Building With Intention in a Contracting Industry

The Canadian trucking and logistics sector is contracting. Recent data from Trucking HR Canada (THRC) shows the industry employed 13,400 fewer workers in March 2026 compared to March 2025, a 1.8% decline. Among transport truck drivers, the drop was steeper at 7.3%, representing 23,600 fewer driver positions across the country.

These are real numbers with real impact on carriers, drivers, and the families behind them. At Van Kam, we are not immune to the same forces shaping the industry. But we have made a deliberate choice about how to move through this moment.

The State of the Industry

The THRC data points to a sector under pressure. Unemployment in trucking and logistics climbed to 5.4% in March, up from 5.2% the month before. The driver unemployment rate reached 6.3%. The number of active job seekers in the sector reached 42,600, including 20,300 unemployed drivers seeking work. This is the backdrop against which every carrier is operating. Some are scaling back. Others are holding steady. Each company is making its own call on how to respond.

A Long-Term Strategy, Not a Reaction

Van Kam’s approach to this moment is shaped by a longer view. “We have chosen to position hiring as a long-term strategy, not a reaction,” says Crystal Holek, Director of Talent & Culture at Van Kam. “While market cycles are inevitable, our approach has always been to plan beyond them and build with intention.”

That intention shows up in the day-to-day. Rather than pulling back when conditions tighten, Van Kam continues to invest in the foundation that has carried the company for decades: its people. “Our people are the foundation of our success,” Crystal explains. “Guided by our values to CARE, to DEVELOP, and to ACHIEVE, we continue to invest in our teams, strengthen our capabilities, and deliver the level of service our customers expect and value.”

Built for the Customers Who Count on Us

Consistency is what shippers expect from Van Kam. It does not happen by accident. Van Kam’s growth, Crystal notes, is “deliberate and grounded in consistent investment in our people, systems, and customer relationships.” It is shaped by the evolving needs of customers who rely on stability. This is especially true in uncertain times. That is the driving force behind every shipment, every terminal, and every driver on the road.

A Door That’s Still Open

For job seekers, the picture is just as clear. In an environment where many carriers are pulling back, Van Kam is one of the companies still hiring across drivers, dock, dispatch, shop and office roles. “Continued hiring is not just an opportunity for us. It is a responsibility to support the strength and continuity of our industry,” Crystal says, “while creating meaningful opportunities for talented individuals seeking stability, purpose, and long-term growth.”

Confidence in the Foundation

The broader industry will continue to navigate the current cycle. Van Kam’s path is to keep building, guided by the same values and long-term vision that have helped the company through past cycles. “We’re not immune to the same forces shaping our industry,” Crystal acknowledges. “But we are confident in the foundation we’ve built to navigate them.” In a contracting industry, that confidence is not built overnight. It is built with intention.

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