Driver for Hire

Press Release: Innovative New Online Safety Training Gaining Traction with Industry Employers and Drivers.

November 9, 2023

Ottawa, Ontario — The Canada Safety Council (CSC) today provided an update on Driver for Hire Online Training, a nationwide online driver safety training initiative that launched on July 17 2023. The collaborative venture is being led by the CSC in partnership with Bluedrop ISM (Bluedrop), a leading training solutions provider, and is funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program.

Driver for Hire Online Training is an interactive and custom-built eLearning course that advances essential skills for paid drivers in industries like vehicle-for-hire, rideshare, taxi, delivery, and corporate fleet. The course includes industry-specific and practical safety components along with relevant pieces of the Skills for Success program. As a fully-funded initiative, there is no cost to employers, drivers, and job seekers to avail of the valuable training.

Since the July launch, hundreds of organizations and thousands of paid drivers and prospective drivers from across Canada have committed to Driver for Hire. Participant research data supports the validity of the training with 98% of currently employed drivers noting the course would be beneficial to anyone entertaining the industry. To-date, Driver for Hire Online Training has garnered an 86% overall satisfaction score and hundreds of 5-star user reviews. In addition, 87% of respondents indicate they would be likely or very likely to recommend the training to others.

“The interest and uptake for this valuable online training confirms our assumptions that employers and drivers in delivery and passenger transport industries are committed to advancing driver safety, skills, and confidence,” said Gareth Jones, President & CEO of the CSC. He added, “we’re very pleased with the feedback received so far, and we’re working with our partner Bluedrop to spread the word in hopes of further increasing the number of organizations and drivers taking advantage of it.”

The CSC and Bluedrop continue to augment the offering and incorporate value-add improvements to further support end-users and the long-term utilization potential of the course. Recent advancements include the launch of a full French version of the course, simpler activation features, and the addition of a Work Safe Leader program to recognize those organizations that show a commitment to the training and the continued advancement of driver and road safety in Canada.

A quick and easy registration is all it takes for organizations and individuals to get access to Driver for Hire Online Training. As a fully-funded program, there is no cost to employers or drivers in completing the training during the rollout phase. Drivers and job seekers will gain a valuable life-long and transferable digital training certificate, and employers will benefit from added safety, confidence, and job readiness skills.

Learn more about Driver for Hire Online Training and register your drivers HERE.

About Canada Safety Council

The CSC is an independent, knowledge-based, charitable organization dedicated to the cause of safety. Focusing on safety education as an important element in long term reduction of avoidable deaths and injuries, the Council serves as a national resource for safety programs.

About Bluedrop ISM

Bluedrop ISM is a recognized technology innovator that transforms training delivery and credential management through its SkillsPass workforce training platform. SkillsPass is the trusted solution for governments and industry groups around the globe to advance critical skill development and lifelong credential management. Bluedrop was recently recognized as one of Canada’s Top SME employers for the second year in a row.

SOURCE Canada Safety Council

For more information, please contact:

Jackie Barbe, National Manager, Vehicle Programs, Canada Safety Council, jackie.barbe@safety-council.org;

Shawn Ryan, Director, Marketing, Bluedrop ISM, shawnryan@bluedrop.com

Press Release: Canada Safety Council and Bluedrop ISM introduce Driver for Hire Online Training

OTTAWA, ON, May 11, 2023 – The Canada Safety Council (CSC) today announced its latest innovative training initiative that supports advanced driver skills and safety within the delivery, passenger, and rideshare industries across Canada.

Driver for Hire Online Training is a collaborative venture by the CSC in partnership with Bluedrop ISM (Bluedrop), a leading training solutions provider, and funded by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program. The interactive eLearning focuses on advancing job-specific and essential skills for paid drivers within a variety of growing sectors. The program also covers valuable content from the Government’s Skills for Success curriculum.

The CSC first announced its partnership with Bluedrop on December 15, 2022 with the intent of enhancing its training delivery and certification through the implementation of a user-friendly digitized platform for the benefit of instructors and learners alike. This new industry-specific initiative was a logical extension of the partnership between the two training and safety-focused organizations.

“The growth and proliferation of employers and drivers within rideshare and related delivery industries presented an opportunity for advancing driver safety and confidence through a relevant and purpose-built training solution,” said Gareth Jones, President & CEO of the CSC. He added, “as such, a nationally standardized program aimed at improving driver skills, safety, confidence, and overall performance was conceptualized in collaboration with Bluedrop.”

The online and interactive program will be made available to employers, employment centres, non-profit agencies and drivers. Jones added “offering the training in a modern and easily consumable format for industry stakeholders was key.”

Driver for Hire will be available 24/7, and a quick and easy registration is all it will take to get started. As a fully-funded program, there is no cost to employers or individual drivers in completing the training during the rollout phase. Drivers and job seekers will gain a valuable life-long and transferable digital training certificate, and employers will benefit from added safety, confidence, and job readiness skills.

“Beyond the obvious safety benefits, Driver for Hire can also help many people get a valuable credential to help them find a job. It will provide employers and gig economy companies with a competitive advantage and potential for positive business reviews, safer employees and contractors, and a more loyal and confident workforce,” said Emad Rizkalla, Founder and CEO of Bluedrop ISM. In addition, Rizkalla noted that the eLearning format “provides consistent delivery and allows drivers to complete the course on their own time and at a pace that works for them.”

Driver for Hire Online Training will be available nationwide July 2023. You can learn more about the training, subscribe for updates, and pre-register yourself or your company’s drivers for easy access to the training when it becomes available HERE.

About Canada Safety Council

The CSC is an independent, knowledge-based, charitable organization dedicated to the cause of safety. Focusing on safety education as an important element in long term reduction of avoidable deaths and injuries, the Council serves as a national resource for safety programs.

About Bluedrop ISM

Bluedrop ISM is a recognized technology innovator that transforms training delivery and credential management through its SkillsPass workforce training platform. SkillsPass is the trusted solution for governments and industry groups around the globe to advance critical skill development and lifelong credential management. Bluedrop was recently recognized as one of Canada’s Top SME employers for the second year in a row.

SOURCE Canada Safety Council

For further information: 

Jackie Barbe, National Manager, Vehicle Programs, Canada Safety Council, jackie.barbe@safety-council.org; 

Shawn Ryan, Director, Marketing, Bluedrop ISM, shawnryan@bluedrop.com

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