'Mom-And-Pop' Shop Takes On

March 2008 Volume 19, Issue 3

Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com Tax war O/Os duke it out with CRA over excise fuel taxes

By Anne Peters WINNIPEG, Man. – It’s a classic David and Goliath story. David is Larry Babins, a char- tered accountant leading the fight to get fuel tax rebates for trucking companies running into the States. Goliath is Revenue Canada. And Israel Alexander Ludwig is the Manitoba-based transportation lawyer who believes Babins and the trucking companies can win. PREVENTIBLE: This loaded cattleliner needed to be lifted upright by crane after its trailer wheels fell into the ditch – the “It all started in the late 80s, same ditch Mugwumps’ owners are fighting to have filled to provide easier truck access. when my partner and I realized there was a loophole in the tax law,” says Babins, executive vice- ‘Mom-and-Pop’ shop takes on MTO president of Permicom Permit Services, a fully-owned subsidiary of Comdata Holdings Corpora- Wants to provide truck parking at base of Salmo-Creston Pass tion, best known to the trucking industry as a fuel card company By James Menzies hour truck stop for road-weary highest peak in Canada, where a and based in Nashville, Tenn. CRESTON, B.C. – It’s been three truckers. tired trucker faces the frightening At the time, Babins and his years since we first reported on They had the land to do it – prospect of careening off a cliff if partner Paul St. Pierre (now Per- the struggles of Dan and Bonnie they’re adjacent to 10 acres, he or she’s not razor sharp. micom president) were running Ward, owners of a mom-and-pop enough to park 100 trucks. And However, after three years an accounting firm servicing the country store that wanted to con- definitely the location, at the foot of locking horns with various trucking industry. vert their small diner into a 24- of the Salmo Creston Pass – the Continued on page 6 ■ Continued on page 7 ■ Mark Dalton O/O InsideInside This Issue... The LoneStar is born • Back in business: Alberta’s professional driver certificate program is rescued and expanded. Page 10 International’s new

• User pay: Reports in Canada and in the US suggest more star promises to road tolls, fuel taxes are required to fix our highways. Should turn a lot of the trucking industry have to pay more? Page 11 heads. • Feel the force: International provided an up-close look at its MaxxForce engine at a recent ride-and-drive. Find out what editor James Menzies had to say. Page 18 See pg. 27 • A green supply chain: A look at how companies are striving to Page 36 ‘clean up’ their supply chain from beginning to end. Page 28

To view list of advertisers Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau visit us online at E-mail James Menzies at [email protected] www.trucknews.com PM40069240 You’re in it for the long haul. So is Caterpillar.

© Caterpillar 2008. All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, ACERT, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the POWER EDGE trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. You can depend on Caterpillar now and in the future. That’s great news for ﬂeets and owner-operators. Because our mission has always been—and always will be—to provide the reliable engines you need to get the job done. Now more than ever, Cat® engines with ACERT™ Technology give you the power to pull ahead. Five reasons to run Cat engines Performance These engines haul. Buckle up and go. Regeneration The Cat Regeneration System works automatically while you’re driving. No need to pull off the road and start ﬂipping switches. Fuel economy Better than expected. Even better than EPA 04 engines. Dealer support 3,500+ technicians are trained to support our EPA 07 engines. And they have the parts to do it. Committed to 2010 We’re running right on schedule for meeting 2010 emissions regulations.

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Monthly Class 8 Sales - Dec 07 Historical Comparison - Dec 07 Sales Motor Vehicle Production to Dec 07

There were 26,259 trucks reported produced in Canada this year (note that the Sterling total includes 1225 medium and The dramatic drops in Class 8 sales experienced during the third quarter have continued into the final quarter.December sales were more light duty trucks). The vast majority of those are intended for than 50% off last year’s record pace in December,similar to the previous month’s drop while October sales were 42% off the mark.There export to the US market. Sterling’s St.Thomas, Ont. plant is by was a similar drop in September while August sales were 58% off last year’s and July saw sales drop 36%. Other significant monthly far the largest producer of trucks in Canada, easily outpacing drops this year included: a 39% drop in June, a 30% drop in April and a 25% drop in March.The 1,742 Class 8 trucks sold made for the production at International’s Chatham, Ont., plant and fourth worst December sales since 1999. They were also below the five-year average for the month by about 800 units. Paccar’s St. Therese, Que., plant. Class 8 Sales YTD (Dec 07) by Province and OEM Historical Comparison - YTD

Class 8 truck sales in Canada finished the year at 25, 239 units, well within the 24,000-26,000 range forecasted by Transportation Media. The Class 8 trucks sold in 2007 were about 14,000 units short of the record sales posted last year and about 4,000 short of the average for the previous five years. However, the drop in sales from the previous year, bad as it was, did not prove as steep as the most pessimistic scenarios postulated at the start of the year, coming in at about 35% instead of the up to 40% drop some experts forecast.The 25,239 Class 8 trucks sold made 2007 the fourth worst sales year since 1999. 12 - Month Sales Trends Market Share Class 8 YTD

2007

Monthly Class 8 sales continue to range well below the 3,000 mark which was a regular bench- International has unseated traditional frontrunner Freightliner for the market share lead in this mark during last year’s record sales year (the mark was reached 7 times last year.) The 1,742 tumultuous year. International has been opening its market share lead over the perennial front Class 8 trucks sold in December marked the second time in the final quarter that sales dropped be- runner over the past few months and ended up the year three percentage points higher. The low the 2,000 mark. It made for the lowest monthly total of the past 12 months, finishing the year Paccar group also did very well, in part thanks to their strong western base. Kenworth finished off with a whimper. a strong third with a greater than 16% market share and Peterbilt had a greater than 12.0% market share. Freightliner sister company Sterling is the only other manufacturer with close to Source: Canadian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association a 10% share of the market.

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A Chevron company brand © 2007 Chevron Lubricants Canada Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 5 went the distance. My report from the ring And now for the requisite trucking tie-in. Hmm…Well, a lot March 2008, Volume 19, Issue 3 Last month, publisher Rob of you are taking your lumps out Canada Post Canadian Publications Editorial Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069240 Wilkins wrote about the debut, there right now. Hang in there, “Return Postage Guaranteed” and subsequent retirement, of Comment and take some comfort in the fact 12 Concorde Pl., Suite 800, Toronto, Ont., M3C 4J2 Mack Truck Menzies – that’s me. that final bell will eventually Sales: 416-510-6892 Editorial: 416-510-6896 At least it was for one exciting James sound. And when it does, if you’re Fax: 416-510-5143 evening last November in Menzies still on your feet, you can climb Truck West, USPS 017-178 is published monthly by Toronto. out of the ring with a lot of pride Business Information Group, a division of BIG Magazines L.P., a leading Canadian information Based on the feedback and and a little bit stronger. company with interests in daily and community inquiries I’ve received since then, gizing. It’s easy to get motivated In Rob’s column, he expressed newspapers and B-2-B information services. US office of publication: 2221 Niagara Falls Blvd, I figured I’d stray from trucking to go out for a run in the rain some relief in the fact “Mack Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals Postage this month to provide my own ac- when you envision yourself laying Truck” announced his retirement Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US postmaster: Send address changes to Truck West, PO Box 1118, count of the events. (Hey, it’s the on the canvas in front of a few after the fight. It’s true, he did – Niagara Falls, NY 14304. first time I’ve written about a sub- hundred spectators, including from the heavyweight division, at SENIOR PUBLISHER – Rob Wilkins ject not directly related to truck- friends, family and colleagues. least. But I’m beginning to get the ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – Kathy Penner EXECUTIVE EDITOR – James Menzies ing in this space since my beloved The weeks flew by and I was itch for a shot at redemption. A MANAGING EDITOR – Adam Ledlow Flames lost the Stanley Cup in feeling confident on fight night. lower weight class and a new ring CIRCULATION MANAGER – Vesna Moore 2004). Mario had observed my opponent moniker could be in order. CIRCULATION ASSISTANT – Anita Singh CREATIVE– Carolyn Brimer, Beverley Richards, So how did, as Rob put it, a sparring and gave me the follow- Who knows, maybe one day Carol Wilson “mild-mannered journalist” find ing words of advice: “All he has is we’ll see a return to the ring. How V.P. PUBLISHING – Alex Papanou himself in the boxing ring? Well, a big right hand, if you get hit with does James “The Frenzy” PRESIDENT – Bruce Creighton Circulation inquiries: 416-442-5600 ext. 3553 I’ve dabbled in the sweet science that, you did something stupid Menzies, sound? ■ Change of address: Please include subscription for a couple of years, primarily for and deserved to get hit.” @ARTICLECATEGORY:841; number from mailing label. Subscription rates: Canada (Includes GST) – fitness and also because I have a My opponent was quite a bit One year $40.60; U.S. – one year $66.95; real appreciation for the chal- bigger than I was. I wasn’t de- – James Menzies can be reached by foreign – one year $66.95 phone at (416) 510-6896 or by Send subscription orders, address changes (incl. mailing label from lenges of the sport and the com- terred. As far as I was concerned latest issue) to above address. On occasion, our subscription list is e-mail at [email protected]. made available to organizations whose products or services may be mitment required by its partici- he’d be a lot slower (he wasn’t) of interest to readers. If you prefer not to receive such information, please write to us. Please allow 8 weeks for changes or corrections. pants. and would tire We acknowledge the financial support of the I love the fact it’s an individual quicker (he Government of Canada, through the Canada Magazine Fund, towards our editorial costs. sport and there are real conse- didn’t). quences for making a mistake. It’s The bell not like stick-and-ball sports, went and the Advertising inquiries where the worst that can happen rest was a blur. Kathy Penner: 416-510-6892 is a goal against.When your oppo- My nose got Fax: (416) 510-5143 nent scores against you in boxing, introduced to it hurts! that right hand My boxing ambitions were real- Mario warned istic – to get in shape and maybe me about early even do some full-contact spar- and often. But ring from time to time to sharpen I hung in there my skills. However, when I found and I think we out about a charity boxing event put on one of

Rob Wilkins Kathy Penner for working professionals (mostly the more en- Publisher Associate Publisher bankers), I was intrigued. So I tertaining (416) 510-5123 (416) 510-6892 signed on to fight, and spent eight bouts of the rwilkins@ kpenner@ trucknews.com trucknews.com weeks training under former night. Canadian champ, Mario In the end, I Lechowski. lost a decision, Training for a cause was ener- but at least it

the thoughtless corner cutting that Where the heck is Durango? has become common in business Don Besler Brenda Grant travel and includes poor training of National Sales Mgr. National Account Sales Enough, enough, enough already! personnel, a situation exacerbated (416) 699-6966 (416) 494-3333 [email protected] [email protected] Until now I have never dedicated Viewpoint when dealing with people continents even a sentence to the sham that away. And this is a rant against the passes as customer service for all hijacking of customer service by ex- those of us who must routinely fly Lou Smyrlis ecutives of airline companies who the decidedly “unfriendly skies” as Editorial Director have become so overzealous with part of our business travel. Like slicing the fat from their operations most, I have accommodated myself they’re now cutting into the bone. to the misery. But I will suffer in computer and tells me he’s having I did some digging. After all this

Doug Copeland Bill Gallagher silence no longer. This time I’m trouble finding a suitable flight from was only the latest in a string of sim- Regional Manager Regional Manager going to share my misery in the hope “Durango” to Chicago. What? ilar incidents recently. It turns out Man., Sask. & Alta. British Columbia that it will spark some kind of Durango? Where the heck is over the past six years, airlines have (416) 510-6889 (519) 589-1333 [email protected] Fax: (519) 395-5073 protest among all the other business Durango? What’s he talking about? laid off more than 100,000 workers. [email protected] travellers who are equally fed up. “No, no,” I say, “I’m leaving from And six of the major carriers have TRUCK WEST is a proud member of the following My latest misadventure started at Toronto.” shrunk their fleets by 20%. By this trucking associations: 5:30 a.m with a call from a friendly “Durango?” summer, nearly a third of all flights computer voice informing me that “No,Toronto,T-O-R-O-N-T-O.” arrived late, more flights have been my flight to Chicago for that night “I’m sorry, I don’t show a suitable cancelled, far too many planes are MAN. TRUCKING ASSN. ALTA. MOTOR has been cancelled and alternative flight from Durango.” overbooked and by June, reports of TRANSPORT ASSN. arrangements have been made to After a few more Durango- baggage problems were up 25%

SASK. TRUCKING ASSN. B.C. TRUCKING ASSN. put me on another flight the follow- Toronto exchanges, I’m fed up from the previous year.A third of all ing afternoon. If I’m not happy with enough to ask, where I’m calling. delays are due not to weather or an The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and all representations or warranties made in such that arrangement, Silicone Sam tells “India,” Maresh tells me. antiquated air-traffic control system advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. The me, I can call their help desk. Well, “So that’s why you have no idea – but simply because the plane was publisher is not liable to any advertiser for any misprints in advertising not the fault of the publisher and in such an event the limit of the publisher's I’m not happy with the arrangement where Toronto is,” I hotly reply. late arriving from a previous flight. liability shall not exceed the amount of the publisher's charge for such advertising. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or in as it gets me into Chicago after the “I will put you through to our in- Such aggressive cost cutting has part, without the written permission of the publisher. event I’m supposed to attend. ternational desk,” he says. “Is there proved beneficial for air carriers – From time to time, we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations So bleary eyed I dial the 1-800 anything else I can help you with?” the North American airline industry whose product or services may interest you. number provided by Silicone Sam “No thanks, you’ve helped me as a whole cleared more than four If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact our privacy officer via and…I get “Maresh” on the line. enough. Put me through to your in- billion dollars in 2007. But it has left one of the following methods: Phone: 1-800-668-2374 “Hello Maresh,” I say, “my flight ternational desk.” He does.After 15- business travellers stranded and Fax: 416-442-2200 from Toronto to Chicago has been 20 minutes waiting for someone to frustrated far too often. It’s time we E-mail: [email protected] Mail: Privacy Officer. Business Information Group, cancelled and I need to get to answer, I give up. spoke up. ■ 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, Ont., M3C 4J2 Chicago faster than the alternative This is not a rant against call PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40069240 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES flight provided. Can you help me?” centres in India. I’ve dealt with call – Lou Smyrlis can be reached by TO CIRCULATION DEPT. – TRUCK NEWS, “Sure, Mr. Smyrlis, let me check centres in India before. Usually, the phone at (416) 510-6881 or by e-mail 12 CONCORDE PL., SUITE 800, TORONTO, ON M3C 4J2 my computer.” He checks his service is good.This is a rant against at [email protected]. Page 6 TRUCK WEST March 2008 COVER STORY Shop owners want truckers, associations to help out

■ Continued from page 1 them will rally behind the cause port...for the filling in of the getting anywhere from three to government bodies, the Ward’s and help convince the Ministry ditches on both sides of Hwy. 3 at 15 trucks a day but that’s have still been unable to get the that the rest area is needed. the junction of Hwy. 3 and Nicks peanuts,” says Ward, a former provincial Ministry of Transporta- “I’m hoping to encourage every Island Road, for the safety of trucker himself. “The Town of tion on-board. trucker, trucking company and both pedestrian and vehicular Creston doesn’t want them, I In a letter to Ward dated Nov. 2, association to drop these people traffic,” she wrote. would welcome them. I’d go 24 2007, John Dowler, district man- an e-mail saying it is needed,” he But because the area falls un- hours a day.” ager with the MTO listed three tells Truck West. “Hopefully, if we der provincial jurisdiction, it’s the But as it stands now, Ward reasons why the department have a big enough response, not MTO that needs to sign off on cringes when he sees truckers would not assist in constructing a only will they widen the ditch but any zoning or roadwork. And having to cross two lanes of traf- truck pull-out at the restaurant. perhaps they’ll make a full and Ward also wants the province to fic to get in and out of the under- “The truck pullout does not sat- proper truck pull-out.” help with the engineering costs sized parking area. Recently, a isfy minimum highway engineer- Ward’s lobbying has achieved that would be required to comply loaded cattleliner ended up on its ing safety requirements; the Min- more favourable results with lo- with Transportation Association side after dropping its wheels into istry of Transportation has not cal govern- of Canada de- the very ditch Ward has been ask- received any correspondence ments. Tom sign standards. ing the province to fill in. from truck drivers, truck compa- Mann, a di- ‘The Town of Creston “It’s a very “We got all the cattle back nies or trucking associations out- rector with doesn’t want them. I small mom- standing, so it wasn’t a disaster, lining this issue as a concern; and the Regional and-pop busi- but it very well could have been,” public funds would be more ef- District of would welcome them.’ ness and I Ward said. fectively used to address truckers’ Central don’t have If you think there’s a need for a concerns at existing rest areas or K ootenay, Dan Ward $100,000 to commercial vehicle rest area at in areas with a variety of services wrote “There hire engi- the base of the Salmo Creston available,” Dowler wrote. is no serviced neers,” he told Pass, Ward would love to hear That reasoning is weak, coun- rest stop area in the Creston Val- Truck West when we first dis- from you. He can be reached at ters Ward, who notes there are no ley and as a result, large highway cussed the issue back in 2005. 250-428-0120. He also offers up existing commercial vehicle rest trucks are often stopped on the The lack of proper parking fa- several contacts at B.C.’s Ministry areas in the region. He points out roadway outside of 7-11 or other cilities and a safe pull-out have of Transportation: John Dowler, the Salmo Creston Pass is often convenience stores. A rest stop not deterred truckers from stop- [email protected]; and Trans- closed due to weather and truck- at this location would provide a ping at Mugwumps for one of its port Minister Kevin Falcon, ers don’t have a safe area to park location that truckers could stop hearty sandwiches. Drivers are [email protected]. and rest at its base. at to purchase supplies or just discouraged from parking in Cre- Ward’s hoping that truckers He also explains city bylaws take a break before climbing the ston town limits and they often will rally together to prove prevent truckers from parking summit.” welcome an opportunity to there’s a need for the truck pull- their rigs within Creston town And Bev Caldwell, represent- charge up with a home-cooked off and parking area and that the limits, leaving them without any ing the Town of Creston also meal before ascending the Salmo province will eventually help options. He’s hoping truckers and voiced her support.“Please be ad- Creston Pass. make the expansion a reality. ■ the associations that represent vised...Council offered its sup- “They’re still coming in, we’re @ARTICLECATEGORY:3362; March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 7 Carriers won Round 1 of the battle against CRA

Babins wins, then owner/opera- fore Revenue Canada gets Now Canadian owner/operators want tors will be getting their refunds through processing all the re- back via the trucking companies funds,” says Babins. they worked for at the time the re- Distribution of the money will their share. As much as $14.5 million fund applications were made. work as follows: trucking compa- “What we have to do now is es- nies will get cheques for the mon- could be at stake, lawyer says. tablish that the trucking compa- ey owed to their owner/operators nies did in fact have the right to and the companies will be respon- apply for the refunds on behalf of sible for distributing it to ■ Continued from page 1 of the country. their owner/operators,” says Lud- owner/operators. “I was doing my reading and came “The way the law was written in wig. “What we’ll probably do is put across an article on excise tax re- Canada at the time allowed for As trucking companies do so al- ads in the trade magazines to an- funds and how to apply for them. the tax rebate for all items that ready with regards to other fuel nounce the refund and owner/op- The article cited a couple of cases, were consumed outside of the tax rebates, this shouldn’t be too erators who worked for compa- one of which took place in 1880.A country. That could include a tax hard, according to Ludwig. nies who applied for the refund ship left Liverpool (England) with rebate on the fuel being carried To this end, Nolan Transport will be asked to contact these coal in its hull (for fuel) and was out in the tanks of trucks and con- and Warehousing of Ontario has companies or a central number in eligible for a refund on the tax on sumed outside of Canada,” he ex- already been identified as the new order to get their money,” ex- the coal it used after it left Eng- plains. test case for the courts. plains Ludwig. land. I thought ‘Why not use this Tracking the amount of fuel If this test case wins, then own- Fingers crossed for trucking?’” consumed outside the country er/operators who worked for The logic was that if manufac- was no problem. Nolan Transport during the peri- In the meantime, owner/operators turers in Canada could get re- “All the trucking companies od the refund applications were who are owed refunds will just funds on the excise tax they paid had to do was keep track of their made should be getting some fuel have to cross their fingers and for items destined for consump- kilometres.” tax money back. hope for the best. tion outside Canada, then so Ludwig took the case in 1998. So should the owner/operators “We have a good case,” says should the truckers. By that time, Babins and his part- who worked for the other 117 Ludwig. “I should think the deci- After all, some of the fuel they ner had filed hundreds of fuel tax trucking companies who made ap- sion would be obvious.” were paying tax on was being con- rebate applications on behalf of plications for refunds. Nolan Transport general man- sumed outside Canada too. over 100 trucking companies. “That could come to about ager Jim Peacock, for his part, is The realization led to the ac- “We had to keep filing the ap- $14.5 million,” says Babins, who’ll looking forward to playing Santa. countants applying for the rebates plications continuously, even only be seeing about $200,000 of “These refunds should have on behalf of a hundred and some though we weren’t getting the re- that money in fees (divide that been made years ago,” says Pea- trucking customers, explained fund,” explains Babins.“That’s be- over 19 years!) cock. “I have no idea whether Babins. cause we were only allowed to ap- Still, even if Team Babins does we’ll win, but if we do, we have the Little did they know they’d ply for rebates retroactively to win, owner/operators won’t see lists of our owner/operators and fired the first shot in a battle with two years. So if we let the applica- their money anytime soon. their addresses ready.” ■ Revenue Canada that continues tions lapse, we would have lost the “It could be as late as 2009 be- @ARTICLECATEGORY:860; 1604; to this day. rebates going back to 1991.” But even back in the early 90s, it So Ludwig, Babins and 117 came as no surprise to the ac- trucking companies took their countants that Revenue Canada cases to court. It didn’t take long didn’t want to cough up the cash. to realize that trying all 117 cases So Babins and his partner de- would take much more time to try cided to see if there was a way to than anyone had. make Revenue Canada pay. “Basically we agreed with Rev- “First we talked to our clients to enue Canada to test one case (Bi- see if they were willing to take on son Transport’s) and then use that Revenue Canada over this and case to make the decision on all most of them were,” says Babins. the others,” says Ludwig. “Then it was a matter of finding a $12 million victory lawyer, or someone to partner with on the case. We tried to part- In 2001, a federal judge ruled ner with CN, who were doing against the truckers. But after something similar, but they ended Ludwig and the truckers ap- up going on their own.” pealed, two out of three judges ac- The accountants were rapidly cepted their argument, and running out of options. agreed the tax law allowed for a “We’d already consulted some rebate on excise taxes paid for of our friends who were lawyers, fuel consumed outside the coun- WHEN BUYING USED EQUIPMENT but we needed someone who was try. Revenue Canada appealed to SOME CHOICES ARE EASY willing to take the case on spec’ or the Supreme Court, but the deci- The same is true for your nancing options at least at low cost,” explains sion stuck. Babins. “That’s when we met Is- In 2003, Canadian trucking rael. He was willing to take the companies represented by Lud- case on spec’.” wig got approximately $12 million Enter Israel Alexander Ludwig, back in tax refunds owed since transportation lawyer extraordi- 1990. naire. “But they refused to give back Make sure your equipment nancing solution is the best one for your business “I looked into the background the refunds owing to owner/oper- on excise tax law and found that it ators,” says Ludwig. “They said • Structure payments to suit your cash ow was old, pre-war even,” says Lud- the owner/operators should have • Finance new and used vehicles, even heavy equipment repairs wig, a lawyer with Duboff, Ed- applied for the refunds on their wards, Haight & Schacter, located own.” • Get competitive rates with no administration fees in Winnipeg, Man. “Originally, it That was bad news for the own- was a tax covering the manufac- er/operators who’d worked for Call today for your free, no-obligation Markel SIMPlus® quote ture of all commercial goods. If the trucking companies who’d the goods were exported for con- made the refund applications on sumption, the manufacturer got a their behalves, as by 2003 Rev- refund.” enue Canada had rewritten excise Ludwig figured it was reason- tax law to close the loophole al- able to infer that the same export- lowing for the tax refund on fuel Another innovative Markel solution related rebates being offered to consumed outside Canada. o ered exclusively to our policyholders. manufacturers in Canada were And so Round Two of the fight Your prosperity. Insured. 1•888•MARKEL•1 www.markel.ca due to trucking companies using between Team Babins and Rev- fuel to carry those same goods out enue Canada began. If Team What’s inside a Bridgestone radial?

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BridgestoneTrucktires.com March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 9 CANADA Feds kill carbon tax recommendation CTA addresses Commons committee CTA: Efforts should go towards enviroTruck OTTAWA, Ont. – In a recent appearance before the Com- By Anne Peters mons Standing Committee on OTTAWA, Ont. – Canada’s truck- Industry, Science and Tech- ing industry breathed a collective nology, the Canadian Trucking sigh of relief in January when the Alliance (CTA) told MPs that Harper government killed a rec- the trucking industry is being hit ommendation by the National hard by current economic condi- Roundtable on the Environment tions in Canada and the US, by and the Economy to implement a rising fuel prices and by an array carbon tax to reduce greenhouse of costly,often overlapping secu- gas emissions in Canada. rity programs. The advisory panel of Canadian CTA senior vice-president environmentalists in January de- Graham Cooper told the commit- livered its report recommending tee that, “Trucking is a derived either carbon tax increases or an demand industry, so economic emissions cap-and-trade system conditions in domestic and inter- could reduce greenhouse gas national markets are reflected in emission by 65% by 2050. the industry’s freight volumes and But Environment Minister John LOOK, NO SOOT: Today’s truck engines are extremely clean, but the industry is financial performance. The high Baird quickly quashed the carbon reluctant to welcome a carbon cap-and-trade system. value of the Canadian dollar com- tax idea, calling it “Liberal.” bined with the general weakening Needless to say, the carbon ment during 2008 budget hearings On Jan. 25, the Fraser Basin of the US economy, the resulting tax proposal met with no little last November. Council announced a new incen- reduction in Canadian exports to resistance from trucking industry The initiative, which focuses on tive under its Green Fleets B.C. the US, and the manufacturing insiders. accelerating the penetration of program to encourage the B.C. downturn (particularly in central “The last thing we need in the emissions reducing technology trucking sector to adopt emission Canada), are all having a pro- trucking industry is more fuel into Canada’s trucking industry, reduction technologies. found impact on the trucking taxes,” fumed Canadian Trucking promises to eliminate smog and Up to $10,000 per vehicle is industry in most parts of the Alliance CEO David Bradley. GHG emissions up to 22%. available for trucks meeting the country.” “Besides, we already have a feder- “Would they do that (put the Council’s enviroTruck standard, It is in the cross-border market al carbon tax in the trucking carbon tax into emission-reducing to a total of $70,000 for the entire that the Canadian trucking indus- industry – it’s called the excise tax initiatives) or would the money program. try is being particularly hard hit on diesel fuel.” end up in general revenue any- Program participants will pro- and as Cooper told the commit- The excise tax on diesel was way?” asked Bradley, adding: vide monthly usage stats and tee, “From November 2006 to introduced by the Mulroney “The best thing to do with the ex- comments on their experience November 2007, Canada’s total government in the mid-1980s, excise tax on diesel fuel would be to with their enviroTruck, including exports to the US declined by plained Bradley, for the expressed harmonize it with the GST since details on its combination of com- 3.8% and imports by 1.9%. purpose of reducing the chronic it is a business input tax and the ponents. (The Council accepted However, these aggregate figures government deficits that persisted federal government supposedly applications up to Feb. 15). do not tell the whole story. at that time. wants to get rid of that form of “It’s a modest start but a signifi- Trucking specializes in the car- “However, those days are gone taxation since it discourages in- cant step in the right direction riage of relatively lower weight and the federal government is vestment in new equipment which which we are hopeful can be built and higher value products when now generating fiscal surpluses. If in turn impairs the Canadian upon over time,” said Bradley. compared with other freight they want to give the tax a policy trucking industry’s competitive- “It would also be very helpful is modes. A comparison of export purpose, call it a carbon tax, or a ness, safety and environmental Transport Canada were to step up statistics for November 2006 and green tax or whatever you want so performance.” to the plate.” ■ November 2007 shows year- long as the money generated goes The enviroTruck initiative, @ARTICLECATEGORY:3362; 860; over-year decreases of 4.4% to promoting fuel efficiency meanwhile, has gained a foothold in industrial goods, 3.7% in ma- through initiatives like CTA’s in B.C., “thanks to the hard work – For more information on carbon chinery and equipment, 5.9% in enviroTruck.” of the B.C. Trucking Association taxes and the potential pitfalls of a automotive products and 9.9% in CTA introduced its enviroTruck and the foresight of the province cap-and-trade system, see David other consumer goods.” ■ initiative to the federal govern- of British Columbia,” says Bradley. Bradley’s column on pg.22.

THIS MONTH’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE A

Across Down n

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1. New-truck price add-on (5,3) 1. Device placed on in-bond trailer e

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5. Word preceding cab, in the pickup world 2. Border crossing south of Montreal

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9. Aluminum-wheel brand 3. Roadside weigh station

p a

10. Name on walk-in truck bodies, once 4. A Freightliner cabover model g

11. Trucking companies’ rolling stock 6. Divided-highway entrances and exits 3 2 12. Chevy’s clone of GMC General 7. Fasteners shaped like Mouseketeer hats 14. Location, on the CB 8. Meat Loaf song, “Where the ____ Meets 16. Truck-buyer’s need, usually the Road” 19. Front turn-signal colour 13. The ﬁrst A in APTA 21. Woman’s description, in Roy Orbison song 15. Schedule of duties on imports

24. Vehicle volume, in a word 17. Michigan’s Motor City metropolis ©

25. Accident outside a steakhouse, perhaps (1,4) 18. Drivetrain-components brand 2 0 0

26. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, 20. They’re sometimes in the air 8

brieﬂy (1,1,1,1) 22. See 18-Down clue M .

27. International 8500 or 8600 model 23. Component that’s just meshing around a c k s o TRY IT ONLINE AT WWW.TRUCKNEWS.COM n Page 10 TRUCK WEST March 2008 TRAINING Alberta driver training program no longer in jeopardy Class 1 training component added, students now qualify for EI benefits

By Jan Westell rather than a now eliminated 20- rienced drivers. However, professional drivers RED DEER, Alta. – An Alberta week supervised work experience. “It is a basic pre-Class 1 pro- also require strong public rela- professional driving program has The training will include: eight gram, which means the student tions skills, which are essential been revamped to include a Class 1 weeks of in-class theory and in- gets Class 1 (certification) within when dealing with clients, cargo component for heavy-duty trans- cab supervised training, and a the program.” personnel, regulatory officials port, which is intended to appeal four-week supervised practicum The program director believes and even unexpected cross-bor- to both students and the trucking placement with a carrier. professional driver training is cru- der delays. industry, on many levels. The newly expanded program cial for the trucking industry. “Students need to be better pre- The expanded professional is similar to an apprenticeship Otherwise, he fears that the unini- pared professionals for on-the- driver certificate pilot program is program, which will allow partici- tiated may consider that driving a road issues,” says McCarty. offered by Red Deer College in pating students to be eligible for truck doesn’t require any special- However, without the newly partnership with the Alberta employment insurance funding, ized education, other than on-the- expanded Class 1 component, Ministry of Advanced Education one obvious financial benefit to road experience. and a more condensed course and Training. the new program. “A lot of people have the mis- that offers financial benefits As of Jan. 21, 2008, the modified “More importantly, it’s no conception that driving a truck is through accompanying EI bene- program was approved by the longer a post-Class 1 program,” a no-brainer.” fits and more immediate employ- provincial government, and ex- says the Red Deer College pro- Instead, the reality is extremely ment, the previous 20-week pro- panded to include a Class 1 gram director, Dennis McCarty, complex, with an obvious require- gram suffered from lack of license component, which is being who emphasizes the course has ment for mechanical and ad- sufficient participation. offered over a 12-week period, been designed for new and expe- vanced technological skills. This caused concern for a number of Alberta transportation stakeholders, which along with G E Red Deer College, proposed the T successfully modified program. P Y A O As a result of the recent P U E R changes, there has been vast ap- R proval, including from the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), according to an editorial on its Web site. Western Canada’s Trucking Newspaper and Equipment Buyer’s Guide “This is a major step forward for the Professional Driver Certificate program but it is now up to the transportation industry to come forward with support and involvement,” the statement reads. “Carriers and training schools need to encourage drivers to en- SUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBE roll, and carriers need to provide mentoring opportunities with MOVING? their companies. Together, we can READING SOMEONE make this pilot program work and ELSE’S COPY? REQUALIFY! make the PDC program an Send us your new address Alberta Transportation Industry Have your own! in writing on this form. success! The result will be more NOW!NOW! ‘qualified’ drivers, which was the Company ______goal from the beginning.” Name ______Title______However, there is still one little glitch, and that is an element of Address ______dissatisfaction from “some private City ______driving schools,” according to the Province ______Postal Code______AMTA’s Web site, about unfair competition. Telephone: ( ) ______Fax: ( )______However, the AMTA considers E-Mail ______that any driving school can go CHANGE OF ADDRESS ONLY through the process of becoming 1 1 4 accredited to provide the training Serial # from code line on mailing label that meets the national standard for the industry. Canada USA Foreign Charge Card Cheque Enclosed The professional driver certifi- $ $ $ Visa No cate pilot program is offered 41.28 99.95 99.95 through Red Deer College at four 1 Year Mastercard No (38.95 + 2.33 GST) locations: Red Deer, Calgary, Amex No Edmonton and Lethbridge. Ap- 2 Years 65.66 plication requirements for the (61.95 + 3.71 GST) Expiry Date Signature Date program, include: a valid Alberta NB, NS & NF Add 14% HST to Price / Quebec Residents Add QST (7.5%) To Total Class 5 licence, driver abstract, a CLIP and MAIL criminal record check, Alberta DO YOU WISH PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS Grade 10 or equivalent, comple- TO RECEIVE OR 1) How many vehicles are based at or controlled from 5) Indicate your PRIMARY type of business by checking tion of TOWES (Test Of this location? Please indicate quantities by type: ONLY ONE of the following: With a) ■ For Hire/Contract Trucking (hauling for others) (CONTINUE TO — No. of Straight Trucks _____ No. of Trailers Workplace Essential Skills). ■ _____ No. of Buses b) Lease/Rental Once qualified, admission to the RECEIVE) — No. of Truck-Tractors _____ No. of Off-Road Vehicles c) ■ Food Production / Distribution / Beverages Payment to d) ■ Farming 2) Does this location operate, control or administer one professional driver certificate pilot or more vehicles in any of the following Gross Vehicle e) ■ Government (Fed., Prov., Local) Weight (GVW) categories? Please check YES or NO: f) ■ Public Utility (electric, gas, telephone) program will cost an estimated 14,969 kg. & over (33,001 lbs. & over)... ■ YES ■ NO g) ■ Construction / Mining / Sand & Gravel $3,430, which includes a $50 appli- 11,794-14,968 kg. (26.001-33,000 lbs.). ■ YES ■ NO h) ■ Petroleum / Dry Bulk / Chemicals / Tank 8,846-11,793 kg. (19,501-26,000 lbs.)... ■ YES ■ NO i) ■ Manufacturing / Processing 12 Concorde Place, cation fee, tuition and materials fee, ■ YES ■ NO ■ ■ 4,536-8,845 kg. (10,000-19,500 lbs.)..... YES NO ji) ■ Retail Under 4,536 kg. (10,000 lbs.)...... ■ YES ■ NO Suite 800, and a student association fee. For jii) ■ Wholesale 3) This location operates, controls or administers: k) ■ Logging / Lumber more information about this train- ■ ■ Toronto, Ontario Diesel powered vehicles...... YES NO b) ■ Bus Transportation Signature Refrigerated vehicles...... ■ YES ■ NO ing program, call toll-free 888-732- m) ■ Other (Please specify) ______Pickups or Utility Vans...... ■ YES ■ NO M3C 4J2 4630 or contact Dennis McCarty at Propane powered vehicles...... ■ YES ■ NO 6) Are you involved in the purchase of equipment or replacement parts? ...... ■ YES ■ NO 4) Do you operate maintenance facilities 403-356-4861, or write to him at at this location? ...... ■ YES ■ NO 7) Are you responsible either directly or indirectly [email protected]. ■ Date IF YES, do you employ mechanics?...... ■ YES ■ NO for equipment maintenance? . . . . ■ YES ■ NO TODAY! @ARTICLECATEGORY:860; March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 11 INFRASTRUCTURE

based on its research, it found that the motoring public may be willing User fees may take a bigger toll to pay more in taxes “provided they trust that the money is invested re- Studies north and south of the border call for more fuel taxes, road tolls sponsibly in programs and projects that will provide enhanced safety, By Adam Ledlow improved mobility and system relia- TORONTO, Ont. –Two recent stud- bility.” ies from unrelated groups in Canada The Owner-Operator Ind- and the US have each called for an ependent Drivers Association increase in federal fuel taxes within (OOIDA) however, disagreed with weeks of each other. An Ontario- the commission’s call to increase based alliance composed of manage- fuel taxes, saying instead that there ment and labour groups in the con- needs to be a restructuring of the struction industry has released a way money from the Highway Trust study urging a range of new munici- Fund is used. pal taxes – including road tolls and “They need to show us the mon- fuel taxes – in order to fund road ey,” says Todd Spencer, executive and public transit systems, reduce vice-president of OOIDA. “Where traffic congestion and cut green- it’s going, how it is being used, what house gas emissions. are our true national needs, how the The study, commissioned by the system is going to be cleaned up top Residential and Civil Construction to bottom, and then we’ll talk about Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) and paying more. Truckers pay enor- authored by Trent University eco- mous sums into the Highway Trust nomics professor Harry Kitchen, Fund, contributing as much as 36% was released Jan. 21. of it, and deserve better than just ‘a The study says local governments HOSED: If the US initiates recommendations from a recent report, diesel could new beginning’ – which really just in the Greater Toronto Area includ- go up as much as 40 cents/gallon. The American Trucking Associations says it’s means paying even more money.” ing Hamilton (GTAH) should be in favour of the increase, provided all funds go towards highways. The association admits that run- allowed to adopt these new taxes to away earmarks are part of the ensure the well-being of the region’s and/or produce higher emissions, for infrastructure improvements. nation’s problem, but reform efforts infrastructure. meaning long-haul truck drivers The report says that an annual in- should also focus on where other The groups says municipalities would likely experience the highest vestment of $225 billion is necessary highway tax dollars are spent, current revenue sources – most tolls. over the next 50 years to update the adding that many federal agencies notably property taxes and user fees The study recommends that road current system to a state of good and programs are funded by those – are no longer sufficient to fund the tolls be applied on a regional basis repair. Less than 40% of this total is tax dollars. massive operating and capital re- on the major 400-series highways, currently being spent, according to “Some of those agencies and pro- quirements of public transit and the Queen Elizabeth Way, the Don the commission. grams should be streamlined or roads. Valley Parkway, the Gardiner The report has drawn both praise done away with, and others should “Much of this infrastructure was Expressway,the Red Hill Creek and and criticism from the American be funded by other means,” said built years ago and is nearing the Lincoln Alexander Parkways. trucking community. The American Spencer. “Simply put, highway tax end of its life span. Billions of dol- Other major arterial highways Trucking Associations has com- dollars should be spent on high- lars, perhaps tens of billions, will be could also be included if they were mended the efforts of the commis- ways.” required to ensure that the GTAH deemed appropriate. sion “for its hard work and de- OOIDA officials say they also has the public transit and trans- As for a GTAH-wide fuel tax, dication to analyzing the future appreciate the Commission’s recom- portation systems critical to remain- suggested to be set by a governing infrastructure needs of the nation.” mendations on limiting tolling and ing competitive,” Kitchen said at a body and piggybacked onto the “As the Commission report reigning in highway privatization. news conference at Queen’s Park. provincial fuel tax, the study indi- makes clear, trucking is, and will “Increased tolling and privatiza- “Not only would it be politically cates that this would be a relative- remain, the dominant mode of tion will no doubt have a crippling difficult to raise property taxes to ly inexpensive and simple plan to freight transportation,” the ATA effect on the trucking industry and levels that would generate the administer. It has been estimated said following the announcement. on the nation’s economy,” adds needed revenue, but property tax- that a charge of six cents per litre ATA officials say fixing infrastruc- Spencer. es also do nothing to change peo- would generate new revenue of ture problems in the US is “a signifi- He noted that truckers pay signifi- ple’s behaviour when it comes to between $300 million and $420 cant financial undertaking” and cant amounts in highway user taxes road and transit use,” RCCAO million per year. noted the “current revenue streams in the form of registration fees, state reps said in a release. “Specific “A municipal fuel tax is a blunter are failing to keep pace with infra- fuel taxes, tolls, highway usage fees, transportation charges, on the instrument than road tolls for con- structure needs.” and excise taxes specific to trucking other hand, can be designed to trolling individual behaviour but it is The ATA said the report acknowl- equipment. provide an incentive for people to almost certain to have an impact as edged the need for a new and im- Three members of the 12-member make efficient decisions about commuters are likely to drive less if proved investment strategy which commission sided with OOIDA’s how they use the services, where gas prices rise,” Kitchen noted. “not only supports the health of the stance on the tax increases, rejecting they should live, and where they Currently in a few jurisdictions in highways, but the health of our the idea outright. One of those should work.” Canada, fuel tax revenues are future economy. One that includes a members, Transportation Secretary According to the study, the best shared between the province and combination of steps designed to Mary Peters,has said that increasing instrument for reducing gridlock in the city or region. The Greater ease congestion, alleviate bottle- federal gas taxes “is not leadership – the GTAH would be the implemen- Vancouver Transit Authority necks and repair aging infrastruc- it is ludicrous.” tation of area-wide road tolls. (TransLink) receives 12 cents per ture.” “According to recent surveys, the It has been estimated that a toll of litre from B.C.,and 2.5 cents per litre ATA said it was particularly public overwhelmingly opposes the seven cents per kilometre on the is remitted to the transit system in pleased that the commission recog- idea of raising (federal gas taxes). 400-series highways in the GTAH the Victoria region. nizes the need to address freight They have no confidence that their would produce $700 million in rev- Calgary and Edmonton receive movement; the important role that gas taxes – which go into the enue annually. provincial grants for transportation goods movement plays in the over- Highway Trust Fund – will be spent Road tolls have been successful in infrastructure that are estimated all health of the US economy; the either wisely or well,” Peters was a number of cities (Singapore, at five cents per litre. Agence need to reform the program to en- quoted as saying at a Portland semi- Stockholm, and London, UK) in re- Metropolitaine de Transport, which sure a more performance-based sys- nar in October. ducing congestion and travel times, provides transit services to Montreal tem; and the need to maintain a “Washington’s misplaced priori- lowering emissions, and increasing and surrounding municipalities, user-fee based system. ties have caused Americans to lose transit use, according to RCCAO of- receives 1.5 cents per litre. The American Automobile trust in the trust fund.They are tired ficials. Although the study cautions Other initiatives suggested by the Association (AAA) is also applaud- of paying for excellent bridges to that there will be resistance to road study include non-residential parking the commission’s “positive con- nowhere and horrible commutes to tolls, it suggests public support ing space taxes and motor vehicle tribution,” saying the group is “mak- everywhere else.And I do not blame will be higher if the revenues are registration fees. ing a strong recommendation for them one bit.” earmarked for transportation and The study comes on the heels of a change.” Peters has said the better way to public transit purposes. report by the National Surface “We have been saying for some move forward is offering incentives The study suggests that tolls could Transportation Policy and Revenue time now that America needs a new to states willing to pursue more effi- be designed so that they are higher Study Commission in the US, vision for how the nation’s trans- cient approaches to relieving con- for vehicles that cause relatively released in December, which calls portation system is planned, funded gestion and investing federal funds more road damage, travel longer dis- for the increase of fuel taxes by as and implemented,” AAA represen- more effectively. ■ tances, travel in peak-demand hours, much as 40 cents per gallon to pay tatives said. The AAA said that @ARTICLECATEGORY:3362; Page 12 TRUCK WEST March 2008 HEALTH

some foods may actually have hid- again, you can still get the recom- Feel good in your bones den dairy ingredients. So, before mended daily amount of 1,000 buying a food, make sure you read mg/day from other food sources. the label. If it says: milk, lactose, Here are some good ones and This month let’s look at one of the whey, curds, milk by-products, dry the amount of calcium they con- main difficulties with digesting Preventive milk solids, and non-fat dry milk tain: One ounce fortified ready-to- milk – lactose intolerance. Maintenance powder, the product will contain eat cereals, 236-1,043 mg; one cup First of all, what is lactose intol- lactose. calcium-fortified soy beverage, erance? It is a condition triggered Karen If you’re not careful you may be 368 mg; three ounces Atlantic sar- by the digestive system because Bowen eating dairy ingredients in some dines in oil, 325mg; half a cup tofu, someone cannot digest lactose, unsuspected places because lac- 253 mg; three ounces canned pink the major sugar found in milk. tose is often added to prepared salmon with bone, 181 mg; half a When the lining of a person’s Your symptoms may have been foods. cup cooked collards, 178 mg; one small intestine does not produce mild or severe, depending on Here are some common ones: tablespoon blackstrap molasses, enough of the enzyme lactase, many factors, including: how bread and other baked goods; 172 mg; half cooked spinach, 146 their body cannot break down much lactose you ate; how sensi- instant potatoes; processed break- mg; half a cup cooked, green soy- lactose. tive you are to lactose; how old fast cereals; soups; margarine; beans, 130 mg; half a cup cooked Lactose intolerance affects be- you are; how fast your digestive breakfast drinks; lunch meats; turnip greens, 124 mg; three tween 30 and 50 million North system works; and what ethnic salad dressings; candies; mixes ounces Atlantic ocean perch, 116 Americans. Some ethnic and background you’re from. for cakes, pancakes and cookies; mg; one packet plain or flavoured, racial populations are more af- If you have all these symptoms and powdered meal replacement fortified oatmeal, 107 mg; half a fected than others – up to 80% of after having milk products, your drinks. cup cooked cow peas, 106 mg; half African Americans, 80 to 100% of doctor can test you using a lactose Even some “non-dairy” prod- a cup cooked white beans, 96 mg; American Indians, and 90 to intolerance test, a hydrogen ucts, like coffee creamer and half a cup cooked kale, 90 mg; half 100% of Asian Americans are breath test, or a stool acidity test whipped toppings, can have some a cup cooked okra, 88 mg; half a lactose intolerant. to be sure the actual problem is dairy ingredients. Some prescrip- cup cooked soybeans, 88 mg; three However, people of northern lactose intolerance. tion drugs and over-the-counter ounces canned blue crab, 86 mg; European descent are least If it is, unfortunately there is medicines may, too. half cup cooked beet greens, 82 likely to have this condition. no treatment to make your body If you are a person who reacts mg; half a cup cooked Chinese Interestingly, if you were a prema- better at producing lactase. Yet, to even a very small amount of cabbage, 79 mg; three ounces ture baby, you’re quite likely lac- you can control your symptoms lactose, you may want to keep canned clams, 78 mg; half a cup tose intolerant, because your in- by adjusting your diet. handy a lactase enzyme in tablet cooked dandelion greens, 74 mg; testines may not have been fully You may not have to totally or liquid form.You can get it with- and three ounces cooked rainbow developed at birth. eliminate all milk products and out a prescription at the drug trout, 73 mg. For whatever reason, if you are usually you just find out how store. To avoid discomfort, take Whether you like grains, greens lactose intolerant, you’ve experi- much lactose you can comfortably the tablets or a few drops of the or seafood, try these great non- enced these common symptoms: handle through trial and error. liquid with the first bite of any dairy sources of calcium; you’ll nausea; cramps; bloating; gas; and Most adults can tolerate a little, dairy food. feel it right in your bones. ■ diarrhea. but each person is unique in the Even if you must avoid eating You usually experienced those amounts and types of foods they dairy completely, you can still – Karen Bowen is a professional symptoms about 30 minutes to can handle. maintain your health and get health and nutrition consultant and two hours after you ate or drank a As well, be sure to know how enough calcium each day. If you she can be reached by e-mail at food with lactose in it. much dairy you’re really getting, never drink milk or eat cheese [email protected]. Stress and its effect on your body

Today I drove into work in the middle of a snow storm. Visibility Back behind was poor and my car was sliding the wheel all over the road. By the time I arrived at my clinic, I was stressed Dr. Christopher out to say the least. As a result of Singh my treacherous drive in, I have decided to write about stress and its effects on the body this month. touch. Tension also causes you to Although we all talk about feel jumpy, irritable and have dif- stress on a daily basis, very few ficulty concentrating. people understand what it really Other symptoms include rapid is. Stress is basically your body’s heart rate, headache, stiff neck or response to change. Some stress in shoulders, backache, rapid breath- our life is normal and in some casing, increased sweating and upset es even useful. For example, stress stomach. As stress continues for can help you perform better in longer periods of time there are ARE YOU STRESSED?: Driving in lousy weather or trying to meet unrealistic sports or help you finish a work other problems that may occur. delivery times will add stress to a truck driver’s life. task on time. However, if you ex- Chronic stress can lead to prob- perience stress too often or for an lems involving many different driving through downtown will have to experiment to find extended period of time, it can organ systems of the body. For Toronto traffic or coping with the out what works for you. have harmful effects on your example, it can lead to a decrease death of a loved one. However, A great way to deal with stress body. in your immune system which will other times it is not so clear cut. It is to exercise regularly as it will There are two basic types of make you more vulnerable to may help to keep a stress journal help to decrease muscle tension stress which differ in duration. illnesses such as colds and minor in which you document when and and build up energy. Going for a Acute stress is intense and only infections. It can also lead to other what things cause you to feel walk around a truck stop or rest lasts for a short period of time. problems such as high blood pres- stressed, as well as how you react- station is a great form of exercise This is what you feel when you are sure and heart-related conditions, ed and what you did to deal with while on the road. Another good driving down the road and anoth- stomach and intestinal problems the stress. way to reduce stress is to talk er car or truck pulls out in front of as well as lung conditions such as Keeping a stress journal will about it with someone that you you, causing you to slam on your asthma. help you identify the major stres- trust. brakes. The first step to treating stress sors in your life and also reveal Finally, take good care your Conversely, chronic stress ex- is to recognize and identify its patterns in your coping behav- body. Get plenty of sleep. Eat tends over a longer period and is sources. Next, you must look for a iours. well. Do not smoke and limit how often more subtle. An example of way to reduce the amount of Once you are aware of the much coffee and alcohol you this type of stress is dealing with a stress in your life and finally, you sources of your stress you can drink as these substances will sick spouse. must learn healthy ways to relieve decide whether it is possible to get act as stimulants and therefore Now that you know what stress stress. rid of them or whether it is some- compound your stress. ■ is, let’s look a little closer at its ef- In some cases, it is easy to pin- thing you must learn to deal with. fects on the body.Tension is often point where your stress is coming It is important to remember that – Dr. Christopher Singh runs Trans the first signal of stress. Tense from. every one of us is different and Canada Chiropractic at 230 Truck muscles feel tight and hard to the You can count on stress while react differently to stress, thus you Stop in Woodstock, Ont. Page 12 TRUCK WEST March 2008 HEALTH

March 2008 x TAXTALK £

É V

Happy returns: Helpful tips for ° i Ã i filing your 2007 tax return

Ì Like some kind of financial equi-

Tax À nox, March is the time when per- Ì i

sonal income tax planning shifts to Talk personal income tax preparation. ° Scott Ü The guest bed in the back room Ü

becomes a landscape of paper Taylor Ü Ê Ì piles: income statements, assess- Ã

ment notices, logbooks, receipts, 6 Ê Ê

and any other item that offers the Consult with your tax advisor U Ê Ê

hope of a deduction. two years before your planned exit > V

As you work your “system” this to make sure your corporation À month, remember that every feder- qualifies. i al budget adds or alters credits and

Canada employment credit Ê deductions that can affect your tax Ì À . payable. Here are four items not to In 2007, anyone with employment l e e h overlook when you prepare your income is eligible to claim a $1,000 w Ê y ﬂ s ’ 2007 return: tax credit for work-related expens- e Ê n i Ã g n es.You can claim $1,000 or the total Ì e i Meals, lodging and showers e h of the employment income you t Ì o t Õ k

After years of ambiguity, Canada report on your return, whichever c a Ê b r i Revenue Agency’s 2007 Employ- is less. e w V o p

ment Expense Guide now includes e s Û Credits for families r o À an entire chapter on how to claim h i s n r Ã u Ê meal and lodging expenses (includ- The 2007 tax year brings several t e r ` d i ing showers) if you’re a transporta- new credits and deductions for n u â o p

tion employee. families.Among them: À m o c

The big change is a new category Child Tax Credit: You can claim o

b r Ì u t of worker called “long-haul truck $2,000 for each child who is under Õ e h > T Ê driver,” an employee whose main 18 years of age at the end of 2007. . e ä n i g ä job is operating a heavy truck or You may be able to transfer this n e n Ê e h À tractor designed for moving amount to your spouse or com- t n i o Û freight. Starting on March 18, 2007, mon-law partner, or to claim his or d a o l " Ê n Ê an employee in the long-haul truck her amount. o d U e Ê s driver classification can deduct Scholarships: Elementary and Ê a I b s i 60% of a meal and beverage ex- secondary school scholarships and I d À n u i pense incurred during an “eligible bursaries are no longer taxable. o p m Ü o travel period.” Post-secondary scholarships, fel- c o b « r

An eligible travel period is one lowships, or bursaries you received u t i f o Ã s

where the driver is away from in 2007 are not taxable if you’re en- À s e n home for 24 hours or more, and his titled to the education deduction e v

i t Ê c e i route takes him beyond a 160-kilo- provided with a valid tuition re- f f E i * * À

metre radius from the location ceipt. . v s Ê t h ä g where he regularly reports for Children’s Fitness Credit: Parents i e x Ê w work. If the meal is not consumed can claim up to $500 of expenses d a Ì o l Ê during an eligible travel period, the for a child in a program that pro- d n « a s 1 g

50% deduction limit applies. motes physical activity. To qualify, Ê n Ê i t a U r The increased meal deduction the child must have been under 16 Ê e Ê n i I g

limit for long-haul truck drivers ap- at the start of 2007 and the program n Þ e e l plies to employees and self-em- must be ongoing; supervised; suit- b a r a p ployed owner/operators. It will be able for kids; and require physical m o c

increased by 5% a year (2008 is activity. h V t i i w Ê

65%) until 2011, when the de- e n Life beyond deadlines i g i ductible portion will be 80%. Meal n e Õ 7 v 0 Ê expenses made before March 18, The deadline for submitting your 0 À 2 A i P 2007, are subject to the standard personal income tax return is Apr. Ì E Ì 0 6 deduction of 50%. 30. If your return is late, there’s a i s e L i Ê r

If you do not fit the definition of minimum 5% penalty of the bal- e S l ¯ e s x

a long-haul truck driver, you are ance owing, plus 1% per month for e i Ê D t i Ì entitled to deduct 50% of your a maximum of 12 months. If you o r Ê t e « meal expense.You should apply the have filed late before, the penalties D a 1 o Ê t 50% deduction limit for all of 2007. may be higher. Ê d U e r Ê a Ê

Even if you can’t afford to pay p

Lifetime capital gains exemption m o

the balance, filing the return on C * *

The lifetime capital gains exemp- time can save you penalties , Ê tion limit will be increased to and fees.You will also be in a better ä ä ä

$750,000 from $500,000 on gains negotiating position with CRA re- £ Ê arising from dispositions of quali- garding a payment plan. Filing late Ì Ê fied property after March 18, 2007. sends a bad message.

This is great news for owners of If you need help preparing your Ü `

incorporated small businesses. A return, see a qualified professional, Ê Ã

“qualified property” includes preferably one who’s familiar with shares in a small corporation trucking companies. Õ * Ê owned by you, your spouse or com- Then, the day after you mail your Ê U Ê Ê

mon-law partner, or a partnership return, tilt your world back into Ã of which you were a member. tax-planning mode. Talk to an ac- `

We’ve discussed before that countant or business advisor about V sometimes the most tax-beneficial how to reduce your tax obligation i Ã ■ Ê way to pass along your business in 2008 and beyond. x ° £ when you retire is through the sale Ê of your corporate shares rather – Scott Taylor is VP of TFS Group, a Ê i

than the assets. There are quite a company that provides accounting, Õ µ few rules regarding this exemption, fuel tax reporting, and other services À Ì and taking advantage of this oppor- for truck fleets and owner/operators. Ê

tunity requires time and deliberate For info, visit www.tfsgroup.com or > planning. call 800-461-5970. i * Page 16 TRUCK WEST March 2008 SAFETY Safety savings: Tight budgets still leave room for effective safety programs

When times are tough and freight is information about driving habits, rial can often be enhanced with free scarce, fleet managers at every level Ask the identifying the rapid accelerations of resources. need to find savings that can con- Experts drivers who like to speed, and the Markel Insurance provides its pol- tribute to the bottom line. For their hard-braking events of those who icyholders with information on a va- part, safety departments can con- Ross tend to tailgate. riety of operational and training so- tribute to the process by taking steps Johnson Smaller fleets may balk at the cost lutions. Natural Resources Canada that establish affordable – and effec- of the tools and software to down- includes fuel efficiency driving tech- tive – programs. load such data, especially if they niques within its SmartDriver train- nancial terms. need multiple versions of the soft- ing manuals.And equipment suppli- Focus the investments Just remember to quantify all of ware to address engines from a vari- ers can offer material or personnel Effective training strategies are the related savings. A program that ety of manufacturers, but the infor- to explain safe operating and inspec- always linked to specific targets – helps drivers perform a proper vehi- mation can still be downloaded at a tion techniques related to certain and for more reasons than one. cle inspection may lead to a drop in relatively low price during out- components. This approach certainly presents fines linked to roadside inspections, sourced maintenance procedures. Refine the safety incentives an opportunity to address every but it will also help to eliminate the Think about the root causes aspect of a challenge. If hours-of- price of service calls that would be Never underestimate the value of service violations are on the rise, for required at an inspection station, Safety budgets can quickly be wast- small incentives such as work gloves, example, there may be a need to and the cost of downtime associated ed on training programs that try to caps or gift cards for doing a good audit the submitted paperwork and with roadside repairs. address a symptom rather than a job. These incentives are appreciat- offer some related training to show root cause. Before investing in a new ed, especially when delivered with a Sweat the small stuff drivers how to comply with specific driver training program to address heartfelt thank-you. aspects of the regulations. The smallest collision could cost hours-of-service issues, for example, But beware of any plans to reduce But the focus will also make it your fleet more than $10,000 once take a moment to assess your com- safety bonus payouts by simply in- possible to identify benchmarks that towing charges, missed deliveries pany’s dispatch procedures. Are creasing the related criteria.This will can be used to measure the strate- and the price of downtime are fac- drivers running afoul of the rules by do little more than discourage driv- gy’s success. Did the number of vio- tored into the equation. choice, or are they trying to meet un- ers from trying to meet outlined ob- lations drop in the months after the It proves that every fleet should realistic delivery times and perhaps jectives.While that may look like it’s training? Is there a noticeable differ- sweat the “small stuff.” dispatchers should receive addition- ‘pennywise,’ in the long run it can ence between one group of trainees The good news is that the cause of al training as well? prove to be much more expensive. ■ and the next? these smaller collisions can often be Your insurance company’s loss Remember that some individuals addressed with minor investments. prevention experts can also help to – Ross Johnson has 25 years experi- may require more training than One company was able to slash the identify the connections between ence in occupational health and safe- others, and improvements should be number of backing-related collisions seemingly different challenges, such ty, fleet safety management and driv- rewarded with positive feedback. in fleet yards with little more than a as a rash of speeding tickets and an er training. He started with Markel as mirror adjustment clinic to show increase in the number of rear-end a training specialist in 2002 prior Quantify all the savings drivers how to use them. collisions. to becoming a safety and training While every fleet will track the services senior advisor in 2004. Use the power of information Leverage the free support amount of money invested into Send your questions, feedback and safety programs, it is also possible An engine’s Electronic Control There are costs associated with any comments about this column to to prove a program’s value in fi- Module (ECM) contains valuable training program, but support mate- [email protected].

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On the road May the Force be with you Well, I didn’t have a week. And the thought of filing the gears while knocking the rust off on a There’s a new player in the big bore engine market brand new truck possibly destined for some poor, unsuspecting customer didn’t appeal to me on this By James Menzies day. So I decided to ride along LAS VEGAS, Nev. – with seasoned shifter Dave International wants to enter the Hutson in a TranStar day cab big bore engine market with a equipped with a MaxxForce 13 bang, but when you start up a with 430 hp and 1,450 lb.-ft. of MaxxForce 11- or 13-litre engine, torque. what you’ll hear is more of a Our route would take us up a whisper. subtle but lengthy grade and we Quiet operation is one of the were grossing about 60,000 lbs – a value propositions International good test for the new engine. The Truck and Engine is touting with fact we were in a day cab negated its new engines, now available for some of the noise reduction char- order on International’s ProStar, acteristics built into the TranStar and WorkStar Class 8 MaxxForce. trucks. Day cabs are inherently noisy At a recent trade press ride-and- and generally don’t have the same drive in Las Vegas, editors had insulation packages found in most the chance to compare the sound sleeper cabs. Nonetheless, it was levels of a MaxxForce and a popu- still remarkably quiet as we lar competitive engine. The climbed through the gears and MaxxForce doesn’t rattle and RAVE REVIEW: Cliff Viessman Trucking’s TranStar equipped with the MaxxForce merged onto the highway. knock like a traditional diesel; in- is getting better fuel mileage than the fleet average, the company says. The MaxxForce’s turbo re- stead this engine hums. It’s a dis- sponse was immediate and im- tinctly different sound than what gested, which causes that knock- proved operation in cold weather, pressive, you didn’t have to wait you’d normally hear emanating ing sound within the cylinders. the company said. for it to spool up. The engine from under the hood of a diesel- The MaxxForce’s new fuel sys- pulled constantly, even when What customers are saying powered big rig. tem, however, is “completely pro- lugged down to low RPMs. International officials explained grammable” and can dose the fuel International invited several cus- I noticed Hutson generally kept the quiet operation is due to some in stages or sequences for each tomers to the event to share their his RPMs lower than you’d expect, fundamental design characteris- combustion cycle, eliminating the real-world testing experiences. and he confirmed he drives the tics, starting with a compacted- need for the engine to combust Among them was Wayne MaxxForce at a lower average graphite (CG) iron engine block. large amounts of fuel at once and Viessman, fleet manager for RPM than other, similar sized en- It seemed appropriate the reducing engine “clatter.” Minnesota-based Cliff Viessman gines that he’s more accustomed MaxxForce was being introduced International’s Steve Perkins Inc., a 450-truck operation hauling to.This helps with fuel economy. to us in the shadows of Las Vegas said the use of CG iron allows the mostly food-grade products. The RPM needle rose and fell Motor Speedway. MaxxForce 13 to weigh-in dry at Viessman said the company sharply, in immediate response to It was NASCAR legend Dale just 2,244 lbs. took delivery of a MaxxForce 13 pedal input – it’s one responsive Earnhardt who first introduced On your typical ProStar, that’s a with 475 hp and 1,700 lb.-ft. of engine. the use of compacted-graphite weight savings of up to 500 lbs torque in a TranStar day cab last Like the engine itself, the engine iron to the racing circuit. By compared to some other engines April. The company has put brake was quieter than normal. adding a small amount of magne- when also taking EPA2007 emis- 112,000 miles on the engine with It’s barely audible from inside the sium into the base iron compound, sions hardware into account, ac- no reliability issues. But it’s the cab and some old-school truckers a new, harder compound is creat- cording to International officials. driver himself who offers the most may miss the sound of the old ed. Because of this added strength, Perkins also pointed out CG iron telling review. ‘Jake.’ But at least you can keep castings don’t have to be as thick is 70% stronger than run-of- “It pulls well, there’s a really the engine brake activated in (or heavy) as traditional iron en- the-mill “gray” iron and good torque curve,” urban areas with little fear of gine blocks. it is 40% stiffer, with driver Tim reprisal. CG iron’s light weight gave twice the fatigue Antony told All in all, the MaxxForce per- Earnhardt a competitive advan- limit. me. formed on the highway exactly as tage on the track and as the first Because of But he’s International officials promised it engine maker to use the technolo- the fuel sys- most im- would in the build-up. It’s hard to gy in the North American trucking tem’s ability to pressed by find fault in an engine that does industry, International hopes its inject fuel into the low what it’s supposed to do and lives customers will share the same the cylinders in noise lev- up to its hype. benefits. stages, Inte- els, espe- Availability While the primary advantage of rnational engi- cially when CG iron is reduced weight and im- neers explained making The MaxxForce 11 is currently proved durability, it also helps that peak fuel pres- nighttime deliver- available in horsepower ratings dampen sound. Engineers also sure of 26,000 psi is ies of corn gluten to ranging from 330-390 hp with added pronounced ribbing to the maintained at virtually farms. “I can come into torque between 1,250 lb.-ft. and crankcase to further reduce en- any engine speed. a yard at night and the farmers 1,400 lb.-ft. The 13-litre offering is gine noise and incorporated a This allows the engine to don’t know I’m there unless the available with 410-475 hp and thick rubber gasket between the reach peak torque at 1,000 RPM, brakes squeak.” 1,450-1,700 lb.-ft. of torque. oil pan and the engine block to enabling drivers to operate the en- For Viessman himself, it’s the International has enhanced its prevent block noise from resonat- gine at lower speeds without sacri- fuel consumption that captured his support network and launched a ing in the pan. ficing pulling power, which natu- attention. He said the MaxxForce technician training program to en- “Big flat panels are not good for rally contributes to better fuel is achieving 5.52 mpg hauling sure its dealers are prepared to noise, we want to break up those efficiency. heavy loads compared to a fleet service the new engine when patterns,” explained engineer The MaxxForce also features average of 4.85 mpg. Incidentally, called upon. Dave Bergman, when asked about twin-series turbochargers and an he now has eight more MaxxForce Speaking of serviceability,main- the ribbed oil pan design. integrated heat management sys- engines on order. tenance intervals on the Also contributing to the lack of tem called Eco-Therm. The small, The biggest challenge, according MaxxForce have been synchro- traditional diesel engine noise is a primary turbo takes care of take- to Antony, was re-learning how to nized, to reduce downtime and im- new high-pressure common rail off at low engine speeds while its drive the truck. prove productivity, a subtle detail fuel system. larger twin maintains peak power He said he had to learn how to that’s bound to be appreciated by International engineers ex- at high speeds, International engi- shift all over again because he pre- customers. plained that traditional diesel fuel neers explained. viously shifted by engine noise For more information on the systems inject a single full blast of Eco-Therm controls the exhaust and that’s no longer possible. newest player in the big bore engine fuel during each combustion temperatures to optimize the DPF “It took about a week to get market, visit www.maxxforce.com. ■ process. As a result, a large regeneration process and also al- used to shifting without hearing @ARTICLECATEGORY:855; amount of fuel must be rapidly di- lows for faster warm-ups and im- it,” he said. @COMPANYINARTICLE:018451203; It’s more than a retread. It’s a MICHELIN®.

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✁ FORM MUSTBEFILLEDIN COMPLETEL Nominated by: Explain: Safe dri How doyou maximizefuel efficiency?: Contr Number ofv Primary truc Number ofyears intrucking/commodity hauled: Email: Home phone: Town/City: Address: Name: Mail completedformsto My choice isbasedon: The Owner/Operator oftheYear shouldbe… 2008’s honouree willalsoreceive acted to(ifapplicable): Our ving record and a k Nominations mustbereceived by June 1,2008 ehicles: In additiontoaringfitforchampion, 12 ConcordePlace,Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario M3C 4J2 and engine: ❍ VACATION FOR TWO Industry/community in has begun. “ A W ARD” Y ANDNOMINEEMUSTHA v T olv ruc Bus. phone: Prov: ement k News/T ❍ (Include additionalinformationonsepar Phone: Heroism ruc up k Postal code: VE CLEANDRIVER'SABSTRACT West ❍ $3,000 CASH to , Going "Green"Initiati $2,500! Attn: Kathy Penner ate paperifinsufficientspace) v es ❍ March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 21 NEW PRODUCTS The moose is on the loose But night vision can help you avoid hitting it

By James Menzies typical high-beam headlight Now that he’s convinced the WINNIPEG, Man. – As range of 450 feet, according to system works, Harvie wants to be- owner/operator Kent Harvie company literature. gin marketing it to owner/opera- hand-bombed a couple hundred While both the camera and tors and fleets. 50-lb bags of salt onto his flatdeck monitor can be mounted any- The fleet he drives for is cur- stream, the price is up there, but following another close call with where, Harvie likes having the rently testing the cameras on we’ve secured financing for any- a moose, he knew he had to find a camera mounted high so it offers company-owned units that run in body like myself who isn’t rich.” solution. a view over any approaching hills Northern Ontario. Harvie said Harvie’s company RoadOx has It wasn’t his first run-in with so he can see what lies beyond be- the 500-truck fleet shells out partnered with a financing com- a moose, and while he didn’t fore cresting the hill. about $250,000 per year to repair pany in Barrie so customers can make contact with the beast, “It just buys me a few extra sec- damages caused by truck-moose sign onto a payment plan which he still scattered part of his load onds,” he explained. collisions. However, the main bar- makes the cost a little easier to all over the Northern Ontario Installation is simple, he said. rier to getting the units more swallow. highway while making an evasive The system taps into a truck’s ex- widely used in the trucking indus- For more information about the maneuver. isting 12-volt wiring. The package try is price. It lists for $4,997. PathFindIR system, contact To make matters worse, the comes with mounting brackets “They are pricey, no question Harvie at 416-988-4539 or e-mail constant threat of a collision be- and all other hardware required about it,” admitted Harvie.“Until [email protected]. ■ gan to stress Harvie out and fa- for installation. it becomes a little more main- @ARTICLECATEGORY:856; tigue became a constant battle when driving at night-time. “I was starting to get really fa- tigued at night. I over-concentrat- ed and three or four hours a night – that was it for me,” he recalled. Harvie began searching for a solution to prevent wildlife collisions. The obvious one was the moose-bumper, which is already widely used in the north. “But that doesn’t cure the problem,” he said. “You still end up hitting the moose and still end up getting damaged.” In researching the problem, Harvie learned of night-vision cameras that were initially being sold to the OPP for their helicop- ters some 20 years ago. Like something out of a James Bond flick, they detect heat and project clear images onto a dash- mounted camera. Harvie decided the same technology could be used in trucks to reduce wildlife collisions and he set about obtaining a patent. Unfortunately for him, he eventually found out the technology was already patented in the US under the name PathFindIR. So he struck up a deal to become the Canadian distributor and more importantly, the company’s first Canadian customer in the trucking industry. Harvie says he now sees about five to 15 moose each night on his regular run between Toronto and Winnipeg. “I never did before I had the camera; they’re there, you just don’t see them,” he said. “I would say, since last summer it has probably saved me from about five direct hits.” Harvie has the camera mounted on the roof of his truck and he insisted there have been no reliability issues, even in temperatures of –40 C. The camera’s lens is heated so snow and ice doesn’t obstruct its view and it is also wa- terproof. It has a wide-angle view, so animals at the side of the road are detected. Inside his cab, he has a small black and white monitor mounted on the dash. It shows the road ahead and displays anything that generates heat in a bright white light. The camera has a range of about 2,000 feet compared to the Page 22 TRUCK WEST March 2008 OPINION

ly structured carbon tax – if it was actually revenue-neutral to them The carbon tax debate: Be very wary and/or the funds were used to off- set the costs of investing in new Conditions would have to be met before accepting carbon tax smog-free trucks, and fuel saving technologies like APUs, low In January, the National that it will be politicians, not tax rolling resistant tires, etc. (In oth- Roundtable on the Environment Industry practitioners that will design and er words, if the revenues were and the Economy issued a report Issues implement a carbon tax. And, as used to fund the proposed which says that Canada could we all know, governments do not enviroTruck program). That’s a achieve a 65% reduction in GHG David have a good track record when it big “if.” emissions by 2050 if it introduced Bradley comes to tax fairness, to dedicat- Because the last thing the truck- measures now that place a price ing tax revenues to the issues they ing industry needs are higher fuel on carbon or CO2 emissions – the were supposed to address (road costs and more fuel taxes. At 15% policy argument being that if the taxes anyone?), or to revenue to 30% fuel is the second largest appropriate price signals are sent force industries to become more neutrality to individuals or groups component of carrier operating to the market either through a fuel efficient; and to reward fuel- of taxpayers. costs after labour. cap-and-trade emissions credits savings by reducing other taxes so Carbon taxes are not in as wide- The current provincial and federal system or a carbon tax, consumers the overall effect is revenue-neu- spread use as some might think. diesel fuel taxes are antiquated and will behave accordingly. tral and/or allocating the funds Countries like Norway and the regressive. The days and weeks that fol- generated by the tax to invest- UK have some form of the tax. In combination, Canadian fuel lowed the report touched off re- ment in fuel-saving technologies They are being talked about in the taxes are among the highest on newed debate on the pros and and activities. EU but have not seen the light of the continent. cons of carbon taxes in particular. The problem is a carbon tax can day yet. California is considering With fuel prices and fuel taxes The idea of a carbon tax is not take many forms. It can where they are today – and new. Discussion of carbon taxes be a direct tax on CO2 even with fuel surcharges – was very much in vogue about a producing fuels such as ‘The trucking industry doesn’t the trucking industry does- decade ago – though I suspect oil, natural gas and coal need to pay even more for diesel n’t need to pay even more most people now as then have with the rate set arbitrari- for diesel fuel to realize only a vague notion of what one is ly or in direct correlation fuel to realize that increased fuel that increased fuel effi- or what one could be. From a tax with the level of CO2 ciency is a good thing. policy point of view, a carbon tax emissions produced. efficiency is a good thing.’ Behaviour in the industry is not necessarily a bad thing if de- It can be imposed at David Bradley is changing. signed properly, at least when the producer or distribu- Most tax policy practi- compared to other consumption tor level, or at the con- tioners also agree that taxes. sumer level. (The reality taxes on business inputs Broadly speaking the tax econ- being of course that even if it is a carbon tax. whether they are imposed on com- omist’s rationale for such a tax is imposed at the industrial level, At the federal level in Canada, mercial fuel or equipment are to increase the cost of burning the tax is eventually passed along both the governing Conservatives counter-productive and job killers. fossil fuels in order to change con- in terms of higher consumer and the Opposition Liberals have The trucking industry – particu- sumer behaviour (consume less or prices). previously rejected the idea of a larly in those jurisdictions that switch to alternative fuel); to Perhaps the biggest problem is carbon tax – although at times it is have not harmonized their sales hard to tell whether they still hold taxes with the GST – already pays to that view and/or whether they too high a share of tax on its busi- will continue to do so. ness inputs compared to other The Construction Industry’s preferred MFG. LTD. Beware the so-called “Green industries. W.K. DAHMS “Precise Placement” 3074 SAWMILL ROAD, Material Delivery System Tax.” Recently, federal finance Keep in mind, for example, that ST. JACOBS, ONTARIO N0B 2N0 . . . Since 1976 minister Jim Flaherty – clearly not the four cent per litre federal ex- 519-664-3414 a fan of carbon taxes – seemed to cise tax on diesel fuel was intro- FAX: (519) 664-2082 WWW.superstoneslinger.com intimate that if the country is go- duced by the Mulroney governing to go down the carbon tax road ment in the mid-1980s for the then shouldn’t we at least have expressed purpose of slaying the ContinuallyContinually SettingSetting TheThe StandarStandard!d! one national tax as opposed to a chronic government deficits that hodge-podge of provincial taxes? persisted at that time. You can bet that the provinces It must have worked, because are not keen to see money raised we now live in an era of massive from carbon taxes going to the fiscal surpluses at the federal lev- federal government which would el. But, the tax still exists even then decide what the revenue though it serves no policy purpose should be used for and what the and is just a cash grab. shares of the various provinces I suppose the federal govern- would be. ment could repeal the tax; call it a No province in Canada, other carbon or green tax; make sure all than Quebec, has introduced a carriers regardless of where in the carbon tax, though others – like continent they are from paid the B.C. – have or are thinking about tax; and maybe use some of the it. In October of 2007, Quebec in- funds for fuel efficiency. The ULTRA STONE SLINGER™ puts dirt, mulch, top soil, screening, troduced a direct tax of less than Perhaps we could live with that. aggregates and sand precisely where you need it. With a 220 degree working one cent per litre on all fuel sold But, again there are just too many pivot radius and an increased angulation of by oil and natural gas companies. “ifs” for my liking. 23 degrees above and below The tax which is set at 0.9 cents We have too many examples of the horizontal, the ULTRA per litre for diesel fuel is expected governments justifying bad poli- STONE SLINGER™ convey to generate about $200 million per cies, programs and taxes in the or accurately places material year which the Quebec govern- name of worthy goals. (Border se- up to 100 feet from the end ment says will be used for energy- curity is but one example). of the truck, eliminating saving projects like public transit. To me the excise tax on diesel material handling, Government officials also said fuel is just another tax on a busi- reducing construction they hoped the oil companies ness input and if I had my time and improving would pay the tax and not pass it druthers it would be harmonized your bottom line. along to consumers. (Right). Other with the GST. provinces like Alberta, not surpris- Maybe then we could sit down ingly, strongly object to the idea. and have a reasonable debate Where does the trucking indus- about carbon taxes. Until then, I try stand? Notwithstanding the remain wary. ■ For information in Western Provinces: Live current economic climate, many @ARTICLECATEGORY:861; D&R CONCRETE EQUIPMENT SALES LTD. Bottom 12 Fisher Cres., Okotoks, AB T1S 1A7 Discharge carriers take their environmental 1-877-938-4767 accountabilities seriously and – David Bradley is president of the could perhaps see some merit re- Ontario Trucking Association and Contact: Lloyd Tannas placing other taxes that do noth- chief executive officer of the STONE SLINGER™ - Registered Trademark - Canada & U.S.A. ing for the industry with a proper- Canadian Trucking Alliance. March 2008 TRUCK NEWS Page 00

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©2007 BANDAG — ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Page 24 TRUCK WEST March 2008 NEW PRODUCTS Meritor WABCO launches active collision avoidance system By James Menzies “It will not only warn, but will ac- trol of the vehicle in an emergency ORLANDO, Fla. – Meritor WAB- tively intervene and dethrottle, ap- situation.” CO has introduced a new collision ply the engine brake if necessary Other systems on the market alert avoidance system with active brak- and apply the foundation brakes if the driver when an unsafe following ing, that uses radar to detect when a necessary to achieve a relatively distance is established through audi- collision is imminent and takes con- high rate of deceleration.” ble alarms and by activating the en- trol of the vehicle to safety stop it He explained a deceleration rate gine brake – but not the foundation before a rear-end collision occurs. of up to .25 G can be achieved by brakes, officials pointed out. The The company demonstrated its the system, which he suggested “is OnGuard system also includes an new OnGuard system to trade press going to be able to reduce rear-end audible alarm, a visual warning and journalists in Orlando recently. It al- accidents.” retarder control. The foundation ready has installed the system on Simply put, the system alerts driv- CAB DISPLAY: The in-cab display, brakes can account for up to nearly 200 trucks and the company ers when a pre-set following dis- pictured, will eventually be integrated one-third of a full brake application, plans to roll the system out commer- tance is compromised and, if neces- with the OEM’s own dash display. engineers explained. cially in the third quarter of 2008 as a sary, it will activate the foundation Korn insisted the company has factory-installed option with several brakes to safely slow the truck down tive braking as needed,” said Jon gone to great lengths to ensure there OEMs.Meritor WABCO officials to restore the desired following Morrison, president and general are no “false” interventions. say their OnGuard technology is the distance. manager, Meritor WABCO Vehicle “It’s one thing to falsely warn, it’s first collision safety system with ac- “As part of our ongoing efforts to Control Systems. a whole ’nother ball game to falsely tive braking available on North improve vehicle safety for highways, “The driver is still the most impor- brake,” he said.“The technology had American commercial vehicles. drivers and fleets, OnGuard was de- tant element in maintaining vehicle to be ratcheted up to minimize false “This system is an active system,” signed to equip drivers with auto- safety however, the system can pro- detection. We don’t want to make explained Alan Korn, director of en- mated features that help ensure safe vide the additional split-second de- decisions based on erroneous infor- gineeringWinnipeg withTruck Meritor News.qxd WABCO. 2/11/08 10:04following AM Page distances1 and provide ac- celeration needed to maintain con- mation, especially decisions that in- volve generating a deceleration.” The OnGuard system was designed to be fully-integrated with Meritor WABCO’s anti-lock braking and stability control systems. Morrison explained this is advanta- geous because a customer can employ multiple safety systems using just one ABS ECU as opposed to having several independent systems, which add complexity. The National Highway Transportation Safety NEW Administration (NHTSA) has said rear-end collisions account for over TRUCKS 20% of all heavy truck crashes. In NEW about 60% of those accidents, the truck is the striking vehicle. Driving EQUIPMENT too fast for the conditions or follow- NEW ing too closely are the most common causes, according to the agency. TECHNOLOGY Meritor WABCO officials said OnGuard can help mitigate those accidents. The system can detect fixed and moving objects at up to 500 feet away.The system uses an al- gorithm to calculate the time to collision and then takes action when required. Other systems utilize a less sophisticated formula, Meritor WABCO officials said.So far in field testing the units have racked up more than 10 million fleet miles over a two-year period. ■

Show & See the best Big Rigs right outside the FRIDAY SHINE Convention Centre. MAY 23, 2008 Chevron introduces Sessions for fleet owners and managers, 10 am to 6 pm new CJ-4 motor oils SEMINARS recruitment managers and owner-operators. SATURDAY SAN RAMON, Cal. – Chevron has highwaySTAR Kick back at the highwaySTAR Party on introduced a replacement to its cur- PARTY Friday night. MAY 24, 2008 rent CI-4 Plus motor oil with a CJ-4 9 am to 4 pm and CI-4 Plus formulation the com- 120,000 sq.ft. of new trucks and equipment. Winnipeg Convention Centre pany says will offer improved per- Call 416-614-5804 for information formance. Chevron RPM LE SAE about exhibiting. 15W-40 and Texaco Ursa Super Plus Grand Prize Sponsored by: EC SAE 15W-40 heavy-duty diesel engine oils will be rolled out in January in bulk form. A full transition is expected by March, the com- PRIZE pany says. It will continue offering its CI-4 Plus only products in bulk and GRAND DRAW drums within its portfolio of Delo Attend the Winnipeg Truck Show and ENTER TO WIN 400-branded products. a Sportsman 300 4X4 ATV 2008. Retail value $7249. “The market is ready for the shift. Visit winnipegtruckshow.ca for contest rules and regulations. With 95% of the country’s heavy- duty vehicles operating on ultra low- sulfur diesel (ULSD) it makes sense to offer engine oil with improved Platinum Sponsor: Gold Sponsor: Endorsed by: Produced by: performance in these conditions for new as well as older engines,” said Nicole Fujishige, business sector manager for Chevron. ■ March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 25

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CR0288E (0801) TM/MCMarque de commerce de Petro-Canada - Trademark March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 27 OEM/DEALER NEWS Cummins now Michelin offers California-compliant improved ORLANDO, Fla. – Cummins has announced it’s now able to comply regional tire with strict new anti-idling regulations in California. The company ORLANDO, Fla. – Michelin has now offers Clean Idle-certified en- introduced a new version of its gines that comply with anti-idling most popular regional truck tire regulations in all 50 states. They can which the company says will be idled indefinitely under the new boast a dramatically longer tread rules, since they produce less than 30 life. The XZE2 all-position tire grams/hour of NOx while idling. was showcased at the Technology The ISX, ISM, ISL, ISC and ISB and Maintenance Council meet- all comply with the new regulations, ings here in February. the company announced at the The tire will eventually replace Technology and Maintenance the XZE, which will be phased Council meetings. Customers must out over time, Michelin officials request a 50-state Clean Idle-certi- told Truck West. Introducing the LoneStar fied engine when placing their order. “Michelin continues to raise They can also update their current the bar for truck tire technology CHICAGO, Ill. – In an effort to the sleeper cab; sofa-bed design EPA07 engines to meet the new through continued innovations marry style with functionality and with back pillows; swivel chairs; California requirements, the compa- that improve tire life and durabil- comfort, International has intro- closed “airline” cabinets; monsoon ny announced. ity,” said Marc Laferriere, vice- duced its new flagship truck, the stereo system with 11 speakers, “We are very pleased to announce president of marketing, Michelin LoneStar. Instantly recognizable sub-woofer and amplifier; pull- the availability of our Clean Idle Americas Truck Tires. “This in by its sleek chrome grill, the down bed with 42-inch premium Certified on-highway engines,” said turn helps regional fleets and LoneStar is being called “the mattress; workspaces to plug in lap- Jeff Jones, vice-president of sales operators reduce their total cost world’s most innovative big rig top computers and work in a desk- and market communications. of operation over the long run. truck” by International. like setting; and a mini refrigerator. “Cummins ability to offer these The Michelin XZE tire has been Automotive-style features built To top things off, the LoneStar is products demonstrates our strong the leading tire of choice for re- into the LoneStar include: standard projected to be 5% to 15% more commitment to customers and the gional fleets. With the new XZE2 ABS; roll stability; traction control; fuel efficient than classic trucks, environment.” tire, the best just got better.” Bluetooth integration for hands- equating to an annual savings of The company also announced its Michelin claims its newest tire free phone use; a leather-wrapped $3,000 to $8,000.The LoneStar will ComfortGuard APU can meet will extend tread life by 15% steering wheel; automotive-style be available for order from nearly California’s latest emissions require- compared to the XZE. dash and gauges with rosewood or 900 dealer locations in North ments. The latest regulations, which The tire features Michelin’s titanium trim; and a 50-degree America beginning in April. went into place Jan. 1, require APUs matrix siping which provides ad- wheel cut. The LoneStar was unveiled just as to have exhaust aftertreatment sys- ditional traction and protection The LoneStar’s interior is as dis- Truck West went to press. For a full tems in place. The ComfortGuard against irregular wear. tinctive as the exterior, with high- review of the LoneStar, see next will now be available with two The tread itself is 6% wider lights including: wood flooring in month’s issue of Truck West. ■ options capable of meeting the new than its predecessor which also California requirements. improves traction and stability as One involves a stand-alone partic- well as handling and maneuver- PACCAR engines to use SCR in 2010 ulate filter and the other is an instal- ability. And the compound has BELLEVUE, Wash. – PACCAR has announced it has joined the Selective lation kit that routes the exhaust been improved to provide more Catalytic Reduction (SCR) camp, for its own EPA2010 engines.The company through the truck’s primary Diesel chip and cut resistance, officials said in its most recent financial statement that PACCAR engines will use SCR Particulate Filter (DPF). said. Michelin representatives at in combination with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Volvo and Daimler “These new 2008 CARB-certified the show also said a 5% reduction Trucks have also announced they’ll be using SCR and Cummins will use the APUs will give drivers cost-effective in rolling resistance has been urea-based solution on its medium-duty engines. On the heavy-duty side, options to idling when necessary, achieved, which should result in Cummins has announced it can meet EPA2010 standards without using SCR, with increased benefit to the envi- improved fuel mileage. and most recently International made a similar announcement. ronment,” says Shawn Wasson,APU The XZE2 will be available in “The combination of SCR and EGR will provide PACCAR customers a business leader for Cummins. March, in sizes: 11R22.5; highly efficient solution to meet the rigorous 2010 emission requirements. Once it receives its formal 275/80R22.5; and 11R24.5, with a PACCAR’s world-class vehicles have successfully operated SCR emission sys- approval, the new options will be 275/80R24.5 becoming available tems in Europe for several years,” said Craig Brewster, PACCAR assistant available through Cummins distri- in April. ■ vice-president. ■ bution channels. ■ MISSING Melanie Nadia Ethier 5441-S

D.O.B.: Dec 25, 1980

When Last seen: Height: 5’5” Weight: 120 lbs. Eye Colour: Brown Hair Colour: Black

Missing Since: Sep 29, 1996 From: New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada

Anyone with information please contact: All Calls Confidential – No Name Required trucknews.com CHILD FIND 1-800-387-7962 Page 28 TRUCK WEST March 2008 ENVIRONMENT

its packages by 1.5 inches. “Supporting the environment Logistics and the environment and being a profitable organization are not mutually exclusive,” Smith said, echoing the frequent- Industry leaders share their secrets on the risks, ly-quoted mantra of Wal-Mart’s CEO. costs and benefits of a greener supply chain Another initiative, this one originating in Canada, involves By Lou Smyrlis moving to plastic shipping crates QUEBEC CITY, Que. – Greening for break pack items rather than the supply chain is such a cardboard boxes. Herculean task one can be ex- The plastic boxes are tough cused for likening it to the rather enough for 60 or more trips while unecological sounding “eating an the cardboard boxes were good elephant.” Especially if that some- for only a couple. The move has one is Lesley Smith, who as vice- saved the company about $4.5 president of supply chain with million over the last five years and Wal-Mart Canada, is involved reduced waste by 1,400 tonnes, ac- with some of the most forward cording to Smith. thinking corporate greening Wal-Mart Canada has also been strategies on the continent. heavily involved in discussions And particularly when that with its transportation partners someone has a sensible solution aimed at reducing their environ- to the daunting task and a catchy mental footprint. phrase to go with it. How do you A sustainability scorecard was eat that proverbial elephant rep- launched this fall which addresses resenting the daunting task of the equipment, operations, facili- greening the supply chain? LEADING THE WAY: Wal-Mart has taken a multi-prong approach to reducing its ties and corporate commitment of According to Smith: one bite at a carbon footprint, including spec’ing its trucks for fuel-efficiency. companies that haul for Wal- time. Mart. Smith was the first of several industry’s imagination with its lines with its lofty sustainability In July 2006,Wal-Mart and ship- leaders in green supply chain willingness to experiment with goals, which include: to create ping supplier SCM changed how practices to share her insights at a bold green vehicle designs; and zero waste, to be totally powered many products were delivered to half-day summit on logistics and Lynda Harvey, who as senior man- by renewable energy, and to stock 10 stores in Nova Scotia and the environment dubbed Turning ager of Natural Resources more environmentally preferable Prince Edward Island, from road Green into Gold. Canada’s FleetSmart program is products where available. to rail, reducing carbon emissions The summit, which included tasked with administering the “We knew this was a huge proj- by 2,600 tonnes, according to the three different panels on the right incentives to help trans- ect and we had to break it down supermarket. environment, kicked off CITT’s portation stakeholders improve into little bite sizes. There are For products where road well-attended annual conference their sustainability practices. things that can be done that are haulage is necessary, 20 truck gen- in Quebec City. Harvey outlined the breadth not huge but can make a differ- erators were converted to electric, The summit brought together of the task ahead. Transportation ence,” Smith told the audience, saving 40,000 litres of fuel. shippers, carriers, academics on its own accounts for 26% explaining that 14 networks were The combined measures are and government representatives of greenhouse gas emissions in formed within the company and expected to save about $2 million to openly discuss the challenges, Canada, and is the fastest growing they included outside help from in costs each year, according to costs and benefits of moving contributor. Although our affec- government and non-government Wal-Mart. towards more sustainable trans- tion with the automobile is the organizations, suppliers, vendors In the future, Smith said Wal- portation and logistics practices. largest component of transporta- and even environmental groups. Mart is considering solar panels Smith’s panel mates included tion’s contribution to greenhouse Wal-Mart’s packaging reduc- for its distribution centres, some Peter Robinson, CEO of Moun- gases, heavy-duty vehicles used to tion initiative has garnered much of which are in excess of 1.5 mil- tain Equipment Co-op, another transport freight contribute close attention over the past year. The lion sq.-ft. company with a strong reputation to a third of transportation’s total. company’s sustainable scorecard “What else is out there? It’s an for showing leadership on the en- Wal-Mart, which has 6,759 retail system is pushing 60,000 of its exciting time we are in and we’re vironmental sustainability front; stores around the world (296 of suppliers worldwide to lower the looking forward to what the Robert Johnson, president and them in Canada) staffed by 1.6 amount of packaging they use 5% future has to offer. We can’t be CEO of Purolator, a courier that million workers (70,000 of them in by 2013, use more renewable ma- afraid to look forward,” she has captured the transportation Canada) has been making head- terials and slash energy use. advised. If the packaging reductions are Mountain Equipment Co-op, met, this will be an effort equal which has 2.7 million members, to removing 213,000 trucks from has been imbedding sustainabili- the road, saving approximately ty practices in its corporate strat- 324,000 tonnes of coal and 67 egy years before the issue cap- million gallons of diesel fuel per tured the national spotlight, year, Wal-Mart claims. according to president and CEO Wal-Mart Canada held its sec- Robinson. ond packaging expo in November It has been developing a com- where vendors and merchants got prehensive program since 1999 together to discuss and share best and many of the practices have practices and look for ways to actually been driven by staff reduce their packaging. rather than from the top down. Keeping with the one-bite-at- The company procures products time theme, Smith related how from more than 600 factories even a small reduction in packag- based in 49 countries.All factories ing can have a large impact down must sign a code of conduct and the line. are audited for compliance. She pointed to the example of a Next year their environmental package for a toy that was re- performance will also be audited, duced by just 1.5 inches, without Robinson said. impacting the size of the toy. He added that the company has In doing so, Wal-Mart figures it also been working with its trans- has saved the equivalent of 5,190 portation vendors to first estab- trees in packaging material, need- lish a baseline measurement of ed 727 fewer shipping containers greenhouse gas emissions. trucknews.com and saved 1,358 barrels of oil “If you are looking for a place through reduced transportation to start, that’s the best place be- needs. The bottom line impact: cause then you can set targets,” Wal-Mart saved $3.5 million in Robinson advised. “Our target is transportation costs worldwide, to reduce our total greenhouse just by reducing the size of one of gas emissions from transportation March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 29

by 5% over the next five years, while continuing to grow our business.” Other transportation-related initiatives include choosing ports of entry to avoid traffic gridlock that add to emissions and re-eval- uating the use of air freight in sit- uations where moving goods by marine container is feasible. The company has already reduced emissions from its own building operations by 52% since 2003 and is close to completing a new facility in Surrey built on green design principles that Robinson said aim to be 70% more energy efficient than the national model. Some of the strategies included retaining some of the initial structure’s building material which reduced construction costs from $100 per square foot down to about $60 per square foot, implementing insulated re-useable steel panels, and setting a goal to use 30% less water than standard, in part by capturing and using rain water. “If you’re thinking about greening the supply chain, it’s worth FAST ADOPTER: Purolator was one of the first carriers to employ hybrids. Pictured is its fully-electric Quicksider. thinking about your buildings,” Robinson advised. Purolator is another company explored hybrid electric, fuel cell ing tested in Purolator’s Toronto viable option for more businesses,” that embarked on a path towards and electric technologies. Metro West facility. he said. improved environmental prac- In the initial phase of its green Purolator piloted its first hybrid To that end, Natural Resources tices years before the issue re- fleet program, Purolator consid- electric fleet in the Toronto mar- Canada’s Lynda Harvey outlined ceived national prominence and is ered a hybrid electric vehicle base ket in 2005. After more than the federal government’s initia- credited with experimenting with design that would reduce emis- 700,000 kilometres on the road, tives. Although all programs are some of the most innovative com- sions by up to 50% and not the vehicles have saved Purolator voluntary at this stage and mercial vehicle designs on the change the driver interface or more than 120,000 litres of fuel Canada has not set up any cap and road today. truck. and prevented the emission of trade initiatives, there are some Company president and CEO It now has 49 such vehicles in its more than 380 tonnes of green- monetary incentives for industry Johnson explained that Purolator fleets, running in urban areas such house gasses, Johnson said. In stakeholders looking to improve began looking for ways to reduce as Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and terms of fuel consumption, all this the sustainability of their supply its environmental footprint back Vancouver. translates into a more than chain practices. in 2001, analyzing its activities In phase two, the company ad- 40% fuel economy improvement ecoFREIGHT is a $61-million and services with two main objec- vanced to a fuel-cell technology as compared to Purolator’s initiative jointly run by NRCan tives: to identify which areas of that would produce zero emis- base fleet. and Transport Canada and has six its business produced the largest sions by using non-carbon based “We’ve learned quite a bit over components: environmental footprint and to fuel. It partnered with the past five years. We’ve learned figure out how it could reduce Hydrogenics Corp. to test a fuel that making the transition to • The National Harmonization the impact of its operations cell hybrid electric vehicle and an greener technologies doesn’t hap- Initiative aims to remove the leg- and improve efficiency and on-site hydrogen production, stor- pen overnight. We learned that a islative obstacles to efficient profitability. age and refueling station. stepped, integrated approach is transportation of truck freight It got started by implementing a The fuel cell project was also critical if we want to test and ac- posed by conflicting provincial route optimization program one of the first in a series of early curately measure impact on oper- regulations. which reduced overall distances deployments of fuel cell technolo- ations. And we also learned that • With the Freight Technology travelled by its vehicles as a gy as part of the Hydrogen Village support from and collaboration Demonstration Fund, Ottawa has way to cut fuel consumption and program, which is a partnership of with third parties plays a key role set aside $10 million to help com- emissions. some 40 companies dedicated to in helping accelerate the pace at panies fund the demonstrating of It also introduced a strict no- the development of a sustainable which a company can make envi- new green technologies in real idling rule that imposed an auto- commercial market for hydrogen ronment-friendly conversions world conditions; matic 60-second maximum idle and fuel cell technologies in the that make good business sense. • With Freight Technology time on all its road vehicles and Greater Toronto Area. But perhaps most importantly, we Incentives, another $10 million an energy efficient lighting pro- “Phase three, is where things learned that a greener fleet can has been earmarked to help gram at its terminals which result- got even more interesting,” achieve improved fuel economy companies fund the purchase and ed in a 40% reduction in energy Johnson said. “Not only did we and lower emissions without com- installation of proven green consumption. advance to fully electric power promising reliability or customer technologies To reduce packaging, it intro- sources but also played an active service.” • Another $7 million is avail- duced PuroLetters and boxes role in the design of a completely But Johnson also cautioned that able under the government’s made from 50% recycled fibres. new courier vehicle, called the while he believes transportation ecoFREIGHT Partnerships initia- Purolator moves 275 million Quicksider, which we introduced can implement new green tech- tive which engages shippers and pieces of freight each year, using this September in Toronto.” nologies and “there is no time like forwarders on capacity building more than 3,500 delivery vehicles, Operating on a battery with ful- the present to do so”, there is no issues 800 highway trailers and 15 char- ly electric motors, the Quicksider, silver bullet to addressing the is- • A Marine Shore Power pro- tered aircraft moving between 275 developed by Unicell, is the first sues affecting the environment. gram has a $6 million budget to operations and shipping centres. vehicle of its weight class to be So he plans to continue investigat- demonstrate the GHG and air “We knew that if done right, in- used in the courier industry in ing and testing a variety of new pollutant emissions reduction po- troducing a greener fleet would Canada. technologies. tential of Marine Shore Power help us cut fuel consumption, re- Because it’s fully electric, the In fact, he has already placed an equipment in Canadian ports duce costs and improve efficien- vehicle produces zero emissions order for 105 gas-parallel hybrid • The ecoEnergy for Fleets ini- cy,” Johnson said, adding the com- while in operation. electric vehicles suited for high- tiative includes the $22-million pany opted for a three-phased And its electric drivetrain with way driving. FleetSmart program run by integrated approach that allowed no transmission may mean less “We will also continue to push NRCan and designed to help it to test different technologies maintenance than would be re- for more government funding commercial and institutional and determine their impact on its quired with a conventional diesel for early adopters of hybrid elec- fleets reduce fuel consumption system as a whole. or gas powered delivery vehicle. tric vehicles and other green and emissions through improved Over a five-year span, Purolator The Quicksider is currently be- technologies, so they can be a energy efficient practices. ■ Page 30 TRUCK WEST March 2008 EXECUTIVE VIEW

Truck manufacturers have faced a a 90% reduction in idling, while sharp decline in sales in 2007, still providing high-power A/C, which came on the heels of record 120VAC, and 12VDC to accommo- sales the previous year. Recently, One-on-One date the sleeper hotel loads. We editorial director Lou Smyrlis had will continue to work with both the chance to sit down with Bill supplier and customer to keep the Jackson, Peterbilt general manager momentum going. and PACCAR vice-president to With Peterbilt’s Bill Jackson We will have a Class 8 hybrid discuss how the company is product in the marketplace by coping with the challenging mar- 2010 and medium-duty products in ket conditions: ers know the quality is there and other areas. production in mid-2008. We are that we stand behind the product. focusing more on how we impact TW: Obviously 2007 has been a TW: Your two most aerodynamic the environment and the commu- tough year for truck manufacturers TW: Another thing that hasn’t trucks, the Models 387 and 386, nity, whether it’s Peterbilt, one of with steep drops in sales, as expect- changed much in recent years is the have been recognized as fuel effi- our dealers or our customers. ed following the pre-buy trend the challenge of attracting and retain- cient and environmentally friendly There’s a lot of interest in environ- last couple of years. How are you ing quality drivers. What role can a by the Environmental Protection mental solutions and hybrid vehi- feeling about 2008? truck manufacturer play in helping Agency’s SmartWay program. You cles and we feel fortunate to have Jackson: It will be a good year fleets meet this challenge which has claim an impressive 10% to 20% partners like Eaton and Wal-Mart. for Peterbilt. Initially, buyers were so far evaded them? improvement in fuel efficiency for wary of the new engine technology Jackson: You can’t look at any these vehicles. Can you outline the TW: For fleets looking to invest and the price, however the tech- one thing. But I can tell you that most important design elements in such vehicles, can you provide an nology has proven itself and is fleets buy Peterbilts because our that are helping you achieve such idea as to what they should expect working well. We were the first to trucks have proven to retain driv- fuel improvement? How far can in terms of price compared to simi- be 100% on the installation of the ers. It’s the whole experience of this envelope be pushed? larly equipped non-hybrid vehi- new engine technology. We’ve in- the drivability of the truck, the Jackson: There isn’t one single cles? We’ve heard estimates on the stalled only the 07 engines in our overall quality of the truck. feature that has led to the im- cost of adding a diesel/electric sys- new models since March. There is Drivers gravitate to the Peterbilt provement in fuel economy but tem ranging from $8,000 to a higher price with the new en- product. rather a combination of several de- $40,000. gines but there are also benefits. We focus on building the highest sign enhancements. Both models Jackson: I would love to tell you Buyers are now starting to think quality product that is easy to have sloped hoods, roof fairings or but I don’t think we know enough about the next emissions deadline drive, has the right driver comforts, a high roof off the sleeper into the at this point to say what the price is in 2010. If they are going to replace is designed ergonomically with the trailer and they both have side going to be. There are still transi- their fleets ahead of that deadline driver in mind and we work dili- fairings. tions and technology changes we they will have to start buying gently to ensure the customer has It’s really a question of not dis- are going through. We are also equipment soon. We are seeing an excellent service experience. turbing air as you’re going down building hybrids now in small some of the larger fleets asking If a Peterbilt driver breaks down the road.We do a lot of testing and quantities, which affects price. for trucks. on the side of the road or goes into analysis, both our own and at third Building five is much different the dealership for service, they will parties. The envelope has not been than building 5,000 in terms of TW: You mentioned they were be taken care of quickly. reached, and I believe we can con- price. We may also go through ad- scared of the technology. Is that not Our TruckCare Call Center is a tinue to make strides in aerody- ditional design changes. So to give disappointing considering the expe- free service to any driver, driving namic efficiencies. I also believe a price now would be premature. rience after the 2002 emissions any truck, for any company. We you have to look at the truck and change was that the engines per- are still the only service that is free. trailer as a fully integrated pack- TW: What has the response formed better than expected? Our goal is to get that truck mov- age. We must deliver a total solu- been so far from your fleet cus- Jackson: I think in certain cases, ing as quickly as possible, and our tion to the customer. tomers? Are they ready for such the OEs may have contributed to dealers do whatever they can do to technology? the scare by talking so openly make that happen. And while the TW: So what’s the next step for Jackson: Hybrid technology is about our testing of the technolo- customer is waiting at the dealer- you? absolutely on the radar because gy. And then there was the price ship, we will provide them with Jackson: The next step is exam- most businesses see the impor- tag. So the industry may have in- phone and Internet access and ining how to integrate engines into tance of going green. From an op- duced that pre-buy a little bit be- other amenities. Peterbilt trucks and what we can erating standpoint, if hybrid vehi- cause of that. do on the drivetrain side to opti- cles can extend service intervals, Plus, the 2006 freight markets TW: You recently entered the mize the power and fuel economy improve mileage or reduce costs – were strong and buyers were ex- Class 5 market with your Model of our vehicles and maximize per- everyone is interested, especially pecting those historic levels to con- 325. Why was this the right time to formance. Cummins and Caterpillar when considering the margins fleet tinue. They were buying at the up- do so and how does the 325 address will continue to supply engines and operators live on. per end of freight levels and also the specific needs of this market we will also have our own engines as We have one over-the-road pulling things forward to delay segment? well. We have to look at ways to op- Class 8 hybrid, the Model 386. We purchases in 2008, which created a Jackson: The Class 5 market is timize that integration with the vehi- will offer a hydraulic hybrid ver- double bubble and that hurt us this one of the fastest growing seg- cle as well, as opposed to trying to sion of our Model 320 for the re- year. But we are starting to see the ments in the medium-duty market engineer multiple solutions for fuse market. And our medium- tide turn. From a Peterbilt stand- place and until the new Model 325, each model. duty hybrid Models 330 and 335 point, more than 80% of our in- Peterbilt did not have a specific will go into full production early ventory on dealer lots is the new product for that market. We saw TW: Last spring you introduced 2008. Peterbilt is leading the way technology. the growth potential and devel- your latest hybrid initiative: a hy- in hybrid technology. oped a product to serve that brid electric Class 8 Model 386 for TW: Last year you produced customer. long-haul applications.The truck is TW: Are government incentives your final Model 379 Legacy Class We believe the high quality we being developed in coordination necessary to encourage adoption of Edition. The 379 had a 20-year run. bring to every vehicle, in terms of with Eaton and Wal-Mart.What are hybrid systems? Would you favour How have the needs of your cus- low overall lifecycle costs, durabili- the most significant accomplish- government legislation mandating tomers changed over this time? ty and reliability for example,is ments and challenges revealed dur- such vehicles by a certain deadline? Jackson: In a way, the needs of something the industry appreci- ing the testing and evaluation Jackson: I don’t believe incen- the customer have not changed. ates no matter what class of vehi- process to date? tives should be necessary for cus- They have always looked for a cle. Further proof of the strength Jackson: For the Model 386 hy- tomers to adopt hybrid technology. quality product that has good dri- of Peterbilt’s medium-duty prod- brid electric, we’re seeing fuel sav- We have customers who want the vability and that they can be proud uct is the J.D. Power Medium-Duty ings from 5-7% through improved vehicles now. However, I believe to drive. The market has not Conventional Customer Sati- launching, accelerating and hill incentives would encourage more changed in terms of the respect the sfaction Award which we have won climbing capabilities. For hybrid customers to include hybrids in Peterbilt Model 379 received. two years consecutively. applications in particular, the ad- their operations. Europe just went Our Model 379 will always be an vantage is in stop-and-go situa- through an emissions change. industry icon – it was the highest TW: Can we infer from your tions in the medium-duty models. It’s interesting that they offered quality vehicle out there. But the move into the Class 5 market that In addition, when the idle reduc- an incentive to adopt the new tech- new Model 389 is also of the high- there may be future plans to offer tion mode is active, engine opera- nology and it was a smooth transi- est quality and doing very well in vehicles in Class 3 or Class 4? tion is limited to charging the bat- tion with no bell curves in the mar- the market. Customers now re- Jackson: We are always looking tery, which is an automatically ket like we’ve experienced in spect that vehicle as well, including for opportunities to grow our busi- controlled process that takes only North America. I believe incen- the aerodynamic enhancements ness. I don’t think you will see any- about five minutes per hour to ful- tives provide opportunities for we engineered. As long as the thing in the immediate future, but ly charge the system. more customers to experience the Peterbilt oval is on the truck, driv- we are looking to expand into During rest periods, we’re seeing technology. ■ March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 31 Page 32 TRUCK WEST March 2008 TRUCK PRICING Trucks 4 $ale Making sense of the dollar’s impact on truck pricing By James Menzies money than the market will pay MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – In this right now. So they’re electing to topsy-turvy world of ours, it’s dif- hold onto them and put more ficult to make heads or tails about miles on them when they should LOTS ON THE LOT: There are bargains to be had if you’re looking for a new or the impact the surging loonie is be trading in and getting into a used truck. The tricky part is recovering the investment you’ve made in your having on equipment pricing. new warranty.” current rig, dealers explain. Photo by Adam Ledlow On one hand, the rise of the Dennis Sheehan of Sheehan Canuck-buck has been Truck Centre warned some self- haul,” pointed out Nelligan. lars more for a new-emission favourable, driving down the price serving dealers are taking the op- And Sheehan added “A lot of truck, it’s a choice to make,” said of new trucks and mitigating the portunity to prey on these own- US trucks don’t have block Nelligan. increased costs of new-emission er/operators and allowing them to heaters and most don’t have the For dealers, much like for fleets engines. But on the flip side, come roll the outstanding amount ow- insulation packages we have up and owner/operators, times are trade-in time, owner/operators ing on their current truck into the here. When we order new trucks, tough. However, the vocational may have lost all the equity they financing of a new one. they’re built to Canadian stan- market has remained strong and were counting on having built-up “Some dealers are doing cre- dards, with coolant good to -40 C, there is a light at the end of the tun- in their existing ride. ative financing and burying these block heaters, insulation packages nel. Owner/operators can’t hang “A lot of people that bought guys in their trade-ins,” Sheehan and daytime running lights. The onto their current trucks forever. trucks a few years ago, bought said. “If they owe $50,000 on a US guys don’t think of that. “There’s going to be a balancing them at an exchange rate when trade that’s worth $40,000 and They’d freeze in the winter.” point eventually as they cost more our dollar was at 65 cents and they they roll that extra $10,000 into Canadian owner/operators and to maintain,” Dzikowski said. bring them in today and if the the new one, these guys are get- fleets also tend to spec’ higher “Right now we don’t see it, but re- truck was worth $140,000- ting upside down.” horsepower engines and 13-speed pair costs will factor in there and $145,000 five years ago, it’s worth He advised owner/operators transmissions compared to the 10- that will get it back on-side.” $110,000-$115,000 today,” ex- not to get sucked into that trap speeds favoured south of the bor- Nelligan expects the market to plained John Nelligan, dealer and to hold off purchasing until a der. Another trend in the truck rebound later this year and hopes principal with Harper Ontario down payment has been saved. market today is that the value some balance is restored to the Truck Centres, a Sterling and “You have to pay for it eventu- proposition for purchasing new market. Western Star dealer in ally, why not put it down up- rather than used trucks is evolving. “It’s going to be a slower year Mississauga. “They owe more front?” he suggested. The 2006 pre-buy was aimed until we get into August and than it’s worth. They’re kind of in Canadian Class 8 truck sales are largely at delaying the higher pur- September. By the time we go a crunch right now and they can’t forecast to remain weak this year, chase prices of 2007 engines, into September, I think the com- get out of the truck for what they with some projections at about which in the US increased costs bination of a US election and the have in it.” 20,000 units. Many trucks ordered by up to $10,000 per truck. Here US hopefully getting out of its That creates a double-edged by dealers to meet demand during at home, however, new trucks doldrums a little bit will get us sword for owner/operators and the 2006 pre-buy are still sitting with 07 engines have actually de- moving,” predicted Nelligan. “I small fleets. For one, they may not on dealer lots. That’s exacerbated creased by about that same think there will be a pretty quick be able to take advantage of the by the fact the US economy is amount, thanks to the strength of up-cycle to 2009. I’m not sure how bargains that are out there on the slowing and freight volumes are the dollar. much of a pre-buy there will be market today. And at the same softening, especially in north- “Today you’re paying about the this time. A lot of fleets bought time, they may see no alternative south lanes. same for a new tractor as you did trucks last time and a lot of deal- to extending the life-cycle of their Meanwhile, imports of used three to four years ago, and that’s ers bought a lot of trucks, and a lot current truck, which will in- Class 8 trucks from the US more incorporating all the model year of those trucks are still around.” evitably result in higher mainte- than doubled last year as bargain changes and price increases over For those owner/operators who nance costs. hunters looked south to find better the years,” said Denis Legault, are frustrated because they’re “It’s a good time to buy,” said deals, according to Kenny Vieth, a general manager of Cambrian stuck in a truck that was due for a Barry Dzikowski, a salesman with partner with A.C.T. Research. Truck Centre in Sudbury. trade-in, the dealers we spoke Kenworth Truck Centres. He not- However, dealers Truck West Now that 07 engines have been with didn’t have any simple solu- ed for every penny the Canadian spoke with downplayed any effect on the road for some time with no tions to offer. Perhaps the best loonie increases, the cost of a new an increase in used truck imports widespread reports of reliability words of advice are to take good truck drops about $1,000.“But the may be having. or fuel consumption issues, deal- care of your equipment and keep thing that overshadows this is that “We’re not seeing a lot of used ers we spoke with say customers a close eye on market conditions. the highway market is dead, re- US trucks come here because usu- are more inclined to buy new Most of all, don’t bury yourself gardless of the better pricing. ally they’re not spec’d right for trucks with the latest generation with a financing arrangement you Guys that financed in 04-05 are Canada. They’re not heavy of engines under the hood. can’t afford. ■ trying to get a whole lot more enough for the weights that we “If you’re talking just a few dol- @ARTICLECATEGORY:843; 1604;

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Visit us at MATS Booth #65077 877-526-7728 TURBO3000D.COM TRY IT ONLINE AT WWW.TRUCKNEWS.COM March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 33 OEM/DEALER NEWS Globalization: A truck maker’s perspective International chief says SCR is “fraught with challenges”

By James Menzies America now, there’s a lot more “I think now they have more And speaking of emissions stan- LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In a speech growth…in different markets, miles of paved roads than the US dards, Kapur had some strong to the Heavy-Duty Manufacturers emerging markets particularly.” does,” noted Kapur. He suggested words about Selective Catalytic Association (HDMA) in late He pointed out the global truck International may have an advan- Reduction (SCR), widely used in January, International Truck and market grew 3% in 2007 and also tage over North American manu- Europe and the preferred method Engine Corp. president Dee noted there are no North facturers in China, because the of reaching EPA2010 emissions Kapur said North American truck American manufacturers among very first truck built there was a standards in North America by makers must continue to make in- the top five in the world by vol- copy of an International model. Volvo and Daimler. Kapur said roads in emerging markets. ume. North America’s market The third market where SCR “is fraught with challenges.” Kapur said International has its growth is “meager” compared to International would like to make International has announced it eye on three key markets: India; global markets, Kapur said. He in-roads is Russia. The company will meet 2010 emissions stan- China and Russia. However, he added going global brings “syner- previously viewed Russia as a dards using technology already in said the company must work gies and economies of scale.” market for used trucks only, but use today, along with advance- alongside other North American Not surprisingly, India and with an improving economy, oper- ments in fuel systems, air manage- manufacturers, associations and China have been identified by ators there are beginning to drive ment, combustion processes and government groups to have barri- International as the most appeal- a stronger new truck market. controls.“We don’t like it,” Kapur ers to entry, such as length limits ing emerging markets to leap into. “Economics allow them to play said of SCR. “There’s a whole that make conventional style In India, there are nearly four more in new trucks,” Kapur said. bunch of reasons.” tractor-trailer configurations, re- times as many trucks per kilome- The challenge there is that He said SCR will be costly and moved. tre of highway as in the US. Kapur European manufacturers current- overly complex. He also said there “We need to drive acceptance of said trucks there offer crude cabs ly dominate and they will be diffi- will be major urea distribution the US alternative without going offering little in the way of driver cult to displace. However, Kapur challenges and it has a tendency through expensive modifications to comfort. Kapur said International noted “There’s growing appeal for to freeze in cold weather and meet the European requirements sees an opportunity there to pro- the North American product, the evaporate when it’s hot. More in those markets,” said Kapur. “We vide trucks that offer improved aero-nosed product.The distances importantly, Kapur said urea is need a coordinated effort to at driver comfort and safety stan- are huge and the comfort of the simply the carrier of ammonia, least accept the US standard as an dards, especially as the country’s North American sleepers is which is the reductant in SCR alternative. If we don’t do this, we’ll highway system expands to allow appreciated.” systems. When the ammonia is be sucking wind. It’s very impor- for higher speeds and longer dis- In Russia, Kapur said extracted from the urea, CO2 tant for our industry and our coun- tances. International has already International may be able to go it is created, Kapur explained. try to be on a level playing field partnered with Mahindra to pene- alone without a local partner, but And CO2 is the “next frontier” (with domestic and European trate the truck market in India. it would require constructing a for the Environmental Protection manufacturers).” In China, Kapur said a local production facility there. Agency. Kapur said International’s de- partner is required to gain access One of the trends that may ac- “We’re convinced, on the com- sire to enter non-traditional mar- to this emerging market.The chal- celerate the globalization of the puter and in the lab, there are so- kets is based on the fact “there’s lenge is to find a compatible part- trucking industry is that emissions lutions that meet 2010 without only so much growth in North ner to pair up with. standards are beginning to con- urea,” Kapur said. He admitted al- verge. Kapur is disturbed, howev- ternatives will have challenges of er, that some regions of the world their own, such as increased heat Bendix CEO takes HDMA helm view compressed natural gas rejection and possible fuel econo- (CNG) as a preferred way to meet my degradation. LAS VEGAS, Nev.– During his first it will likely be the second half of impending emissions standards. But he concluded by saying address as the chairman of the 2008 before things turn around. But Kapur pointed out clean diesel, even if some manufacturers do Heavy Duty Manufacturers he was optimistic about the future, which is what’s used in North forge ahead with SCR, it will be- Association (HDMA) board of di- citing the economic indicators that America today, is cleaner, cheap- come obsolete in 2013 or 2014 rectors, Joe McAleese, president and forecast a prosperous period in the er, safer, more fuel efficient and when the EPA cracks down on CEO of Bendix Commercial Vehicle years to come. more reliable. He also pointed out CO2 emissions. Systems, encouraged members to be Despite economic cycles such as CNG produces higher levels of “Who’s going to buy it? Not in a position to adapt, achieve and the downturn expected to accompa- NOx and particulate matter than many people. Somebody’s going grow as the trucking industry enters ny the next round of engine emis- today’s North American solution, to take an awful lot of write-offs,” what is expected to be a period of sions regulations in 2010, McAleese as well as 20 other pollutants. he said. ■ long-term growth.McAleese was in- referred to recent studies conducted stalled as the organization’s 2008 on behalf of the American Trucking chair during Heavy Duty Dialogue Association that predict the overall in Las Vegas. truck population will increase by McAleese urged his fellow mem- 44% over the next decade, present- bers to prepare for the future by ing a great opportunity for the com- planning for sustainable growth, mercial vehicle industry to continue recognizing the emergence of the to develop. By preparing for the fu- global economy, and ensuring safe- ture through research and develop- ty through means such as new tech- ment, continued cultivation of nology and anti-counterfeiting strong government relations, and measures. further improvement of overall in- “As we look to the future of our dustry productivity through technol- industry, we must be even more ogy and process enhancements, steadfast in our efforts to develop McAleese said he is confident the and protect our brands and our in- industry will have the ability to tellectual property,” McAleese told adapt to an ever-evolving, competi- the audience. “We must create even tive market. more attractive work environments “To me, growth is about more that enable us to win the competi- than achieving the bottom line,” he tion for talent. And we must contin- added. “It’s about how we develop ue to provide the best value to our as an industry. It’s about increasing customers; to become suppliers ca- the value we deliver to our cus- pable of delivering on a worldwide tomers. And it’s about how we pre- scale, capable of growing and evolv- pare for the ebbs and flows that are ing to fit the needs of our customers inevitable. We will only achieve sus- in the global marketplace.” tainable, long-term growth if we pre- McAleese, who will serve as chair- pare for both the highs and lows we man during HDMA’s 25th will surely face in the future.” Anniversary, spoke about the eco- McAleese has served on the trucknews.com nomic difficulties the industry has HDMA board’s executive commit- faced over the past year and stressed tee since 2004. ■ Page 34 TRUCK WEST March 2008 OEM/DEALER NEWS Eaton touts safety features of hybrid systems By James Menzies line is this – hybrid power is as safe voltage leakage, and warns the ORLANDO, Fla. – Eaton Corp. as any other power source. It’s just driver in the event one does occur, held a press conference at the different, and calls for different Groner explained. Technology and Maintenance training and product support.” Eaton officials said the company Council meetings here recently to Groner pointed out all high-volt- has been very active in training reinforce the message that hybrid age components are isolated from OEMs, dealers and fleets as well as power systems are as safe as any oth- the 12-volt power system and high- emergency response officials. er form of vehicular power. voltage cables are enclosed and in- “Working with our OEM part- The company said many impor- tentionally placed outside the cab. ners, we require that every dealer UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE: High-volt- tant safety features have been built They are also clearly marked in the receive training and become an age wires on hybrid systems are into its hybrid-electric power sys- universal bright orange colour that authorized hybrid dealer before coloured bright orange and thickly tems so that drivers, maintenance warns of high voltage. they can order or take delivery of insulated to protect maintenance personnel and emergency response “We provide bullet-proof safety,” a hybrid vehicle,” explained personnel. officials can work safely with hybrid- Groner said. The lithium batteries Groner. “This system ensures powered vehicles. Some users have are environmentally-sealed in compliance by linking hybrid cation. Utility and telecomm compa- voiced concern about the risk posed impenetrable cases, he added. Vehicle Identification Numbers to nies are realizing an 87% idle-time by high-voltage electrical compo- “Without proper tools, most people authorized dealer codes. reduction and up to a 60% fuel sav- nents and lithium batteries. cannot enter these boxes.” Authorized dealers have been ings since they can operate auxiliary “Safely Green has been our max- He also insisted the lithium bat- trained in the safe operation and power devices without idling, Eaton im from day one in the development teries do not increase the risk of a service of the hybrid system and officials said. of our hybrid systems,” said Shane vehicle fire when involved in a colli- are required to have the parts, In city delivery medium-duty Groner, technical service manager, sion.When an accident occurs, an in- tools and procedures that are nec- applications, fuel savings of 50% and North America for Roadranger ertia switch shuts down the high- essary to safely diagnose and re- emissions reductions of about Marketing. “All of the components voltage components. pair a hybrid system.” 90% are common, the company were selected and specified to pro- Eaton’s hybrid system features a Eaton’s hybrid system is now announced. vide safety for not only the driver, “limp home” capability, which al- available on several makes of com- And now it’s taking a closer look but also for any technician who lows the vehicle to be driven back to mercial vehicles, including at Class 8 on-highway applications might be working on the vehicle, and the shop without use of the hybrid International, Freightliner, Peterbilt where lab and road testing have sug- even for motorists and others who components in the event of a mal- and Kenworth. gested fuel and maintenance savings might be involved in an accident function. And the system continu- The value proposition for hybrid could total about US$9,000 per with a hybrid vehicle. The bottom ously scans itself to detect any high- vehicles varies depending on appli- truck each year. ■ A quieter Sterling now comes with new options By James Menzies ORLANDO, Fla. – Detroit Diesel’s new flagship engine, the DD15 is now available for order on Sterling Trucks, Sterling officials announced at the Technology and Maintenance Council meetings in February. Haldex making The new engine will be available on the Sterling Set-Back A- second lap as race Line and Set-Back L-Line models. Detroit Diesel recently unveiled car sponsor the new engine which it claims of- GUELPH, Ont. – Haldex fers significant improvements in Canada will continue as title fuel economy and performance. sponsor of the #10 HB It’s available in horsepower rat- Motorsports Dodge driven by ings of 455 hp to 560 hp with 1,550 Doug Brown in the 2008 Nascar to 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque. Canadian Tire Series for the “The DD15 is a great addition 2008 season. to our component offerings,” said It will be Haldex’s second year Richard Shearing, manager of as title sponsor. product strategy for Sterling “We are thrilled to have Truck Corporation. “It’s a reli- Haldex back again in 2008,” able, powerful engine that pairs Brown said. “Their manage- well with our Set-Back A-Line QUIETER RIDE: Sterling has made a number of sound-reducing improvements ment and staff have been ex- and Set-Back L-Line models for a to its highway trucks. tremely supportive of our ef- complete transportation package forts. With their continued for LTL and on-highway applica- to operate,” Shearing said. ing when a rollover is imminent support and the interest of oth- tions.” He added they also improve: re- and taking action by de-throttling ers, we are determined to pro- The DD15 will eventually response rate; stopping distances; the engine and applying the en- vide Haldex and our other replace the long-running Series 60 brake life; and service intervals. gine brake as well as the drive and turning and new marketing and will in time be available on all Air disc brakes will be available trailer axle brakes. The system is partners with the exposure and heavy-duty Daimler truck models. for order in March with produc- already available for order on results they deserve.” Sterling also unveiled several tion getting underway mid-year, Sterling trucks. “We at Haldex are pleased to safety enhancements at TMC. the company announced. Sterling has also taken steps to continue as title sponsorship A technology truck on display The Technology Truck also improve the noise levels inside leading into the 2008 season,” at the show featured a number of showcased Eaton’s new VORAD the cabs of its Class 8 vehicles. said Haldex reps in a release. safety products that are now collision warning system and The company measured sound “We have a wide range of available on the Set-Back A-Line SmartCruise system. inside the cab and identified areas customers across Canada and and Set-Back L-Line as well as The latest generation of VO- where noise was entering the cab. many have contacted us excited the Set-Forward L-Line and the RAD features a new cruise con- It then took a number of steps to to see the Haldex name so Acterra. trol regulating tool, a more com- reduce the entry of noise into the prominently displayed creating Proprietary air disc brakes are a pact sensor and a more cab and Sterling officials told enthusiasm within our cus- new option, ideal for companies in user-friendly driver interface, the Truck West the changes “put us tomer’s organizations. We are tough applications that are hard company said. amongst the best in the industry excited about the opportunity on brakes or those that operate in The Eaton VORAD VS-400 will for noise.” to take the Haldex name to the hilly terrain. be available for order in the Coupled with the DD15, which next level of familiarity within “Spec’ing air disc brakes on all fourth quarter. also runs extremely quiet, Sterling the NASCAR community, in wheels eliminates the fade imbal- Sterling Trucks can also be officials say they offer a “car-like” addition to our industry, and ance that results from mixing air spec’d with Meritor WABCO’s environment for drivers. the many opportunities avail- disc and standard drum brakes, roll stability control system, which For more information, visit able to us.” ■ making the truck safer and easier helps mitigate rollovers by detect- www.sterlingtrucks.com. ■ The for the money.

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FICTION PART 2

By Edo van Belkom business," Bud said. "Besides, who The story so far... wants to see my feet anyway?" Mark has been eating all-day breakfasts at "Not me, that's for sure," Mark an- greasy spoons for months and when he fin- swered, wondering how many other ishes breakfast, his pants don't fit him any- body parts Bud hadn't seen in a more. He pokes a hole in his belt to solve the while." problem, but when he heads back to Mother "What's will all the questions, Load he sees someone going through the anyway," Bud said. "What's your cab. He runs toward his truck to try and problem?" catch the guy, but he's gassed after a hun- Mark took a second to think about dred feet and the thief gets away. his answer, then said. "I had to punch • another hole in my belt this morning." Mark searched for the number on his Bud just laughed on the other end cell phone and then pushed send. of the phone. Then he said, "Just The phone rang four times before watch out or you'll end up like me someone picked up at the other end. before long." "Hello?" "What?" Mark said. "Rude and "Hi Bud, this is Mark." obnoxious?" There was a pause and Mark won- "No," Bud answered. "Heavy-set." dered if Bud was thinking about ask- Mark smiled. "I'll be careful." ing the question, or just being slow. • "Mark who?" Mark thought about the conversation Mark sighed and shook his head. sation over a couple of inches. That nothing else to do but smoke ciga- he'd had with Bud for a long time as "Mark McGwire." wasn't important anyway. What was rettes and listen to audiobooks. Now he made his way eastward to "The baseball player?" important was that when Mark first how lazy is that, gettin' someone else Calgary. Bud was a big man, but he "Yeah, I'm looking for a home run, met Bud he was solid and muscular, to read a book for you? And when hadn't always been fat. From what he you got any?" Mark was currently in the proverbial brick outhouse with you get to your destination there's knew of Bud's background he'd been Kelowna, British Columbia. He'd hands like granite, corded muscles of someone waiting to unload your truck a big athlete in high school and an been out west for several weeks and hardened steel, and a six-pack of ab for you. The only time you bend over all-star football player. Big men ate a he was getting tired of looking at muscles that wouldn't have looked is to pick up a quarter...and these lot of food, which is all well and good mountains and trees. out of place on the cover of a fitness days, I don't even bother for anything when you're practicing five days a "This is Dalton, isn't it?" magazine. He wasn't anything like less than a dollar." He paused a mo- week, but once school was over and "No flies on you, eh Bud?" that now. These days Bud looked ment, as if winding down. "Yeah, there were no more sports to train for, "Nope, I have caller ID." more like a brick warehouse, his mus- truck driving's a job that puts a lot of all that food just started to sit. Mark was speechless. If the man had cles were like bowls of pasta, and the physical demands on a person's body Eventually Bud got fat, which is not caller ID why in the world did he keep only magazine he'd be appearing on and you don't even realize it's hap- something that was especially hard asking, "Mark who?" But that question anytime soon would be something pening until it's too late." to do in their line of work. would have to wait for another day. like Coroner's Monthly. "But you haven't been a driver for As a long-haul driver you rarely There was something else Mark had "You used to be in such great shape." years," Mark said. made your own meals, and greasy been wanting to ask his dispatcher. "Used to be." "Dispatching isn't much better. spoons don't list many fruits choices "Bud, how much do you weigh?" Mark couldn't beat around the bush There's a lot of sittin' around and a on the menu. Driving took a lot out of "What?" A pause. "What kind of any longer. "So, what happened?" lot of stress dealin' with drivers like you physically, especially in harsh a question is that? I thought you were Bud let out one of those long wist- you." His voice sounded sad now, weather or in stop-and-go driving looking for a load." ful sighs of regret. "I became a truck like he were a beaten man. "The conditions, so who had energy at the "I'm serious Bud, how heavy are you?" driver." only thing that helps is coffee and end of the day to exercise? And even Bud thought about it, then said, "I "Yeah, and..." cigarettes...and, well, there you are if you wanted to exercise, it was im- haven't checked in a while, but my "Bacon and eggs for breakfast five ten and 290 pounds." possible to belong to a gym. So, guess is around 250." every day, and coffee all the time. I "You ever tried doing some exer- where were you supposed to get a That was a lie. Mark was sure of it. mean, you buy a coffee at one stop, cises?" workout every day? The side of the "Really?" but you're not really buying it as "Sure, I've tried exercising lots of highway was a very dangerous "Okay, alright...maybe 270 or much as renting it 'cause you're stop- times." He paused and Mark could place to do push-ups. 280." Another pause. "Two-ninety ping an hour or so later to get rid of hear the sound of a lighter being Still, Mark thought, maybe he tops." it. Then, since you're already at a flicked and Bud lighting up a fresh should be doing more to be healthier. Bud was a big man. Some might coffee shop, you might as well have cigarette. "But when I start to sweat And what better time to get started say a huge man, and 290 pounds another coffee...and what goes bet- just changing my shoes, there's not than right now? was starting to get into the range of ter with coffee than a donut? It got to much left in the tank to go joggin'." Mark pulled into a truck stop, what Mark – or anyone else who'd the point where I was planning my Obviously Bud's health was some- parked his rig in one of the far corners ever met him – thought he weighed. routes based on the coffee shops thing that weighed heavily upon his of the lot and headed out for a walk. "Don't you think that's a bit much?" and rest stations along the way." mind. Mark knew Bud had gotten He'd taken just a few steps before "What's with all the questions?" "I knew you liked coffee, but…" big, really big, but he'd never he stopped and turned back around "I'm curious." Bud cut Mark off. He was on a roll, seemed to worry about it much, and to lock the doors to Mother Load. "Okay... No, I don't think it's a bit like a wound had been opened up as a result Mark hadn't known it had That done, he resumed his walk. He much. Not for six foot." and it wasn't going to stop gushing gotten so bad. didn't go far, barely more than a "You're not six feet tall." until the thing had bled itself out. But just how bad was it? mile, but it was a start. ■ "Okay, so five ten." "You're working – and the work's "When you stand up, can you see Mark doubted Bud was even that, hard, don't get me wrong – but you're your feet?" - Mark Dalton returns next month in but he didn't want to stop the conver- sittin' on your ass all day long with "The answer's no, if it's any of your Part 3 of Survival of the Fittest.

The continuing adventures of Mark Dalton: Owner/Operator brought to you by MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA (CANADA) INC. March 2008 TRUCK WEST Page 37 OPINION Piloting the “Red Rocket” is a dangerous job A few weeks ago, I happened to was slurring his words (at least he cabs installed a few years ago – watch an episode on our local CTV Publisher’s was smart enough to take public would be the answer. affiliate that delved into the increas- Comment transit). Upon learning that he was- Apparently, the incidence of re- ing violence our public transit driv- n’t in a taxi, this guy threatened to ported violence is to a far lesser de- ers are subjected too. Rob hijack the bus. gree with the fleet’s female drivers. Apparently, being spit on, kicked, Wilkins As fate would have it, the bus was I’m not sure if they are assigned his- punched and verbally abused is not actually a streetcar and as such, torically “safe” routes or not. something that only happens to could only follow the tracks that it Perhaps it’s a case where the thugs drivers in the big cities south of the next day, his vinno probably could was sitting on. My neighbour in- responsible don’t get the same border. It’s alive and well here in have fueled the entire TTC fleet – it formed him of this and at the next “buzz” out of beating on someone Toronto and it’s getting worse, espe- packed a real punch. stop, the guy got up, politely of the opposite sex. cially on the late night runs out of Anyway, occasionally he’d talk thanked him and stumbled into the It’s a sad state of affairs when the downtown core. about some of his more memorable night. That was 20-odd years ago. Toronto police officers consider An old neighbour of mine (who experiences driving the red rocket – My how things have changed. their occupation safer than driving has long since passed away) drove none involved violence – and most It seems to me that the TTC a bus or streetcar. This city needs the TTC buses and streetcars for were hilarious. should invest in some sort of protec- help. ■ over 20 years. I recall spending He recalled on one particular tive enclosure for these people. many a night with him sampling his night, he picked up a passenger who Perhaps a “Call Police” emergency – Rob Wilkins is the publisher of homemade wine and swapping sto- demanded to be driven home. The button on the back of each bus or Truck West and he can be reached at ries. Judging by the way I felt the guy had a belly full of booze and streetcar – much like the one the 416-510-5123.

FLEET NEWS Consolidated Fastfrate re-ups with Canadian Pacific Railway

CALGARY, Alta. – Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway and Consolidated Fastfrate inked a 10-year, $500 million deal which extends their current contract for another decade. The agreement will bring the partnership to the 50-year mark, the companies jointly announced. They first paired up in 1966, launching a national co-location program whereby Consolidated Fastfrate builds all its centres ad- officials. Consolidated Fastfrate jacent to CP’s intermodal termi- notes it is the only LTL carrier in nals. Canada to enjoy co-location with ON TIME: Capt. Gordon Houston (left) of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, “The strategic relationship we CP’s yards. Minister Kevin Falcon (middle) and Robert C. Johnson, president and CEO of Purolator are pictured with the first shipment at Purolator’s Global Supply Chain have with CP, which exists at “Over the past 40 years we have Services facility in Richmond, B.C. every level of their organization, seen the incredible growth and has been the foundation upon development of the intermodal which we built our company,” said industry, from a minor mode of Purolator expands B.C. presence Ron Tepper, president and CEO transportation to a multi-billion of Consolidated Fastfrate. “I am dollar global business,” said Fred By Jan Westell in Canada, can be reduced by one incredibly proud to sign an agree- Green, president and CEO of CP. RICHMOND, B.C. – Purolator week or more.” ment of this magnitude. Our long- “This is an important business Courier Ltd. has recently Johnson adds that not only term partnership illustrates that for CP, and CFF has been a strate- launched its global supply chain does the direct-to-store solution two companies can co-operate to gic intermodal partner from the services, based at its new 106,000 benefit companies from a logis- increase efficiencies and provide a start. With this 10-year extension sq.-ft. facility in Richmond, B.C. tics and cost perspective, but it better product to their cus- to our agreement, and continued Purolator’s global supply chain also offers a positive impact on tomers.” strong global demand for our service is based on direct-to-store the environment through reduced The companies enjoy service services, there are great growth distribution, where (after clearing shipping requirements. and cost efficiencies through their opportunities for both CFF and customs) the container is un- As well, Global supply chain co-location program, according to CP.” ■ loaded at the Richmond decon- services offers an additional ad- solidation centre, which is located vantage to high-growth Canadian close to all Lower Mainland port companies that typically do not Westcan awards $122,000 in scholarships facilities – as well as Vancouver have the facilities, or labour ca- EDMONTON, Alta. – Westcan Bulk Transport is awarding $122,000 in International airport. pacity, to keep up with growth de- scholarships to 35 students from across Western Canada. Introduced in A store-specific shipment serv- mand. 1981, the Paul Albrechtsen Scholarship was created to assist the children ice is provided from there. By go- “These companies can leverage of Westcan employees in obtaining a post-secondary education. ing direct-to-store from the port, the facilities, processes, and ex- Since then, the scholarship has provided $954,300 in tuition assistance, the overall transit time can be re- pertise of Purolator global supply helping 471 students on their road to success. duced substantially, according to chain services, to meet the de- “We believe that education is an important investment. Westcan is Purolator, which will also mini- mand without incurring the addi- pleased to help these students build a foundation for a successful future,” mize the business costs related to tional cost and complexity of ex- said Tom Kenny,Westcan CEO. inventory storage. panding their operations. Instead, The Paul Albrechtsen scholarship is made possible each year thanks to “Our solution streamlines dis- they can focus on other aspects of contributions from the Driver’s Advisory Board, Albrechtsen, Westcan tribution flow resulting in signifi- their business and leave the dis- and private donations. cant efficiencies and improved tribution of their goods through- Eligibility requirements are based on enrollment in a post-secondary time-to-market,” said Purolator out North America, to program and a parent who is currently employed on a full-time basis with Courier Ltd’s president and CEO, Purolator.” Westcan for a minimum of one year prior to application. Students are eli- Robert Johnson, who was speak- For more information about gible to receive up to $4,500 per school year for four years depending on ing at the Richmond launch. “For Purolator’s global supply chain the amount of their tuition. instance: by going direct-to-the- services, located at 18233 Extra funding is available for any student interested in training as a store from the port, the overall Blundell Road, Unit 120 in Class 1/A driver. ■ transit time for a typical shipment Richmond, or any other services, from a factory in China, to a store contact www.purolator.com. ■ Page 38 TRUCK WEST March 2008 TSQ

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. – A recent report by the National Truck Stop Surface Transportation Policy and Question Would you support a Revenue Study Commission may have drivers in the US paying as fuel tax increase to much as 40 cents more per gallon Adam Ledlow in fuel taxes to help fund infra- Assistant Editor repair Canadian structure improvements. A mere month later, an unrelat- roads? Joe ed Ontario-based study, put to- Bradley gether by an alliance composed of management and labour groups truck drivers would likely experi- crease in taxes because it would in the construction industry, ence the highest tolls (for the full put a lot of smaller companies out pay much more than 10 cents ex- called for a range of new munici- story, see pg 11). of business. tra per litre. pal taxes – including road tolls But would truckers stand for When asked where the govern- • and fuel taxes – in order to fund such an increase? ment should looking for funding road and public transit systems, Truck West stopped by the Fifth to pay for infrastructure up- reduce traffic congestion and cut Wheel Truck Stop in grades, he simply said, “That’s greenhouse gas emissions in the Bowmanville, Ont. to see if driv- their problem.” province. ers would be willing to pay more • Included in the study is a sug- for fuel if they could be guaran- Joe Bradley, a driver with gestion that tolls should be higher teed a smooth ride. Summertime Express in for vehicles that cause relatively • Mississauga, Ont., said he would more road damage, travel longer Joe Lytle, an owner/operator with be for an increase “because some Darren distances, travel in peak-demand Buckham Transport in of the roads are just terrible.” Tryan hours, and/or produce higher Peterborough, Ont., said he However, the 25-year veteran emissions, meaning long-haul wouldn’t be in favour of an in- admits he wouldn’t be willing to

Darren Tryan, a driver with XTL Transport based out of Toronto, says that competitively it would- n’t make much of a difference if Glenncoe Transport is looking for experienced the US raised federal fuel taxes company drivers and Owner Operators based because Canada is paying more in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, or the B.C. than the US for fuel right now Interior to move truckload freight throughout anyways. British Columbia and Alberta. He also said a 40 cent per gallon Glenncoe can... because we’re people driven! increase like the one proposed by www.glenncoetransport.com the US commission would be un- necessary in Canada, because US roads are so much worse. “In Canada, we actually have Glenncoe Transport is a truckload carrier serving British Columbia, good roads,” he says. “We know how to build roads up here.” Alberta and the US Paciﬁc Northwest. •

Glenncoe Transport, based in Kelowna, currently operates 160 trucks, 550 trailers and employs more than 200 people.

Glenncoe Offers: You offer: Late model assigned tractors 2 years of professional driving experience $0.41 per mile base rate (effective January 1, 2008) No preventable accidents in the last 12 months Lyle Priddle Company paid beneﬁts Mountain experience A safe and secure career opportunity Plenty of miles without sacriﬁcing safety or home time Lyle Priddle, a 44-year veteran Dedicated Switch Runs Available driver with Cambridge, Ont.- based Challenger Motor Freight, says imposing additional taxes probably won’t do much other than kill the economy. “I don’t think it’s going to make the roads any safer,” he said, adding that well-cared for US roads often become privatized anyways. “The truckers will pay the extra no matter what and it will get passed right down to the consumer.” • Bill Foley, a driver for Detox Environmental in Bowmanville, Ont., says a big surge in fuel costs For more information on in the US alone could hurt cross- Glenncoe Transport, please visit border trucking. www.glenncoetransport.com That aside, he thinks truck drivers already pay enough money towards fuel taxes. “How much more can they take from us? There’s no money really to be made in the trucking indus- Contact Driver Services try anyway,” he admits. Join the strongest and most successful “They keep taking more money trucking network in Western Canada! 1.800.663.4009 from us, the trucking industry, be- [email protected] cause they know they can.” ■ @ARTICLECATEGORY:862;

47003 Glenncoe_TW Ad.indd 1 1/11/08 4:15:24 PM Red Is The New Green.

To have the greatest impact on the environment is to have the least. www.greatdanetrailers.com

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