The Certified Livestock Transporter program was created by the Farm Animal Councils of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

In April the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan announced it would be providing trucking firms access to the program.

Ken McDonald, with Supreme Auction Services, says times have changed in the transportation business and there is a need to be very cognizant and aware of the care of the animals in transport.

Ken McDonald-Supreme Auction Services

The targeted group are both producers and commercial transporters of livestock.

There's actually four segments of the program.

There's cattle, hogs, horses and sheep and there also is a poultry segment.

It's a one day course basically, a classroom course and it gives a brief overview of several facets of the industry.

The new CFIA regulations are looked at.

We look at animals that are fit for transport and how to select them.

The drivers do have a say in what kind of animals can be loaded and which can't so it's important that they're aware of that.

We look at accidents involving animals, what's the driver's responsibility, how does he act and react in those situations?

We look at loading densities, weather factors, loading facilities, that kind of thing.

Drivers who pass a final examination are issued a certificate as well as a wallet sized card.

McDonald suggests the training raises the professionalism of the drivers and it provides a level of standardization for the industry.

He stresses this is an industry led program and interest among both truckers and producers has been exceptional with several major carriers on the road to having all of their drivers certified.