will be paid out to drivers vaccinated by mid-January over the course of 12 months.