Convoys for a Cure Raise Big Bucks See Story, Pg

Home , Confederation Bridge, Truck driver, Yellowhead Highway

December 2011 Volume 22, Issue 12

Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com Convoys for a Cure raise big bucks See story, pg. 14

B.C. fleets can earn cash for credits One year later… By Jim Bray VICTORIA, B.C. – A new venture in B.C. claims to offer truckers a way to enhance their bottom lines, saving them money via re- A year after the attack, the ‘Good duced diesel fuel purchases while putting cash in their jeans by selling “carbon offsets.” That’s the carrot, anyway. The stick, as it were, is that the trucking Samaritan’ truck driver speaks out company has to buy equipment that allows its fleet to be monitored By Harry Rudolfs everything was going well, the and mentored and, if B.C. joins the “Cap and Trade” wave being made LUMBY, B.C. – It’s been a little truck was purring and Fraser was currently in some jurisdictions around the world, they could even lose more than a year since Alex Fraser’s only about five hours away from the capacity to make their own decision in the matter. life changed forever. On Sept. his home outside of Vernon, B.C. “The ability to remove carbon is going to be a larger and larger 24, 2010, the 67-year-old owner/ Then he noticed a car parked requirement as we move forward,” says George Stedeford, CEO of operator was heading home on a on the shoulder facing towards the Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative of B.C. (COAC), who Friday night after unloading in him, and what looked like some- likens his group to a kind of “Wheat Board” for carbon emissions, Edmonton. body waving arms at the side of Continued on page 12 It was a warm autumn evening the road. on the Yellowhead Highway and Continued on page 8 Driving Volvo’s 750-hp FH16 InsideInside ThisThis Issue...Issue... Mark Dalton O/O The I-Shift • Tools for truckers: The AMTA has developed a toolbox that should help fleets navigate the challenges ahead. Page 13 shines in • What to expect: We report from the American Trucking Associations’ annual convention, including a recap of the popular Sweden ‘All Eyes on the Economy’ panel. Page 16

• Driven to distraction: A look at how one progressive fleet is tackling the distracted driving epidemic. Page 22

• Made in Canada: A small Canadian firm has pioneered the use of waste heat recovery to power an APU. Page 28 Page 36 See pg. 34

Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau To view list of advertisers see pg. 37 E-mail Jim Bray at [email protected] or call 403-453-5558 Careers: 10, 18, 21, 29, 32, 33, 38 PM40069240

pg 1, 8, 12 tw dec v3.indd 1 09/11/11 4:18 PM Real Trucks R E A L D E A L S

$0 DOWN† %* LEASE INTEREST RATE 4.49(48 MONTHS) PRICED TO MOVE…REAL FAST. THIS EVENT ENDS DECEMBER 30TH, 2011.

VISIT REALTRUCKSREALDEALS.CA TO FIND YOUR LOCAL INTERNATIONAL® TRUCK DEALER.

Beverage • Construction • Pickup & Delivery • Landscaping • Energy • Government • Propane • Recovery/Towing • Utility • Waste Collection

® ®

* Offer valid to quali ed retail buyers on new International® TerraStar® Series and International® DuraStar® Series vehicles, on approved credit. Visit a participating International dealer and purchase a qualifying 2011 or 2012 model year vehicle to qualify. Financing provided by General Electric Canada Equipment Finance G.P. in Canada. 4.49% APR Quasi-Lease Rate based on 48 monthly payments. 4.99% APR Quasi-Lease Rate based on 60 monthly payments. 4.99% APR Conditional Sale Contract Rate based on 48 monthly payments. 5.29% APR Conditional Sale Contract Rate based on 60 monthly payments. TerraStar nance cap is $70,000 and DuraStar nance cap is $100,000. Interest rates are subject to change and subject to nance caps depending on the model. Standard credit criteria apply - not all customers will qualify for low interest rates and 0 down payment option. Prior purchases do not qualify. Customers must take delivery of vehicle(s) by December 31, 2011. Offer valid only while supplies last. Offer is non-negotiable, not redeemable for cash, not transferable, and cannot be combined with other purchase offers. Offer open to legal Canadian residents, 18 or older as of the date of purchase, with valid driver’s licence. Employees, of cers and directors (including immediate family members and members of the same household) of Navistar Canada, Inc., its subsidiaries, af liates and International dealers are not eligible to participate. Navistar Canada, Inc. reserves the right to terminate, modify, or postpone this offer at any time and within its sole discretion by posting notice of such at participating International dealerships. For more details, see your participating International dealer. Qualifying vehicles may vary by Dealer. Other restrictions apply. International®, TerraStar® and DuraStar® are registered trademarks of Navistar Canada, Inc. † $0 down payment option is available on the TerraStar only.

International.indd6715-INTNT-027-P-11-E.indd 1 1 11-11-0411/4/11 2:562:28 PM

Production Artist: RM Date: Nov 3, 2011 Revision #: 0 SC: Y

JAN Kelley Marketing, its employees and agents (collectively referred to as “JKM”) shall not be held liable for any loss or damage su ered by you, or by any third party, from the use of these marketing materials (the “Materials”) if they have been modi ed, distorted, combined with third party content, or manipulated in whole or in part by any party other than JKM. Further, once the proof of the Materials has been approved by you, JKM shall not be liable for any loss or damage su ered by you or any third party arising from any alleged or actual defect in the Materials or in any way arising from their reproduction by a party other than JKM. December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 3 Are provincial nominee programs really the answer?

December 2011, Volume 22, Issue 12 In mid-October, B.C. carriers country; progressive fleets could Canada Post Canadian Publications lauded a decision by the province be tapping into this pool more ef- ISSN 0700-5016 – Truck West (Print) Editorial ISSN 1923-3531 – Truck West (Online) to permanently include long-haul fectively and offering training and Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069240 truck driving among the profes- compensation that would elevate “Return Postage Guaranteed” Comment sions qualifying for inclusion in the quality of our overall driver 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 James Menzies Sales: 416-510-6892 / Editorial: 416-510-6896 its provincial nominee program force. They’re right here, folks, you Fax: 416-510-5143 (PNP). don’t need to cross any oceans to Truck West, USPS 017-178 is published monthly by That essentially means B.C.- cations. find them. BIG Magazines L.P., a div. of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., a leading Canadian information based long-haul trucking firms will I certainly wouldn’t go that far. As far as the PNP is concerned, I company with interests in daily and community be able to recruit qualified drivers In my opinion, the PNP is a stop- think when we look back on it five newspapers and B-2-B information services. US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd, from overseas and the province will gap measure that will not have years from now, we’ll find it had no Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals Postage expedite their immigration process, far-reaching implications on the significant impact on the trucking Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US postmaster: Send fast-tracking their transition to per- industry, simply because it’s an industry, good or bad. address changes to Truck West, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. manent resident status. Reaction ineffective and shortsighted so- Larry’s not so sure. He sees the SENIOR PUBLISHER – Rob Wilkins has been mixed. Many fleets in- lution to the driver shortage. It’s PNP as an elaborate plot by big ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – Kathy Penner EXECUTIVE EDITOR – James Menzies sist they can’t find qualified Cana- costly (some estimates peg the carriers to drive down wages. The MANAGING EDITOR – Adam Ledlow dian drivers willing to accept the cost of recruiting a foreign driver answer may be somewhere in the CIRCULATION MANAGER – Mary Garufi pay and lifestyle afforded by a ca- through the program at $10,000), middle. What do you think? Should CIRCULATION ASSISTANT – Anita Singh CREATIVE– Carolyn Brimer, Beverley Richards reer as a long-distance truck driver. many drivers either return home or Canadian carriers be permitted to V.P. PUBLISHING – Alex Papanou Bringing experienced drivers from jump ship to another carrier when recruit from abroad? Check out my PRESIDENT – Bruce Creighton Circulation inquiries: 416-442-5600 ext. 3553 countries in Europe and the Middle their initial contract expires and blog on the subject at Trucknews.com Change of address: Please include subscription East fills a vital need for the indus- in many cases, drivers who arrive and have your say. n number from mailing label. Subscription rates: Canada (Includes GST) – try and will benefit the economy, here realize they were sold a bill of One year $40.60; U.S. – one year $66.95; proponents contend. goods and the realities of long-haul – James Menzies can be reached foreign – one year $66.95 Send subscription orders, address changes (incl. mailing label On the flip side, others are left trucking in Canada are not as glam- by phone at (416) 510-6896 or by from latest issue) to above address. On occasion, our subscrip- wondering how conditions for pro- orous as they imagined or were led e-mail at [email protected]. tion list is made available to organizations whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you prefer not to fessional drivers will ever improve to believe. You can also follow him on Twitter receive such information, please write to us. Please allow if we’re simply willing to look fur- I feel the PNP programs will have at Twitter.com/JamesMenzies. 8 weeks for changes or corrections. We acknowledge the financial support of the ther abroad for workers who will limited long-term Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical accept the way things currently success and even- Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. are? Have we no appetite to im- tually will fade into prove conditions for our existing oblivion as progres- workforce to make professional sive carriers seek driving an occupation in which one more effective, per- Advertising inquiries can earn a decent living, achieve manent solutions to Kathy Penner (416) 510-6892 some semblance of work/life attracting workers Fax: (416) 510-5143 balance and take pride in their (and some are al- profession? ready doing this). In a recent e-mail exchange, Lar- While I’m skeptical ry Hall, an owner/operator and for- of the PNP, I do be- mer fleet owner and head of the lieve immigration North American Truckers Guild, will play an impor- told me he feels the PNP is “the tant role in keeping single biggest thing to happen in the industry rolling. Rob Wilkins Kathy Penner this industry since deregulation.” We have an abun- Publisher Associate Publisher (416) 510-5123 (416) 510-6892 He went on to say it “has the poten- dance of foreign- [email protected] [email protected] tial to undermine our entire labour born and second force,” and he insisted the nation’s generation em- professional drivers are “willfully ployees working as ignorant” of the program’s impli- truck drivers in this

Brenda Grant Don Besler Not all drivers are cut from the same cloth National Account National Account Sales Sales Manager (416) 494-3333 (416) 699-6966 What do drivers want? The sim- fortable on the job and don’t like to [email protected] [email protected] ple answer is usually more money, take risks. better benefits. That’s what just The view Long-haul drivers on the other about every survey I’ve read on this with Lou hand typically show more indepen- topic says. dence and are less accepting of com- While no one would turn down a Lou Smyrlis pany structure. They don’t feel as nice increase, I think motor carrier great a need to socialize as that’s not executives need to look deeper than They say the most common hir- something that satisfies their ego. that to understand what it takes to ing mistake is to find someone with They are more like the lone wolf Doug Copeland Laura Moffatt put the right people at the controls of the right skills but the wrong per- that can take the ball and run with it Regional Account Manager Research (416) 510-6889 Director their increasingly expensive moving sonal drivers and hire them on the without a great amount of direction. [email protected] assets and keep them there. Assum- assumption that you can change Hire someone with typical long- ing it’s just an issue of more money them with the right coaching, the haul traits and stick him in a P&D TRUCK WEST is a proud member of the following may simply leave us with higher paid right incentives, the right rewards, city-type operation and you may find trucking associations: drivers who still hop from job to job etc. They believe people are actually you have someone who is going to during the good times and continue hard to change; their personalities turn off your clients. Take someone ALTA. MOTOR TRANSPORT ASSN. to exit the industry in utter frustra- are already hard set before they walk with a personality more suited to tion during the bad times. through your door. You can provide local hauls and set him up for At the recent American Trucking incentives but after a while they no long stretches of highway work and SASK. TRUCKING ASSN. MAN. TRUCKING ASSN. B.C. TRUCKING ASSN. Associations annual conference, I longer serve as a motivator. In their you may find you turn off your The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of attended a session led by Ricardo own words: Job techniques can be employee. any advertisement and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. The Ramon and Susan Magrino from taught; drive and motivation can’t If you are requiring them to do 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 Caliper Research and what they had be. The right drive and motivation something that is not natural to 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 to say is worth repeating. Caliper are essential for success. them, they may not tell you about part, without the written permission of the publisher. conducts personality assessments for Caliper has researched the per- it but inside they will be feeling the From time to time, we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations job placements and has done more sonalities of local, regional and long- pain. And two years is about the whose product or services may interest you. than 3.5 million of them. It has also haul drivers and found some signifi- time for fatigue and stress to show If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact our privacy officer via studied why drivers are leaving the cant differences. For example, local up to a high enough degree that they one of the following methods: Phone: 1-800-668-2374 industry. Ramon and Magrino be- drivers tend to have higher sociabil- decide to leave. n Fax: 416-442-2200 lieve job success and satisfaction has ity traits and enjoy dealing with cli- E-mail: [email protected] Mail: Privacy Officer. Business Information Group, a lot to do with finding the person ents. They can be more accommo- – Lou Smyrlis can be reached by 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, Ont., M3B 2S9 with the right personality for the job dating, pragmatic and do paperwork phone at (416) 510-6881 or by PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40069240 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES in the first place and that’s a connec- without resenting it. But they also e-mail at lou@TransportationMe- TO CIRCULATION DEPT. – TRUCK NEWS, tion the industry is not considering want to know exactly what they’re dia.ca. You can also follow him on 80 VALLEYBROOK DRIVE TORONTO, ON M3B 2S9 closely enough. supposed to do, want to feel com- Twitter at Twitter.com/LouSmyrlis.

pg 3 tw dec v1.indd 3 09/11/11 12:02 PM Page 4 TRUCK WEST December 2011

Monthly Class 8 Sales – Sept 11 Historical Comparison – Sept 11 Sales Following one of the best Augusts the OEM This Month Last Year Canadian Class 8 market has experienced Freightliner 528 362 over the past decade, September is a bit International 438 358 of a downgrade. The 2,425 Class 8 trucks sold in August far surpassed the monthly Kenworth 485 361 totals from last year as well as 2007 to Mack 174 114 2009 and from 2000 to 2003. In com- Peterbilt 288 181 parison, the 1,873 trucks sold in Septem- Sterling 0 1 ber was only better than 2009, 2010 and Volvo 325 245 2001 and fell below the five-year average for the first time in three months. Western Star 163 90 TOTALS 1873 1712 Historical Comparison – YTD Sept 11 Class 8 Sales (YTD Sept 11) by Province and OEM OEM BC ALTA SASK MAN ONT QUE NB NS PEI NF CDA Freightliner 258 441 121 259 2,477 738 213 85 17 24 4,633 Kenworth 353 1,374 255 143 653 807 98 0 0 0 3,683 Mack 55 171 94 58 586 178 32 24 0 23 1,221 International 246 575 69 223 1,266 824 207 107 9 59 3,585 Peterbilt 232 601 165 177 412 279 100 23 0 0 1,989 Volvo 142 121 49 203 807 358 100 42 0 5 1,827 Western Star 240 395 57 26 192 205 50 65 2 11 1,243 TOTALS 1,526 3,678 810 1,089 6,393 3,389 800 346 28 122 18,181 Despite the economic uncertainty, Class 8 truck sales continue to rebound in 2011 buoyed by years of deferred purchases – only one fifth of Canada’s Class 8 truck fleet is less than 5 years old. So far the YTD sales totals are significantly better than the sales figures posted in both 2009 and 2010 and also better than the YTD results after the first half of 2001, 2002 and 2003. The YTD totals are also now running above the five-year average for the first time. Our forecast for 2011 was for Class 8 sales to come in between a low of 23,100 and a high of 24,300 and it appears that will prove accurate. 12 – Month Sales Trend Market Share Class 8 – Sept 11 YTD

3,200

2,800

2,400

2,000

1,600

1,200

800

400

0 October November December January February March April May June July Aug Sept

Sales 1,981 1,887 1,832 1,154 1,470 2,002 1,942 2,154 2,677 1,956 2,425 1,873 Freightliner jumped out to an early lead at the start of the year with 28% market share and continues to hang on to that lead, although its share has declined. International, The 1,873 trucks sold in September made for another month with sales close to 2,000, a former market leader who has adopted different engine emissions technology than closing out a strong third quarter. So far sales have climbed above the 2,000 mark for four the rest of the OEs, is battling it out with Kenworth for second place with Kenworth of the first nine months of 2011 and came within less than 200 of achieving that mark on having sold about 100 more trucks YTD. Peterbilt and Volvo are the only other two two more months. manufacturers enjoying a 10% or greater share of the Canadian Class 8 market. Source: Canadian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association

YOU DEPEND ON YOUR PARTS. YOUR PARTS DEPEND ON DELO.® You put a lot into your truck – including trust. You trust that it won’t let you down; that its parts will keep you driving toward your goal. And they will – if you give them the advanced protection of Delo products. From our premium lubricants formulated with ISOSYN® Technology to our industry-leading extended life coolants and synthetics, Delo helps maximize uptime and gives you the conﬁdence to succeed. Some of the world’s largest ﬂeets and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) depend on our Delo family of products with ISOSYN Technology. To learn more about The Delo® Performance Advantage™, visit us

at www.deloperformance.com. ® TM A company product © 2010 Chevron Lubricants Canada Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are DELO DELIVERS CONFIDENCE the property of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC.

30052_Delo_PartsGuy_Class8.indd 1 2/9/10 11:16:08 AM

pg 04 tw dec.indd 4 08/11/11 3:43 PM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 5 in brief

Fleet optimism waning in Ontario Trucking program gets GrEEEn light to continue TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario carriers (58%) said northbound volumes WINNIPEG, Man. – A Manitoba-based trucking incentive program has ers are less certain about their im- have remained about the same. been given the “GrEEEn” light to continue. Manitoba Infrastructure mediate future, according to the lat- As rates go, most respondents and Transportation (MIT), together with the University of Manitoba est Ontario Trucking Association said they were “about the same” Transport Institute and the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) have (OTA) quarterly survey. while some fleets (21%) noted im- reintroduced the GrEEEn (Economically and Environmentally Efficient) The number of carriers reporting provements in southbound US rates. program this fall. they were unsure about the indus- The latest OTA survey found, The program offers incentives to companies and owner/operators try’s prospects jumped sharply from not surprisingly, that carriers are to install various technological improvements that work to reduce 26% last quarter to 40% in the Q4 being faced with rising costs. Six- vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Companies are eligible for survey. That marks the highest lev- ty-four per cent reported fuel costs rebates of up to 25% on proven fuel-saving devices, to a maximum of el of uncertainty since the second increases of more than 10% over $2,500 per tractor or trailer. Eligible upgrades include aerodynam- quarter of 2008, the OTA reports. the past year; 86% reported an in- ics for tractor and trailer units such as side skirts and front fairings, Still, 55% of responding carriers crease in maintenance costs; 80% low-rolling resistance tires, automatic tire-inflation devices and an- were optimistic about the indus- complained of higher tire costs; la- ti-idling technologies. For more information on the program, visit try’s prospects over the next three bour costs rose for 88% of carriers; www.greeentrucking.ca. n months, down from 64% in the Q3 the majority of fleets noted rising survey. There have now been three employee benefits costs; and 52% consecutive quarterly declines in of fleets said they’ve had to pay be- optimism among Ontario fleets, tween 2-10% more for new tractors. the survey has found. Most carriers reported no change Ontario high school to develop But while fleets may be less op- to the percentage of loaded miles timistic, they aren’t panicking just they are running and the average yet. The number of carriers saying length of haul appears to have re- trucking course for Grade 9s they were pessimistic about the in- mained steady. dustry’s prospects actually declined Half of responding carriers said BRAMPTON, Ont. – Brama- program. It will feature drive- from 9% last quarter to 5% in the they expect capacity will stay the lea Secondary School in Bramp- through bays, an open lab and two fourth quarter. same over the next six months, up ton, Ont. is launching a truck computer-equipped classrooms. The OTA survey found freight from 22% in the Q3 survey. Where and coach program for Grade 9 “Having owned and operated volumes are steady, with 57% of car- drivers and owner/operators are students interested in careers in a trucking company before re- riers indicating intra-Ontario freight concerned, 49% of carriers say transportation. turning to a career in education, is about the same as last quarter and they’ll hire more company drivers The Brampton Guardian re- I know first-hand the opportu- 36% reporting improved volumes. while 44% have no plans to change ports the program will be the first nities that exist in the industry Forty-nine per cent said interpro- their net number of drivers. Fifty- of its kind in the area. – in fact, our area of Ontario is vincial freight has stayed the same one per cent said they’ll add more The school will host a public infor- the highest-density transporta- with 39% reporting improvements O/Os while 47% plan no change. mation night Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. to in- tion corridor in the province,” from last quarter. Meanwhile, carri- Most fleets say they don’t plan to form students and parents about vice-principal Peter Gibson told ers reported some modest improve- purchase new equipment, with 73% the program and the many careers the Guardian. “Our program will ment in the southbound US mar- indicating they won’t be adding to available in the transportation appeal to students who are active ket, with 21% reporting improved their fleet of tractors and 56% say- industry. learners, like hands-on assignments volumes compared to only 19% in ing they won’t add trailers over the A new facility is being built spe- and enjoy courses that take them the last quarterly survey. Most carri- next quarter. n cifically for the transportation outside a traditional classroom.” n

Tired of being treated like the little guy?

Now, with Preferred Fleet, truck eets of any size can get their local Fountain Tire store price on tires and service anywhere in North America at over 2000 Goodyear locations. Guaranteed. It’s another way Fountain Tire provides innovative, cost-saving solutions to the entire trucking industry. You can’t predict what’s going to happen to your trucks tomorrow. So nd out about our Preferred Fleet program today. It’s free - ask your local Fountain Tire store about registering your eet.

Preferred Fleet 1-800-661-8473 www.fountaintire.com

pg 05 tw dec v2.indd 5 09/11/11 12:15 PM Fountain Tire 6713_NewProdLaunch_Ad-3_10- Page: 1 Date: Date: 875x8-125.indd FONTS PROOF INKS REVISIONS R E V A P P Size: 10.875” x 8.125” Myriad Pro, Cyan HOT—IMMEDIATE! Client: Fountain Tire Line Screen: 150+ SerpentineICG 1.1 Magenta Today—time: Account Mgr: Tim Created by: Chris C 6-6-2011 Yellow Tomorrow morning 9am Art Director: Ken Revision by: Yukiko 1:25 PM Black Regular turnaround Copy Writer: None

Notes: Page 6 TRUCK WEST December 2011 british columbia Master Promotions buys Truxpo B.C. adjusts PNP to permanently ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – New “This event meshes perfectly with Brunswick-based Master Promo- our current portfolio of heavy equip- include long-haul truckers tions has expanded its portfolio of ment, construction, forestry, commer- B.C. trade shows with the purchase cial fisheries and trucking shows that VICTORIA, B.C. – British Co- nomic growth in B.C.’s regions,” of Truxpo. The biennial event, which we currently own or manage across lumbia has made changes to its announced Pat Bell, Minister of features exhibitors and manufactur- the country,” said Peacock. provincial nominee program Jobs, Tourism and Innovation. ers of Classes 5-8 trucks from across “We are looking forward to meeting (PNP), including making a pilot “The program is a vital compo- North America, was acquired by exhibitors and working with the well- project that includes long-haul nent of our jobs plan and one that Master Promotions in a deal with established B.C. Trucking Association truck drivers a permanent part benefits every region of British the British Columbia Trucking As- and will continue on with their guid- of the program. Columbia through job-creating sociation (BCTA). ance and that of their steering commit- The PNP provides accelerated investments and by helping to “We are very excited about our con- tee to make this show one of the best permanent resident status to qual- meet the growing demand for tinued growth in B.C. and are pleased trucking and logistics shows in North ified workers from other parts of workers in key sectors of our to be on-board with this successful America.” the world, based on labour market economy.” event for the 2012 edition,” said Keith Louise Yako, president and CEO and economic development pri- While the BCTA lobbied for Peacock, vice-president of operations of BCTA, says she is confident in orities, the province announced. the permanent inclusion of truck and sales with Master Promotions. handing over the reins to Master Long-haul truck drivers have drivers among the accepted oc- In addition to owning and managing Promotions. “With the expertise and been included in the program on a cupations, not everyone was in a group of other non-trucking-related resources that Master Promotions will pilot project basis under the Entry favour. Larry Hall, head of the shows in B.C., Master Promotions also bring to Truxpo, BCTA looks forward Level and Semi-Skilled category North American Truckers Guild operates the National Heavy Equip- to significant innovation and promotion of the PNP. The B.C. Trucking lobbied against the move, argument Show in Toronto and the Atlantic that should delight exhibitors and show Association has been lobbying to ing the province was overstating Truck Show in Moncton, N.B. visitors alike.” n make the inclusion of truck driv- the earning potential of long-haul ers permanent. The province an- truck drivers and misleading po- nounced the change is effective tential immigrant workers. n B.C. suggests drivers practice chaining up immediately. VICTORIA, B.C. – The province of B.C. is reminding truck drivers B.C. also announced it will begin to chain up when conditions dictate and recommending they practice more aggressively marketing its PNP We’ve moved: chaining up before having to do so on the side of the road. and regional business opportunities Truck West’s publisher Business Chaining is often required along the Coquihalla Highway at the Box Can- to immigrants internationally, with Information Group has moved to yon chain-up zone. “This area receives some of the most unpredictable weather a strong focus on Latin America, a new building. Truck West, along in the province and is close to a number of avalanche zones,” the province re- Eastern Europe, Russia and India. with its sister publications Truck ported in a truckers’ bulletin. “This chain-up zone becomes congested quickly The province also indicated it is lob- News, Motortruck Fleet Execu- and ensuring the safety of all highway users by keeping the avalanche zones bying Ottawa to increase the maxi- tive, and Canadian Transportation clear of stopped traffic is a top priority.” mum number of nominations it is al- and Logistics, are now housed at The province says drivers who do not immediately begin chaining up lowed. It’s currently limited to 3,500 80 Valleybrook Drive in Toronto, when stopped there will be either turned around or towed away. “There nominations. just southwest of Leslie St. and Hwy is to be no parking in the chain-up zones, aside from the time taken to “The changes announced to- 401. Company phone numbers, actively install chains,” the bulletin warned. The province also warns that learn- day will significantly enhance the fax numbers and e-mail addresses ing on the job can be hazardous, especially during heavy snowfall. n effectiveness of the BC PNP in will remain unchanged. n promoting job creation and eco-

pgIrving 6 tw Oil.indd dec v2.indd 1 6 09/11/1111-08-09 11:38 8:52 AMAM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 7

You’ve got 16 short haul drivers and their trucks, on one screen

Online fl eet control from UFAPetro.com Manage your entire fl eet from your offi ce or on the road. UFA’s online account management allows you full control no matter where you are or what time it is. UFA is here to help you fuel a more effi cient business.

UFA 0191 Petro Fleet ad.indd 1 11-07-06 4:09 PM

kenna/UFA UFA.indd 7 File Name: UFA 0191 Petro Fleet ad 08/11/11 3:12 PM Project: Petro ads - Fleet 4 Image Area or Trim: 10.12” x 15.50” Publication: Truck West shi Page 8 TRUCK WEST December 2011 cover story Police lack evidence to charge suspects in beating Trucker.’ The senselessness of the Since that time, the trail has gone Reward money presented to Fraser act itself is puzzling, since there cold. doesn’t appear to be any motive: Which brings up the reward Continued from page 1 about six hours later. Some- he wasn’t robbed and his tractor money collected by the North Fraser stopped in front of the car how, with his face half-caved in, remained intact and apparently American Truckers Guild. and got out to offer assistance. A bloodied and fighting blackouts, untouched. Was it some kind of Since over a year has passed few seconds later he was viciously he managed to pull himself into hate crime against truckers and since the attack, the Guild has attacked, beaten and left uncon- his still-running 2005 Freightlin- Fraser was the randomly chosen offered to give the money, about scious. er and drive 35 kilometres to the victim because he stopped to help $10,000, to Fraser and his wife “I really don’t know what hap- Blue River Husky where he pretty what he thought was a stranded Carole instead of issuing it as a pened,” Fraser tells me on the well fell out of the tractor. motorist? reward for information leading to phone from his home in Lumby, “The wife of the manager of T h e B . C . an arrest. B.C. He thinks there may have the Husky is a paramedic, and Trucking As- Fra ser i s been three men around the vehi- it’s a good thing she was there,” sociation and ‘I used to live in the touched by cle and one of them cold-cocked says Fraser. Later in the hospital North Ameri- this generos- him from behind. “I should have in Kamloops, it was discovered can Truckers Yukon, and you don’t ity, but would been suspicious when the guy that his skull had been fractured Guild stepped leave someone broken still like to see under the hood didn’t even look in three places, and he underwent up and offered the perpetra- up as I approached. I asked him, extensive reconstructive surgery rewards that down by the side of tors caught. ‘Got a problem?’ and I think to repair smashed orbital and eventually to- the road up there,’ Still, he ad- I heard someone say ‘No, but cheek bones. ta l led about mits, the mon- you do’.” The story was picked up by the $30,000. A bank Alex Fraser ey will go a It was raining when Fraser re- media and Fraser became widely account was set long way to gained consciousness in the ditch known as the ‘Good Samaritan up by the BCTA helping with that raised about $8,000 on Fras- expenses. “I went from making er’s behalf. Fraser tells me he was big money to no money at all.” touched by the response. Last year Fraser sold his “I even had donations from Freightliner and the family RV is truck drivers in Ontario.” He re- up for sale. But he acknowledges Trust your work to TruckPro and ceived get-well cards from his em- the worst thing is that he will nev- ployer Monarch Transport of Cal- er drive commercially again. “I get a chance to win a gary, as well as Barry and Smith loved doing it and I wasn’t ready Trucking of Penticton, with whom to retire,” he says. “Now I’m not * he’s worked alongside over the a driver anymore; my wife drives years. “Do you know every one me to all my appointments.” $ of the drivers signed the card and Somehow we slip out of the put in some money?” says Fraser. interview mode and get talking “It was truly awesome.” about trucks. He also adds that he’s been I mention that I run Toronto- ®500‡ RBC Visa gift card treated fairly by worker’s com- Montreal for a courier company A winner at every pensation, and gets a weekly call and he tells me he had a steady service centre! from someone at Monarch Trans- run with UPS running Calgary to port to chat and enquire about his Kamloops. * Contest open November 15 to December 31, 2011. Drawing on January 6, 2012. condition. Fraser goes to physio- “Good job, steady hours,” he Get contest details and entry forms at your participating TruckPro service centre. ‡ All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner(s). therapy three times a week and says. “But my favourite times likes to putter around in his ga- were running the ice roads up rage doing decorative woodwork north. I used to live in the Yukon, with a scroll saw. and you don’t leave someone bro- Thanks to their advanced technology, HD PLUS But the attack has left a piece of ken down by the side of the road high-capacity batteries Receive last longer, meaning steel plate in his head and some cog- up there, not during the winter more engine startups. nitive difficulties. He gets fatigued time.” up to easily, and often has trouble finding Fraser admits to being bitter ** the right words. “Yesterday I was at one time, but says he’s gotten out picking apples off the ground over it. $ but I didn’t last long,” he says. “You’ve got to move on,” he Whatever happened to the as- says philosophically. When I sailants is unknown. asked if he would do it again he 60 A faint hope was raised that replies: “I probably would, but when you purchase the attackers would be brought I’d do it differently. I’d pull up HD PLUS batteries and have to justice in March 2011, when the and roll down my window and ask them installed at TruckPro RCMP announced that they had what’s wrong. That way I’d have

** Mail-in rebate: $15 per battery to suspects in the incident but not the chance to drive off if I sensed a maximum of $60 per vehicle. enough evidence to charge them. there was any danger.” n

These promotions are offered from November 15 to December 31, 2011, at participating TruckPro service centres. Labour not included. B.C. trucker injured by pumpkin Find your nearest TruckPro KAMLOOPS, B.C. – A B.C. trucker was sporting cuts and bruises on service centre at: his face well after Halloween night – but not because he forgot to wash off his costume make-up. Kamloops trucker Gary Henville, 55, a driver www.truckpro.ca with Arrow Transportation, was driving east on the Trans-Canada High- way around 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, when a pumpkin tossed over an over- The largest independent pass in Dallas came smashing through his windshield, according to the service centre network Kamloops Daily News. across the country The report says the pumpkin, estimated to be about a half-metre in diameter, shot through the truck’s windshield and clean through the cabin’s back window, causing broken glass to strike Henville in the right side of his face. Arrow Transportation’s division manager Steve Gayfer said Henville’s driving skills helped prevent a multi-vehicle accident that night, as traffic had been travelling in both directions at the time of the incident. According to the report, Henville’s truck had been struck while travelling under the same pedestrian overpass involved in a previous incident. Arrow Transportation’s director of safety, Rick Viventi, says the TruckPro is a network associated with UAP Inc. – Heavy Vehicle Parts Division. company is considering making recommendations to city council, such as having a cage installed on the overpass. n

7282 TruckPro - Promo04 - VISA-HDPlus TruckNews.indd 1 11-09-26 15:40

pg 1, 8, 12 tw dec v3.indd 8 09/11/11 4:23 PM Get 30% more road WITH THE NEW MICHELIN® XZA3®+ EVERTREAD.™

Thanks to enhanced tread life from the new, patent pending Dual Compound Tread, Dual the MICHELIN® XZA3®+ EVERTREAD™ tire’s mileage is 30% better than the competition Compound in long haul applications. The MICHELIN® XZA3®+ EVERTREAD™ tire pushes mileage Tread to never-before-seen levels, while offering the same legendary fuel efficiency, handling and retreadability you’ve come to expect from a MICHELIN® steer tire. We’re so confident the new MICHELIN® XZA3®+ EVERTREAD™ tire will take your

mileage to the next level, we’ll guarantee it.*

Find out more about the new MICHELIN® XZA3®+ EVERTREAD™ tire, and discover all the ways The Right Tire Changes Everything™ at michelintruck.com.

*See Guarantee Terms and Conditions for details.

Michelin.indd 1 11-07-06 9:05 AM Page 10 TRUCK WEST December 2011 tax talk If you’re self-employed, CPP will CPP deduction, every dollar you con- be calculated and payable when you tribute must be matched by your em- file your 2012 federal income tax re- ployer. To CPP or not CPP? turn a year or so from now. Your boss is therefore paying half If you are between 65 and 70 and of any additional benefit. Planning required to get most out of CPP changes work while receiving your CPP pen- Let’s look at an example at the sion, you’ll be able to choose whether maximum rate. Back in my February column, I dis- you want to make CPP contributions In 2012, if you make $50,100 (yes, cussed the various changes the fed- or opt out. I realize you’d be working a lot) the eral government is making to Cana- If you decide to make the contri- CPP deduction to you as an employ- da Pension Plan retirement benefits. Tax Talk butions, your employer will have to ee is $2,306.70 and your employer These revisions take effect gradu- as well. must contribute the same amount. ally from 2011 to 2016, but one of the Scott Taylor It’s an all-or-nothing decision – So now you have $4,613.40 in your biggest starts on Jan. 1, 2012. you can’t pay on only part of your PRB account to receive in the years It’s called the Post-Retirement on your employment or self-employ- income. to come. Benefit (PRB), and depending on ment income. You may not want to pay the de- What to do? your age and whether you collect a That’s changing. duction, but having your employer CPP retirement pension, it may af- Effective Jan. 1, 2012, if you’re There’s a game to be played here be- making such a sizable contribution fect the size of your paycheque. between 60 and 65, you can re- cause the PRB is in addition to your toward your pension is certain- Under the current rules, if you ceive your CPP retirement pension regular CPP retirement benefit. ly tempting. want to take your CPP retirement without having to stop work or re- Even if you are receiving the max- Now let’s cut to the chase and ad- benefits before age 65 you have to duce your income. imum retirement benefit under dress owner/operators who are re- either stop working or significant- However, you and your employ- CPP, any contributions to the PRB ceiving their CPP retirement benefit ly reduce your earnings for at least er must continue to pay into CPP will be paid back to you. while working. two months. through the new PRB program. So if you’re an employee it may be If you are a sole proprietor and be- Then you can go back to your job If you’re an employee, your em- the best choice to choose to pay it. tween 60 and 65 when you file your and receive your pension at the same ployer will automatically deduct your Why, you ask? 2012 tax return, you will have to pay time – without having to pay CPP contribution from your paycheque. Because just like any other into the PRB. If you are between 65 and 70 when you file your 2012 tax return, you can indicate your choice to pay or not. If you are an incorporated owner/operator between 60 and 65, then you must start deducting CPP from your wages and pay it toward the PRB. If you are between 65 and 70, then you can elect not to contribute to CPP. If you are an employee (of your own company or someone else’s) and between 65 and 70, and you wish to not contribute to CPP starting in 2012, you must complete and file Form CPT30 with Canada Reve- nue Agency and with your employer. I have of course written this column presuming you’re an owner/operator or employee driver. If you’re an employer (owner/operator or carrier), this topic is just as relevant to you. If you have employees in this 60- 70 age bracket, you will potentially have to start deducting and remitting CPP for them. This may affect your pay as well. More information Not everyone who wants to retire can afford it, and not everyone who can afford it is ready to retire. Either way, you deserve every pen- ny you’ve paid into your pension, and PRB gives you a little more flexi- bility with your retirement savings and income. If you have a choice about CPP and PRB, make the right one. You can learn more about at: cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/cpp-rpc/ cpp-menu-eng.html. Better yet, talk to your accoun- tant about how changes to CPP will affect you and your specific retirement plan. Finally, as we wrap up the year in Truck West, I want to thank you for reading and for all of your ideas and feedback. Here’s to a safe, happy holiday season, and to a prosperous 2012. See you then. n

– Scott Taylor is vice-president of TFS Group, providing accounting, book- keeping, tax return preparation, and other business services for owner/operators. Learn more at www.tfsgroup. com or call 800-461-5970.

pg 10 tw dec v2.indd 10 09/11/11 11:39 AM Shell Canada.indd 1 03/11/11 1:16 PM Page 12 TRUCK WEST December 2011 sustainability B.C. fleets can turn green initiatives into dollars But first they must sign up for program, invest in costly tracking equipment

Continued from page 1 carbon emissions by ‘X’ you’re very much a win-win.” the COAC’s system works better, buying carbon offsets from com- saying it with confidence that it’s Truckers who find the idea of however. panies and then selling them. a correct number,” Stedeford says. selling carbon offsets attractive “The government has tried According to the Pacific Car- How much money is involved? but who may not want to surren- plans on their own to offer rebates bon Trust, a carbon offset is “One COAC board member MaryAnne der their independence may find and the like, but they don’t catch metric tonne of carbon dioxide Arcand, who’s also executive di- themselves out of luck. on very well because of the pa-

(CO2) or equivalent that is re- rector of the Central Interior “If someone does it all on their perwork and trying to figure out duced or removed from the atmo- Loggers Association, was quot- own – just does it – the carbon what you’re supposed to do for it.” sphere as a result of emission-re- ed in the Vancouver Sun as say- offsets won’t be available because Besides, he says, his group of- ducing (offset) activities.” ing the offsets are valued at $12 you have to be in the program,” fers “extremely aggressive pric- What that means to a truck- to $13 per tonne. Or, as Stedeford Stedeford says. ing, so the cost for people to get ing company, according to the puts it, “If (a company) consumes “So while they might (reduce the equipment and put it in will Trust’s Web site, is that if it cuts 70,000 litres of diesel a year and their emissions) they can’t sell be better than if they do it them- its carbon emissions sufficiently, we can help him reduce it by 10%, their offsets unless it’s gone selves. Plus, we have trained in- “through a qualifying energy ef- then that will be about 22 tonnes through some sort of auditing, an stallers so (companies) don’t have ficiency initiative, it can sell those in carbon offsets and currently agreed-upon methodology.” And to figure out how to get it done emissions savings or offsets to us. he’d get about $240.” if they haven’t, he says, “They and whether it’s done right.” We will in turn offer a portfolio of That might not seem like a lot shouldn’t be out there telling The biggest positive, Stedeford offsets to clients to counter their of cash back considering the work their customers that they’ve ac- says, is that there’s money in the emissions.” and investment involved, but if tually reduced (their emissions) pocket of the trucking company. You can’t just sell the offsets nothing else it could give a com- by ‘X’ amount.” “If we can help a trucker reduce yourself, though. pany bragging rights – and may- It may end up being a moot his fuel consumption by 10%,” The ‘wheat board-like’ Carbon be a marketing tool. On the other point before too long, anyway, if he says, claiming that is a con- Offset Aggregation Cooperative hand, the financial or marketing the so-called “Cap and Trade” servative estimate, “then for the of B.C. basically acts as a middle bottom line may not be the most concept becomes a reality in B.C., amount of equipment we put in man between the trucking compa- important aspect of the program, something Stededford says is and our commission charge, the ny and the Pacific Carbon Trust, operator is putting money in the the latter of which is a B.C. Crown bank.” corporation founded to “Deliver ‘The value of the fuel saved outweighs the As for COAC’s commission, “If quality made-in-B.C. greenhouse you don’t reduce fuel we don’t get gas offsets to help clients reduce value of the credits and it always will,’ anything other than for the equip- their carbon footprint and drive MaryAnne Arcand, CILA ment,” he says. the growth of B.C.’s low-carbon “We take (our commission) on economy.” the fuel saved, so we bear a lot of The two organizations recently the risk there.” signed a five-year agreement to to some. going to happen (short of a Not only that but, “because we cover all of B.C.’s carbon offsets. “The value of fuel saved out- change in provincial government, have the administrative ability, COAC CEO Stedeford de- weighs the value of the credits perhaps). we can help smaller companies scribes it like this: “The truckers and it always will,” Arcand told Cap and Trade is where a cen- who can’t afford all the admin- bring in their carbon credits, we the Sun, “but the social value of tral authority (such as a govern- istrative costs of setting up that put them in a ‘silo’ and then we contributing to a cleaner environment) sets a “cap” on how much of whole infrastructure to follow the are able to sell them because with ment is priceless.” a particular pollutant can be emit- required methodology.” a much larger volume we can get As for what a trucking compa- ted, then issues “carbon credits” So is this program a money- a better price.” ny has to do to comply, Stedeford (ie. “licences to pollute”) based making proposition for trucking The reason trucking companies says COAC provides the expertise on the size of a company, its in- companies faced with a tough, un- can’t earn carbon offsets on their and does all the work. dustry, etc. If a company can’t certain market, or is it a way to own is that, in order to qualify “We basically come in and meet its “cap,” it’s forced to buy entice truckers into signing over to sell offsets to the COAC, a do all the installation,” he says. permits from those who get under their sovereignty for 30 pieces of company has to sign on with its “We do an awareness session, we the cap – the “trade” part. silver? Or is it both? Only time program. put our modems in (the trucks), It’s basically a carrot and stick will tell. Stedeford says it’s because there we capture all the data and we approach, where the “polluter” In the meantime, Al Gore will need to be standard methods for send reports to the company to pays while the “seller” is reward- undoubtedly be smiling. n calculating a company’s carbon let them know where they need ed for “being green.” emission reductions. to focus, which operators need a Stedeford says the cooperative “The big thing about our pro- little bit of help in a certain area.” already has a number of members gram from a carbon standpoint is, Equipment is installed by across the province. “We have a CN greens fleet if you don’t have approved meth- COAC to accurately measure fuel cross-section of forest industry, TORONTO, Ont. – CN Rail odologies, then the carbon offsets consumption. highway trucking contractors and has purchased an addition- you claim are voluntary and can’t Stedeford says it isn’t really road maintenance contractors,” al 200 EcoTherm containers, be validated.” about the hardware, though. he says. “It’s certainly a program bringing its fleet to nearly 500 In other words, if you don’t sign “Ours is a behavioural pro- that is open to anyone that uses units – the largest in North up, then you’re basically on your gram,” he says. “So it’s just try- heavy equipment.” America. The containers are own. And then the deck is stacked ing to work with all of the opera- designed to protect products Other ways to go green against you. tors to be aware of changes they such as food, beverages, paints Stedeford says that under the can make that will significantly Different jurisdictions have or are and pharmaceuticals against COAC’s program, however, reduce the amount of fuel that pursuing ways to reduce emissions low temperatures. “There’s a specific method of they’re burning.” and fuel use that don’t necessarily The super-insulated 40-ft Eco- calculating baseline information COAC’s Web site says a normal amount to marketing what, basi- Therm container is designed to and of calculating actuals and installation of their equipment cally, appear to be merely math- be an alternative to the 53-ft then you relate the two against into a truck and “non-hydraulic ematical calculations (carbon heated container, with the abil- each other to get the change in lifting equipment” such as an ex- offsets), but which instead help ity to hold the same volume of your litres per kilometre tonnes. cavator is $4,000, including the trucking companies increase their product without the need for the And as long as you fulfill the re- cost of the setup itself. efficiency in other ways, some- blocking and bracing required in quirements of the methodology That’s a healthy chunk times offering government rebates a larger container. then those carbon offsets will be of change for a vehicle, but to help encourage companies to CN also announced the pur- validated.” Stedeford says COAC can help become more efficient. chase of 25 EcoRide chas- To take advantage of COAC’s there, too. Alberta’s Trucks of Tomorrow sis. They weigh 15% less than program, you sign up, your drivers “We actually do the whole program, for example, offers re- conventional chassis and are are taught how to drive in a man- thing,” he says. “We come in, bates to companies who improve equipped with aerodynam- ner prescribed by the COAC to we put the program togeth- fuel efficiency and reduce green- ic features such as side skirts help them reduce their diesel use er, we suggest the equipment house gas emissions by embrac- and low-rolling resistance tires, and, via monitoring, your emis- they should put into their units, ing such equipment as cab heat- providing an 8-11% fuel sav- sions are validated and audited. we can schedule when to do it, ers, auxiliary power units, trailer ings, CN claims. n “Then, when you say ‘I reduced we can even finance it, so it’s skirts, and the like. Stedeford says

pg 1, 8, 12 tw dec v3.indd 12 09/11/11 4:25 PM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 13 alberta AMTA safety toolbox hopes to demystify health and safety program development By Jim Bray how to get started, what’s a COR phied and the new one’s ready,” everyone’s getting bang for the Think of it as a “safety consultant – and it walks them through the Gould says. buck.” firm in a box.” process of developing and estab- “They can go and get it, up- Gould says the AMTA also Okay, that isn’t a completely lishing a health and safety mandate their manual and update the plans to make the program part accurate image – unless you con- agement system.” contractor registry so they’re al- of its regular Transportation sider a computer “a box” – but it Once such a program is up and ways current. We tried to make Safety Basics training regimen, does describe what the Alberta running, Gould says, “Then they it resource-rich, and with a lot of a two-day introduction that out- Motor Transport Association’s can go to the contractor registry links.” lines what a health and safety pro- new Safety Tool Box is meant to and build their profile with that The Tool Box’s first offering gram should look like and which, provide to trucking companies. – because all of our policies are price is $395 a year for members. he says, often leads to small em- The Safety Tool Box is an on- written to stay current.” Non-AMTA companies can sub- ployers suffering from informa- line resource, released at the be- The Tool Box not only walks scribe for $795 a year. tion overload afterward. ginning of September and meant users through all the ins and Gould says the AMTA tried “That’s really when they need to help companies design and outs, Gould says, “You can also to price the product attractively to know it,” Gould says. manage a health and safety pro- go back; you can review the enough that employers will not “All these newbies coming gram on their own. The idea, ac- screen casts any time you want, if only use it, they’ll be encouraged into the business aren’t going to cording to the AMTA’s Web site you don’t remember how to do to join the AMTA as well. have any kind of resources and is to, “Allow you to have the con- something.” “We want to find enough mem- they’re the ones whose heads ex- fidence that your materials are Despite its purported advantag- ber benefits to drag these people plode from all the knowledge they current and meet COR [Certif- es as far as simplifying the pro- in and get them interested in get- get over the course. And by the icate of Recognition], industry, cedures is concerned, Gould says ting involved,” he says. time they actually sit down and do and OH&S requirements.” the Tool Box isn’t designed to be “Safety has become ridiculous- any of this stuff, they’re pooched. Fred Gould, AMTA’s adminis- merely a “plug and play” solution ly expensive and very onerous. They have no idea what they’re trator of COR, quality assurance requiring little attention from the When you think about it, if you doing.” and review, says the Tool Box can user. bought a safety manual right now, Though the Tool Box was rolled “simplify the process of becoming “All the pieces of the puzzle are it’s going to cost you five grand out in September – delayed from COR-certified and maintaining there,” Gould says, “but they still and in 10 years it would be at- its original June target – Gould contractor registry requirements.” have to do the work themselves.” rophied so badly it would be bi- says they haven’t promoted it yet Gould notes that, while the Tool The rationale is to ensure users zarre.” because they want to ensure it’s Box isn’t aimed at large employers are exposed to the safety culture Gould promises the Tool Box bulletproof. with “a dedicated department and during the process, so its philos- will be upgraded over time, to “I don’t want to discover any safety people with degrees,” most ophy can seep through – even if keep it as valuable as possible. major flaws in it,” he says, not- of Alberta’s 14,000 or so truck- by osmosis. “We’re going to try using the ing however that, “It seems pretty ing companies don’t have the re- “Our theory is that we’ll give Apple business model,” he jokes. sound. We’ve been working on it sources in-house to create such you the policies,” Gould says, “They constantly keep you on an for a long time.” programs. “but you still have to go in and upgrade path. Sometimes they’re Early reaction to the Tool Box Hence the Tool Box, which in- build the manual. That way you their worst competition.” has been muted so far, Gould cludes information on transport are involved, rather than just go- He assures subscribers that the says, but, “We will no doubt get industry-specific safe work prac- ing off and buying a manual and product will improve every year, some real-life feedback, so we’re tices and procedures, tutorials on putting it up on the shelf.” with even more resources add- going to put our ear to the track building and implementing a safe- Gould says the Tool Box is also ed. “I don’t know if there’ll be a and listen to what people say once ty program and safe work culture, meant as a weapon against less ‘Toolbox 2.0’ as such,” he says, subscriptions start rolling in.” a library of commonly used forms, than competent – or scrupulous “but we’ll continue making it so Gould hopes that, whether the and resources a company can use – people passing themselves off people find value.” Tool Box really is a “safety con- to comply with the requirements as safety consultants. And while the Tool Box is Al- sultant firm in a box” or not, its of contractor registries. “There are 50,000 people in berta-specific for the moment, intuitive nature will prove to be Setting up such programs from the city right now that would Gould says the grand plan is to the proverbial spoonful of sugar scratch is “a very, very onerous call themselves a safety consul- offer it to other jurisdictions as that helps the medicine go down. thing,” Gould says, noting that tant and some of them are pretty well. “People will like it because they the hoops a company has to jump shady,” Gould claims, mentioning “We’re looking for ways to de- can sit down with a cup of coffee through are the same whether it’s a new Canadian who approached velop revenue streams that will go through it and (the voice ac- a large multinational with deep him after a safety class not too help the AMTA become more tor) is going to teach them what pockets or a guy just starting out long ago. independent,” he says, “and hav- to do,” he predicts. with a single truck. “Someone wanted to sell him ing been involved in industry and “She’s going to walk them right Further muddying the waters, this Duo-Tang folder for $400 that appreciating how underfunded it through it, holding them by the he says, is the fact that many was supposedly a safety manual is, we also wanted to make sure hand.” n small employers, especially ones and it was like a seventh genera- that deal in upstream oil, have tion photocopy,” he says. “It was to deal with contractor registries horrible to look at and I thumbed who “developed their procedures through it and handed it back tell- to the Masters [degree] level, in- ing him it wasn’t good for any- stead of for our industry.” body. That’s the kind of thing that To help bring the procedures goes on out there.” a tad more down to earth as far The AMTA hopes its name as the transportation industry is will help make people comfort- concerned, Tool Box develop- able coming on board with the ers mapped all the WCB Indus- Tool Box. try Codes to their corresponding contractor registry “work types,” Unplanned Obsolescence… so subscribers can simply select the appropriate WCB code and Staying in compliance may not be the Toolbox will narrow down the as painful as getting there in the THE NUMBER ONE SELLING USED-OIL topics to which it cross references first place, but one’s information FURNACE OF ALL TIME with the registry. may have to be updated periodi- Escalating energy costs make your used-oil more Gould says that alone should be cally over time as well, a process valuable than ever before. On-site recycling can a major time and frustration sav- Gould says can be nearly as big a drastically reduce your energy costs while er, since the registries have more deal as the initial chore. immediately increasing your cash flow. than 600 different work types “When these (small employers) sit INSIDE THE RED BOX from which to choose, most of down to do their audit, it’s really What you see makes it a Clean Burn. What you which aren’t transportation in- intimidating,” he says. “I’ve had don’t see makes it “burn clean.” Our patented dustry-related. people call me up and say they’re Clean Burn heat exchanger provides you with The AMTA also included pro- not doing it this year, that they’re more heat from less oil. Only “The Red Box” includes 250 percent more surface area for greater fessionally-voiced “screen casts” just hanging it up. They’re done. heat transfer than any typical blast tube. The result: to help make the Tool Box easier It’s just too much.” More heat per gallon of oil. to understand. With a Tool Box subscription, The #1 Waste Oil Furnace “They explain everything,” however, if updates come out, In Customer SatisfactionTM

Gould says, “What [the business “Subscribers will get notice that DSI Installation and After Sales Support www.deonsupply.com owner] has to do, how to do it, a particular policy’s now atro- will ensure maximum savings for years to come 1-800-824-4115

pg 13 tw dec v1.indd 13 09/11/11 12:03 PM Page 14 TRUCK WEST December 2011 canada was opened up to men. “People in general were very Cancer convoys raise more than $83,000 happy that we were opening the convoy up to men,” said event or- ganizer Mylene Rusk. “Opening the event up to men also meant that we could increase our number of participants as well, and every person helps raise more money and awareness. It was important to acknowledge the men in their efforts to make us realize that they too, are affected by breast cancer.” Male participants were asked to dress up their rigs in pink in support of breast cancer, and a best “drag” outfit prize was offered for drivers who decided to get in touch with their feminine side. Five drivers took the bait: four from Ca- nadian Freightways and the fifth was Chris Scheetz a radio personality from CISN Country FM, who drove a Rosenau truck and pulled a CISN trailer. “As we trav- elled…Chris did live radio play- by-play of our ride,” Rusk said. “We really wanted to let everyone know who supported us, par- ticipated and those that just came by to see the convoy, how much we appreciated all they did for us. It was great to see the day come together, after all the hard work of organizing it.” The second instalment of the pink and proud: The focus of this year’s convoys expanded to include other forms of cancer. Photo by Dave Wilson Ontario West version of Convoy for a Cure (not affiliated with the above convoys) was back once By Adam Ledlow holiday this October by hitting ful for, with a combined total of again Oct. 15 and was able to WOODSTOCK, Ont. – A group the highway in support of various more than $83,000 raised at the eclipse last year’s total by more of Canadian trucking convoys cancer charities. And the end re- three events. than $11,000. The 38 participants bookended the Thanksgiving sults provided a lot to be thank- Convoy for a Cure was back raised a whopping $47,501, with for its fourth instalment on Oct. Donna Hoogendoorn and Stepha- 1, and despite a lower than usu- nie Schroeder leading the charge, al turnout, event founder Rachele bringing in the highest pledges Champagne says she was pleased with about $3,000 and $1,900, THIS MONTH’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE with the nearly $20,000 the 25 respectively. participating trucks were able to Winning the top prizes for the raise. best “pinked out” trucks were Mo-

TN-102 Dec. © 2011 M. Jackson The convoy featured two new nique Menard of Highland Trans- aspects designed to shake things port and Bruce Petrie of Molson up. For one, the convoy decided to Coors. forgo its usual all-female troupe This year’s convoy got its start of truckers driving in support of at the Fifth Wheel Truck Stop in breast cancer research, and includ- Dorchester before finishing at ed both male drivers and other the TA Travel Center in Wood- cancer charities, including lung, stock. The Fifth Wheel hosted a colon and prostate. free breakfast for all participants

Answers on page 33 The convoy also featured two in the convoy, while the TA fea- starting points – one in Cardinal, tured live music, a kid’s play zone, Ont. and one in Dorion, Que. – a BBQ, and a silent auction after with both convoys finishing up in the last rig pulled in. Cornwall, Ont. The 2011 event also featured the “We had anticipated way more song ‘Convoy For The Cure’ writ- trucks with the two start points ten by Anne Finley and Bill Petrie. but we only got 25 trucks partici- The song was released for down- pate in total, (so) the amount we load on June 28 with proceeds go- raised is amazing considering the ing to the Canadian Breast Cancer few trucks we had,” Champagne Foundation. told Truck West. But she added the “For only being our second weather conspired against them to year, I think the event went very decrease numbers. “It was freez- well. The drivers and supporters Across Down ing and raining so our idea to have all seemed to be enjoying them- 1. Coiled cable between cab and trailer 1. Oil-country cargo, perhaps it in Cornwall to attract the lo- selves even with the cold rainy 5. Protruding van-body portion 2. US diesel-pump units cal people to see the free Shania weather,” said event coordinator 8. Orange traffic diverter 3. Fatigue-causing sleep problem Twain (tribute) show didn’t work, Joanne Mackenzie. 9. Mirror-mounted CB adjunct 4. Suspension-spring components, because I myself would probably “It’s such a sight to see everyone 10. Cargo-terminal service sometimes not want to leave my home in that ‘pinking out’ their big rigs for their 11. “Country ____, take me home” 5. Medium-duty Sterling model weather to go stand outside in the ride along Hwy. 401. The compas- 12. Driver’s work-history document 6. Brand on toddler’s sandbox truck 14. Company making engine retarders 7. Frame, suspension and running gear rain.” sion, dedication and friendship 17. Burned fuel pointlessly 12. Canadian Pacific rolling-stock unit The Alberta version of Convoy you see in the drivers and support- 19. Licence-plate makers, sometimes 13. A sleeper design (3,4) for a Cure also hit the road on Oct. ers all having their own personal 22. UPS or FedEx driver 15. New truck’s price boosters 1, raising $15,833 for its efforts. reason or some with heartfelt sto- 23. Vehicles-affected atmospheric layer 16. Heavy highway hauler (3,3) The event attracted 17 partici- ries of some kind of cancer affect- 24. Four-wheeler trailer-hitch brand 18. Cab dispatcher on ’80s “Taxi” series pating trucks – which drove from ing their lives. Everyone there that 25. Applied lube to a fifth wheel 20. Supersized roadkill Sherwood Park, near Edmonton, day was wanting to help give the 21. Accident-investigation factor to Nisku – as well as more than ‘Gift of Hope’ in finding a cure. 100 other supporters. This is why they are all called the Try it online at www.trucknews.com As with the Ontario-Quebec driving force battling breast can- version of the convoy, the event cer one truck at a time.” n

pg 14 tw dec v1.indd 14 09/11/11 12:06 PM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 15 over the road cular conditioning and proper diet viously our line of work will never (exercise and eat healthy). allow a driver to spend an equal There is psychological resilien- amount of time in the various life Identifying burnout cy characterized by a balanced balance activities outlined above. lifestyle, a hardy personality, and I do believe the trucking indus- The first couple of weeks in Oc- a small wins strategy. try needs to develop a more sup- tober brought perfect driving and Finally there is a social resil- portive approach to mentoring, weather conditions to enjoy the Over the Road iency characterized by support- teamwork, and developing social fall colours in northern Ontario. ive social relations, mentors, and support networks for its drivers to The show was north of Sault teamwork. help cope with stress and burnout. Ste. Marie for the first week and Al Goodhall What really stands out for me It’s not getting any easier out south of the Soo for the second. in this resiliency list is ‘balanced here, that’s for sure. Sometimes the Bright red, orange, and yellow Does anything on that list sound lifestyle.’ world around us seems to be com- hues under brilliant blue skies. familiar to you? It sure struck a A balanced lifestyle is one that ing apart at the seams. Awesome! chord with me. I don’t think there sees an equal amount of time Dealing with it as I did at the The vivid autumn colour was is a truck driver out there who has spent in physical, spiritual, fam- start of October by simply turning just what I needed to refocus my not had to deal with elements in ily, social, intellectual, work, and off the world around me certain- mind on the simple enjoyment of any of those three areas at some cultural activities. ly isn’t an effective way of deal- driving. point in his or her career, whether All I know is that out of the ing with stress and burnout in the I shut off all my various elec- or not they want to admit it. I be- 168 hours that are available to long-term. n tronic gizmos and paid little at- lieve it is an ongoing daily battle me every week, I spend between tention to the goings on of the for many of us. 110 and 130 hours of that time in – Al Goodhall has been a profes- outside world for that couple of So Dr. Baba moves on to ask the the truck. sional long-haul driver since 1998. weeks, becoming little more than question: What will make us resil- So the question to be asked is He shares his experiences via his a tourist in a big truck. ient? Or what will help us bounce how on earth does any driver liv- 'Over the Road' blog at http://truck- But on reflection, I had to won- back from the effects of burnout? ing the trucking lifestyle maintain ingacrosscanada.blogspot.com. You der whether I was truly enjoying There is physiological resiliency a balanced lifestyle? can also follow him on Twitter at the change of seasons or using it characterized by good cardiovas- I don’t have an answer and ob- Twitter.com/Al_Goodhall. as a means of escape from the daily stress of life on the road? G Was I reacting to a feeling of E T burnout I had been experiencing P A Y over the previous few months? P O E U Had I just gotten used to the R R stress and imbalance inherent in the life of a trucker, and dropping out for a couple of weeks was a pressure relief valve for the psyche? Western Canada’s Trucking Newspaper and Equipment Buyer’s Guide I’ve never thought of driving as a difficult job but lately I’ve come to appreciate the psychological challenges that this lifestyle pos- es, especially the stresses it brings to bear on other aspects of our personal lives. Many of us within the industry maintain a macho SUBSCRIBE attitude towards coping with dai- SUBSCRIBE ly stress brought on by work; ig- nore it and it will go away. But it READING SOMEONE MOVING? doesn’t go away, does it? It just REQUALIFY! continues to build until it reaches ELSE’S COPY? a breaking point. Send us your new address Have your own! in writing on this form. So I thought I would share some NOW!NOW! information about what burnout Company ______is and how we can cope with it. Name ______Title______This information comes from a workshop I attended in June. The Address ______presentation was titled Stress and City ______Work: Implications for the Ca- Province ______Postal Code______nadian transportation Industry, and was presented by Vishwanath Telephone: ( ) ______Fax: ( )______Baba, PhD. E-Mail ______Dr. Baba characterized burnout on the job in three distinct CHANGE OF ADDRESS ONLY 1 1 4 phases. Serial # from code line on mailing label First you experience ‘emotional Canada USA Foreign Charge Card Cheque Enclosed exhaustion.’ You may feel drained $ $ $ by your work. You may feel fa- Visa No tigued in the morning. You may 1 Year 41.28 99.95 99.95 Mastercard No feel burnt out. You may feel list- (38.95 + 2.33 GST) less (lack of energy). You may be Amex No 2 Years 65.66 easily frustrated. You feel you (61.95 + 3.71 GST) Expiry Date don’t want to work with other Signature Date people. NB, NS & NF Add 14% HST to Price / Quebec Residents Add QST (7.5%) To Total The emotional exhaustion leads CLIP and MAIL to ‘depersonalization.’ (You are DO YOU WISH PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS nothing more than a cog in a TO RECEIVE OR 1) How many vehicles are based at or controlled from 5) Indicate your PRIMARY type of business by checking this location? Please indicate quantities by type: ONLY ONE of the following: With a) I For Hire/Contract Trucking (hauling for others) large machine). Have you become (CONTINUE TO — No. of Straight Trucks _____ No. of Trailers calloused by the job? Do you _____ No. of Buses b) I Lease/Rental RECEIVE) — No. of Truck-Tractors _____ No. of Off-Road Vehicles c) I Food Production / Distribution / Beverages Payment to d) I Farming feel others blame you for their 2) Does this location operate, control or administer one or more vehicles in any of the following Gross Vehicle e) I Government (Fed., Prov., Local) problems? Weight (GVW) categories? Please check YES or NO: f) I Public Utility (electric, gas, telephone) Finally you end up with a feel- 14,969 kg. & over (33,001 lbs. & over)... I YES I NO g) I Construction / Mining / Sand & Gravel 11,794-14,968 kg. (26.001-33,000 lbs.). I YES I NO h) I Petroleum / Dry Bulk / Chemicals / Tank ing of ‘low personal accomplish- 8,846-11,793 kg. (19,501-26,000 lbs.)... I YES I NO I 12 Concorde Place, I YES I NO i) Manufacturing / Processing 4,536-8,845 kg. (10,000-19,500 lbs.)..... I YES I NO ji) I Retail ment.’ You are not dealing with Under 4,536 kg. (10,000 lbs.)...... I YES I NO jii) I Wholesale Suite 800, problems effectively. You are not 3) This location operates, controls or administers: k) I Logging / Lumber Diesel powered vehicles...... I YES I NO b) I Bus Transportation Toronto, Ontario having a positive influence on Signature Refrigerated vehicles...... I YES I NO m) I Other (Please specify) ______others. You don’t empathize with Pickups or Utility Vans...... I YES I NO M3C 4J2 Propane powered vehicles...... I YES I NO 6) Are you involved in the purchase of equipment or replacement parts? ...... I YES I NO others. You no longer feel exhila- 4) Do you operate maintenance facilities rated by your job. You are not liv- at this location? ...... I YES I NO 7) Are you responsible either directly or indirectly Date IF YES, do you employ mechanics?...... I YES I NO for equipment maintenance? . . . . I YES I NO TODAY! ing up to your own expectations.

pg 15 tw dec v2.indd 15 09/11/11 11:41 AM Page 16 TRUCK WEST December 2011 border Growth signals for trucking are present, but so are risk factors By Lou Smyrlis about economic growth is that the Freight is growing slowly but we are recession. GRAPEVINE, Texas – The eco- US economy is supposed to grow still seeing revenue-per-mile grow- “Even with unemployment over nomic outlook for trucking may at least 2.75% per year. If you don’t ing,” he said. “There has been some 9% many fleets are having a hard be as muddled right now as that have that kind of growth, you don’t growth in capacity but supply and time finding drivers. For a group for the North American economy have jobs. It’s that simple.” demand remain close to equilibri- that is so sought after, these num- but fears of a double-dip recession What it seems we are headed into um. Fleets did a good job of ‘right bers (driver pay) will go up,” are overstated, the All Eyes on the for 2012 is more volatility. About sizing’ during the recession…this Costello said. Economy panel concluded at the 70% of the US industry is sig- Motor carriers face a similar situ- American Trucking Associations economy is de- nificantly small- ation with spending on new trucks. annual conference. Trucking is fac- pendent on con- The US economy is er than it was a The average age of the US Class ing softening demand and rising sumer spending supposed to grow at few years ago.” 8 truck fleet is approaching seven costs but capacity should continue and that is only While growth years. Yet research shows there is to remain tight making continued expected to grow least 2.7% per year. signals are pres- a financial penalty associated with improvement to revenue-per-mile about 2% in ent, the risk fac- hanging on to older trucks. While possible, according to Bob Costello, 2012. Our major If you don’t have that tors are equally maintenance costs average out to chief economist and vice-president, trading partner kind of growth, you clear. Cost pres- about five cents per mile for trucks American Trucking Associations. is also getting sures in partic- with under 550,000 miles on them, “Right now freight demand is little out of the don’t have jobs. It’s ular pose a risk maintenance costs rise to about 15 moving sideways, rather than fall- trade sector and for motor carri- cents per mile once that 550,000- ing off a cliff like it did in 2008. virtually nothing that simple. ers over the next mile threshold is reached. Costello That indicates to me that we might out of govern- Martin Regalia year with the in- anticipates solid truck sales due to just skirt by another recession,” ment spending flation rate for the significant pent-up demand for Costello said. now that stimu- items such as new trucks to renew aging fleets. Costello was part of a panel that lus packages are wrapping up and fuel, equipment and driver wages “We are going to have to be on also included John Felmy, chief there is pressure to concentrate on exceeding the inflation rate for the a replacement cycle for quite some economist, American Petroleum austerity measures to reduce fed- broader economy, Costello said. time,” Costello said. Institute and Martin Regalia, PhD, eral and state deficits. Take driver wages for example. Cost will be a challenge, however. senior vice-president and chief A slow growing economy also It’s a sad commentary on the plight The average sticker price for a Class economist, United States Cham- makes for uneven and choppy prog- of the US motor carrier industry 8 truck in 2006 was $95,000. Today ber of Commerce. The popular All ress and that is evident in the for- that drivers make no more today in it is around $125,000 – a $30,000 Eyes on the Economy session was tunes of for-hire carriers. In gen- real terms (taking inflation into ac- increase that somehow has to be moderated once again by Fox News’ eral, Costello said large fleets are count) than they did in 1990. Driver absorbed during a weak economy. Stuart Varney. seeing stronger volumes than small- turnover is running at 79% on av- “In this cycle, you can’t forget Regalia echoed Costello’s con- er ones, likely because of their rela- erage among US carriers and was about the cost side of the equation,” tention that North America would tionships with larger shippers. at 138% at its height prior to the he emphasized. n escape a double-dip recession, ex- “No one is doing great but it feels plaining that the weak economic like larger companies and shippers data that had everyone spooked are outperforming small business was the result of a combination right now,” Costello said. Don’t let current uncertainty divert your attention of unforeseen events such as the Volumes for large truckload car- earthquake in Japan, heavy flood- riers, for example, are up 11.2% from future opportunity, ATA’s Graves advises ing in the US and rebellions across from January 2009 while small Africa and the Middle East. Re- truckload carriers are still strug- Lou Smyrlis out ahead of him. galia expects growth in the order gling with volumes 5.4% below Jan- GRAPEVINE, Texas – Motor “It’s a metaphor that so appro- of 2.25% to 2.5% over the next 12 uary 2009. It’s a similar story when carrier executives grappling with priately explains our industry. months. examining revenues. While reve- the current economic uncertain- We are dealing every day with a He cautioned, however, that nue-per-mile for large truckload ty need to be careful not to miss myriad of policy and regulatory economic growth of this magni- fleets has grown 9.1% since Janu- out on the opportunities that lie cracks and crevices that threaten tude is not enough to drive down ary 2009, small truckload fleets are ahead, warned American Truck- to overwhelm us. And we have no unemployment, one of the major only experiencing a 3.2% gain. ing Associations president and choice but to devote tremendous reasons behind the economic mal- Costello pointed out, however, CEO Bill Graves in his annual time, energy and money in an ef- aise in the US. that any growth in the current state of the industry address. fort to fix them so we achieve pos- “We are not headed into double- environment is a welcomed devel- Graves acknowledged there is itive near term results for our in- dip recession,” Regalia assured. opment. much going on right now to di- dustry. But at the same time we “But we have to do more. We have “This is remarkable. We have vert an executive’s focus from the need to be careful not to become to do better…the dirty little secret never seen anything like this. road ahead. so obsessed with the challenges He recalled that at last year’s of the moment that we give up on annual conference he forecasted the opportunity of the future,” bigger and better things by the Graves said. time they met again this year in He went on to outline the Texas. reason to be optimistic about the No matter “Little did I know that ‘bigger’ future. was going to be the size of the fed- America’s population is ex- which hat eral debt; ‘bigger’ was going to be pected to grow from 300 million the unemployment rate; and ‘big- in 2006 to 400 million by 2050, you wear… ger’ would characterize the num- something on the order of adding ber of government regulations our a city the size of Houston or Chi- industry would be facing. And cago each and every year. “Four ‘better’, well ‘better’ is apparent- hundred million people need a lot There’s ly caught up in some sort of po- of good stuff and most of the time litical traffic jam and just hasn’t we’ll be bringing it,” he said. strength in been able to get here yet.” The ATA’s most recent freight Yet despite the frustration with transportation forecast calls for numbers. Washington’s inability to come to- trucking’s share of total freight gether on seemingly simple issues tonnage to rise from 67.2% in such as the need to fix roads and 2010 to 70% by 2022. bridges and pass a highway bill, And that’s from a tonnage pie Graves said he was still optimis- that grows from just less than nine Whether you’re an owner/operator, an affiliate or a friend tic about the economy and the in- billion tonnes of freight to over of the Alberta construction trucking industry, become a dustry’s future. 11.5 billion tonnes. During that He referred to a personal “aha” same period of time, the corre- member and make your voice heard with ACTA. moment he had while out on a run sponding trucking revenue pie is recently where he found himself forecasted to grow from $563 bil- To find out more, visit slowing his pace while focusing on lion to $937 billion. cracks and crevices in the road. “I’m sure you can split up www.myacta.ca When he finally looked up he got $374 billion in revenue growth past all the imperfections and saw among you and be happy,” Graves the road that was truly stretching quipped. n

pg 16 tw dec v1.indd 16 09/11/11 11:42 AM You know trucking. We know lubrication.

DELO® DELIVERS CONFIDENCETM

Whether you own a single truck or a fleet of trucks, we recognize that you have to be highly skilled in a wide variety of jobs to grow your operation. Husky Energy is a Chevron Lubrication Marketer that does more than just provide Delo’s high quality lubrication products. We also provide solutions that help you improve the bottom line. Whether it’s providing technical expertise, performing oil analysis, helping with inventory management, or any other service, we’re always ready to help. Call us today to find out how you can getThe The Delo Delo®® Performance Performance Advantage Advantage™. You know trucking. We know lubrication.

Chevron Lubricants are available at all Bulk Plants, Cardlocks, Husky Travel Centres and Retail Locations across Canada. For a location nearest you call 1-800-592-8838.

© 2011 Chevron Lubricants Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Chevron, the Chevron Hallmark, Delo, The Delo Performance Advantage, and Delo Delivers Confidence are trademarks owned by Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Husky.indd 1 10/02/11 12:40 PM Page 18 TRUCK WEST December 2011 canada Low-speed truck chase brings attention to industry’s cargo theft conundrum TORONTO, Ont. – The Canadian the CTA indicated. CTA’s Bradley said it’s alarming the Bradley said truckers are at risk of Trucking Alliance (CTA) says a much- “(This) incident highlights the need truck was stolen from a well-lit, secure personal harm during truck and cargo publicized truck chase in Ontario on to take cargo crime more seriously and yard, where the owner had been safely thefts while the cost to the industry is Oct. 31 is an indication that cargo it demonstrates how truck drivers work parking his trucks for 20 years. Fur- enormous. crime is a growing problem. together to protect themselves and to ther, the trailer was equipped with an “Often, there is little to no risk but The organization says while media fight cargo crime,” CTA CEO David immobilizing device. potentially huge profits to be made (by reports focused on the ‘trucker’ who Bradley said in a statement following “And, yet, the thief was still able to thieves). If perpetrators keep getting led the police chase along the QEW in the incident. take the unit,” said Bradley. “Thank- out on bail or serve only very short a tractor pulling an empty flatbed trail- The CTA has also discovered an fully, the event ended peacefully. The sentences, what’s stopping them from er, in reality the trailer carried a load of observant truck driver played a role police should be commended for keep- doing this again? Much tougher sen- wafer board when originally pilfered in capturing the thief. The driver was ing the travelling public safe and bring- tencing is needed,” Bradley said. The from a Niagara area truck stop. a colleague of the owner/operator ing the stolen truck to a safe stop. But CTA, meanwhile, has developed a The CTA also takes issue with the who owned the stolen truck and be- it could have been much worse. What Cargo Crime Incident Report in part- driver being referred to as a ‘trucker’ came suspicious when he saw it travel- happened shows us that the indus- nership with the Insurance Bureau when it appears he was a professional ling along the 401 without a load. He try, government and the enforcement of Canada. Truck fleets are encour- thief – not driver. The driver was out called his friend’s cell phone and found agencies must do a better job of work- aged to report cargo theft incidences on bail after being charged in Decem- out his truck had been stolen. He then ing together to develop countermea- so the industry can better understand ber 2010 for possessing a load of stolen called police to report the location of sures to combat this serious area of the true costs and strengthen its lob- Sony Playstations valued at $1 million, the rig. criminality.” bying efforts for harsher sentences. n

CTHRC to forge ahead despite funding loss OTTAWA, Ont. – Federal grants and contribution programs that support the work of the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council (CTHRC) are in the midst of a comprehensive change, but according to CTHRC officials, several existing initiatives will continue as planned while the new funding model is established. “Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) recently unveiled plans to refocus the Sector Council Program, phasing out core funding and some elements of project funding by March 31, 2013,” says CTHRC executive director Angela Splinter. “This funding will be replaced by a refocused grants and contribution program to support many vital human resources priorities.” The new approach will use calls for proposals to focus on labour market intelligence, National Occupational Standards, and certification/accreditation regimes. Sector councils including the CTHRC will also be able to submit funding proposals through HRSDC initiatives such as the Foreign Credential Recognition Program and the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills. “The CTHRC is already actively involved in each of these areas of interest,” Splinter says. “And we will be exploring every emerging guest of honour: National Truck League kicked off its tenure in Mississauga funding avenue or partnership opportunity to support the Council’s with a visit from the mayor herself: Hazel McCallion. Pictured from left to right are future work.” Jas Sahota, McCallion, Rod Stiller and Charlie Singh. Photo by Adam Ledlow Meanwhile, the task of developing HR tools for the trucking industry will continue. Ongoing projects for 2011-12 include tools for hiring new Canadi- ans (The Foreign Credential Recognition Project), updated labour National Truck League opens new location market information (via surveys and other data), the latest volume By Adam Ledlow event Oct. 22. in CTHRC’s HR series (Your Guide to Human Resources: Volume MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – National Company president Rod Stiller says 3), and research into the link between licensing standards and safety. Truck League has expanded its oper- the new office will operate as an ex- “Tools like those offered by CTHRC will help us to identify emerg- ations with the addition of a new of- tension of its London head office with ing trends, welcome new Canadians who are vital to our industry’s fice location in Mississauga, Ont. The a full line of products and services, future, and enhance skills development for key occupations in need,” insurance provider invited staff, cus- including WSIB alternative, health, says Gord Peddle, chair of the CTHRC’s board of directors. n tomers and even Mississauga Mayor commercial, home and automobile Hazel McCallion to its grand opening insurance. “(Our clients) called us and they have been asking, ‘Can you provide home and automobile insurance?” Stiller told Truck West at the event. “Now we have the companies to do that and new expertise to do that.” Part of that expertise comes in the form of Jas Sahota and Charlie Singh, a husband and wife team that have been selling home and auto insurance for about 12 years. “Many of our clients have indicated they want to be protected by one brokerage,” said Sahota, who serves as office manager at the new location. “We are providing our clients with that opportunity. We want to look after all their protection needs.” Stiller says the location was strate- gically selected to meet the needs of National Truck League’s South Asian customer base. “With this Mississauga office we are reaching out to our Toronto and GTA clients and to the South Asian community which is a big part of our customer base,” Stiller told the crowd during the ribbon-cutting. The new office is located at 2980 Drew Road in the Malton area. For more information, visit www.nationaltruckleague.com. n

pg 18-19 tw dec v2.indd 18 09/11/11 10:18 AM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 19 Truck parking at Confederation Bridge is adequate, industry says just put their heads in the sand back burner.” APTA refutes CBC report that truck and pretended there was no prob- Drivers on the mainland side lem when the bridge is closed,” do have a few areas into which parking area is a boondoggle Picard points out. they can squeeze, Picard says, if To its credit, the CBC fol- they know far enough in advance By Jim Bray minute walk.” lowed up the next day with a re- that the bridge is closed. “There BORDEN-CARLETON, P.E.I. Picard admits the bridge isn’t port quoting P.E.I. Transporta- are a few gas stations a couple –Is Confederation Bridge park- visible from the parking area, but tion Minister Ron MacKinley as of minutes from the bridge,” he ing for trucks a major problem or says the reason was logistical and saying improvements (such as the says. “But it would be more con- a tempest on a turnpike? that steps are being taken to help signage Picard mentioned) are venient to have one right at the If you imbibe the CBC, you there, too. coming, and perhaps other ser- bridge with some facilities.” might think it’s the former. How “Obviously they needed to find vices as well. However the parking situation big the problem really is, however, some land that’s workable for ev- Meanwhile, Picard says if there’s is perceived and reported on, it depends on who you talk to in the eryone,” he says, noting there’s a real issue over bridge parking, appears the closures are a minor trucking industry. signage coming to notify drivers it’s on the New Brunswick side, inconvenience at worst. Picard According to an Oct. 6 CBC of when the bridge is open, “so it’s where that province hasn’t seen fit says they only happen a few times news story, truckers are avoiding a not necessarily that bad.” to built such a parking area. Even a year and don’t usually last long government-funded parking area On the plus side, Picard says, there, however, he says it isn’t a enough to cause a considerable on the P.E.I. side reserved for the parking area is a secure and particularly dire “strait.” kerfuffle. their use when the bridge is closed safe place to put a truck. “Maybe we should be lobbying “Obviously, if the bridge is to them. The public broadcaster “At the end of the day it ad- harder,” he admits, adding “we closed four days in a row I can sent a reporter to the lot dur- dresses the concerns of having addressed it at one public con- see that being an issue at some ing a 36-hour storm closure and to leave your truck at the side of sultation, but there are other is- point,” he says. “But usually it’s found only a couple of trucks us- the road. I think it’s a good thing. sues that have been more pressing 12 hours or so and it reopens again ing it. Not only that, but: “Truck- They (government) could have over the past year. It’s been on the and everyone’s good to go.” n ers told CBC News it was too far away from restaurants and wash- rooms. They also can’t see when the bridge reopens,” reports read. The report also noted that: “20 long-haul trucks were scattered in streets and parking lots around Borden-Carleton.” Sounds like a lot of roadside All weather grip. All year long. angst and potential traffic havoc. The story revolves around weather-related closures of the bridge to big trucks when high winds make it unsafe to cross the 13-km artery, a trip that takes about 15 minutes normally. According to Jean Marc Picard, executive director of the Atlan- tic Provinces Trucking Associa- tion, though, there isn’t much of a problem. “I talked to a few of my members, and a lot of them say it’s a non-issue,” he says. “Most of them say when the bridge is closed they just turn around and go home anyway.” Besides, Picard says, it isn’t as if most of the closures catch the industry by surprise. “The company that manages the bridge sends out weather advisories, and all the companies have either e-mails or instant messages – and we put it on our Web site and send messages to our members, or they can call,” he says. Not only that, local firms have gotten used to incorporating the closures into their operating plans, Picard says. “It’s like going to Newfound- land,” he says. “It’s quite a ferry ride, but it’s just a fact of life.” Picard admits that trucks arriv- ing at the bridge from longer dis- tances may be more affected by the closures, since they may not have access to up-to-date information, but considering the communications technology available these days, “Unless a sudden storm blows in, it’s very rare that a It’s durable and tough. The SY767 4-season tire will not let winter sneak up on driver gets to the bridge and finds you. The wide tread and multi-season compound maximizes traction in ice and it shut down.” snow without sacrificing the long-lasting tread life that you expect from our best As for the parking area in question, it appears it isn’t that SY767 highway traction tire. Featuring a multi-season rubber compound and optimized far from civilization anyway, de- tread pattern designed to overcome wet, muddy and snowy conditions. The pending on how you define the Highway Traction SY767 can keep up with the extreme demands of the open highway. word. “They can use facilities next door,” Picard says, “and if www.yokohama.ca they need a coffee or something they can go across the street to the Tim Horton’s. It’s just a five-

pg 18-19 tw dec v2.indd 19 09/11/11 10:19 AM B:11 T:10.875” S:10.125” B:16.625” S:15.5” T:16.5”

The Ultimate Synthetic Performance For The Canadian Environment.

Introducing Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 0W-40: the ultimate level of cold weather protection and reliability from an API CJ-4 licensed SAE 0W-40 synthetic. With over 80 years of specialization in heavy-duty lubricants, Mobil Delvac is trusted by the world’s top fi ve heavy-duty engine builders and millions of truck drivers around the world.

Find your nearest distributor at essolubes.ca

SMP11047.WTRUCK.ENG.100.inddImperial Oil.indd 1 1 11-11-0411-11-04 12:19 2:29 PMPM

SMP11047.WTRUCK.ENG.100.indd SMP11047.WTRUCK. 11-4-2011 12:19 PM Truck News/Truck West CALMCL-DMX8127 Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Insertion Date: Dec 2011 - Alternative Fuels Sandra Menge Imperial Oil 100% 100% SPEC ORIGINALLY GENERATED: Marianne PAGE: 1 SMP11043 10.875” x 16.5” SAFETY: 10.125” x 15.5” TRIM: 10.875” x 16.5” Bleed: 11” x 16.625” Helvetica Neue LT Std (45 Light; OpenType), Mobil (Regular; Type 1), Futura Std (Light Condensed; OpenType), Futura (Condensed Medium; True Type)

Production Contact Numbers: 403 261 7161 403 261 7152 December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 21 alternative fuels cryogenic piping, steel-encased from any errant spray of LNG wiring, air-actuated valves and a that might result from a defec- Fueling for the future 10x40-foot high glossy white tank tive nozzle seal. – a two-walled thermos bottle ac- A driver uncouples the fueling tually – that holds 15,000 US gal- hose from the fueling unit by pull- lons of LNG at a frosty -162 de- ing back on two handles on the Robert’s natural gas trucks grees Centigrade. hose, plugs it into one of the side- By the end of October, 10 by-side curbside or roadside tank trucks a day were filling up at connectors and pushes the handles now have a place to fuel up the Boucherville station. A sec- forward to secure the connection. By Carroll McCormick this summer and was just waiting ond tank will be installed on a The driver pushes a big green BOUCHERVILLE, Que. – By for word from Robert that it was concrete pad alongside the first button and voila, the LNG flows about Dec. 1, Robert Transport ready to begin regular runs to To- tank once the LNG fleet outgrows until the tank pressure reaches a trucks fueled by liquefied nat- ronto before doing the one-week the single tank. Gaz Metro pur- pre-set fill level, between 90-95 ural gas (LNG) will be hauling commissioning this fall. chased three 12,000-gallon road gallons, and then automatically freight from Montreal to Toronto, Gaz Metro will build a third tankers to feed the three stations. stops flowing. topping up their cryogenic tanks fueling station in Quebec City in The Ecole de technologie The remaining 20% of the space at an LNG fueling station at the 2012, although the location is still gaziere of Gaz Metro is provid- is for vapour. The driver then dis- carrier’s Mississauga terminal and a matter of internal deliberations ing the bulk of the training for the connects, returns the hose to the heading back to home base to fuel between Gaz Metro and Robert Robert technicians and is provid- fueling unit and bon voyage, he’s up, hook up and head out again. Transport. ing assistance at the pumps. Rob- ready to go. This will be the realization of a While waiting to begin Mon- ert is giving its drivers two hours Robert has been busy this fall project by the Quebec carrier to treal-Toronto operations, Rob- of classroom time and one hour modifying a special maintenance at least partially switch over its ert has been running a B-train of hands-on training. bay for the trucks, and 12 tech- fleet to LNG, which it regards as between Montreal and Lac-Me- Fueling is straightforward. nicians had already completed the fuel of the future. Robert es- gantic, south of Quebec City and Drivers carry gloves and a face their training. More technicians timates that savings over diesel 53-foot, two-, three- and four-ax- shield in their trucks, which they are expected to receive training will be at least 30% and that the le trailers in the Montreal area – must wear to protect themselves in 2012. n LNG engines will emit 25% few- easily within the 1,000-kilome- er greenhouse gasses. However, tre range of each truck’s pair of each truck can cost as much as seven-foot long, 119-gallon (US) $80,000 over the price of a simi- cryogenic tanks. larly equipped diesel truck. By the end of October, Robert “All of the trucking to Toron- had acquired two new Peterbilt to will probably switch over to 386 LNG tractors with 228-inch LNG,” says Yves Maurais, the en- chassis and wide-base tires, and gineer at Robert in charge of the eight used LNG tractors, includ- LNG project. ing six Kenworth T800s and a As for putting LNG trucks on modified 2005 Volvo, purchased other lanes in Canada and the US, from around North America. the limiting factor today is the More of the 180 LNG tractors it lack of fueling stops. In Canada, has ordered from Peterbilt will anyway, Quebec natural gas giant have arrived by now, and the rest Gaz Metro has begun investing of the order will be delivered over in fueling stations, which it owns, the next three years. and the mutually supportive sup- Robert settled on two Peter- ply/demand relationship it has with bilt models: the 367 and 386, Robert speaks well for the gradual equipped with Westport’s 2010 development of a national fueling GX 15l engine, with two engine infrastructure. displacements: 400-hp/1,450 lb.- Gaz Metro started building the ft. torque and 450-hp/1,650 lb.-ft. country’s first LNG fueling sta- The Boucherville fueling station this July in Robert’s yard in tion has two positions for trucks: Boucherville, just across the St. One is a self-standing unit, rath- Lawrence River from Montre- er like a pump in a regular gas al. The first LNG truck took on station; the other position is built fuel there on Sept. 19. Gaz Metro into a robust cement wall that pro- also built the Mississauga station tects a labyrinth of stainless steel

Visit us online at www.arnoldbros.com or E-mail: [email protected]

and

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Martin Blanchet, Gaz Metro business development manager, at Canada’s first LNG fueling station. Photo by Carroll McCormick

pg 21 tw dec v2.indd 21 09/11/11 10:21 AM Page 22 TRUCK WEST December 2011 distracted driving Behaviour-based safety management is ‘old school’: Schneider exec distracted driving in 1998,” Oster- Distracted driving beliefs must be instilled in the subconscious berg said of the policy that predat- ed his employment at the company. By James Menzies In 2005, Schneider National GRAPEVINE, Texas – Fleet safe- used axle sensors on its tractors to ty programs that focus on driver blank out the screens of its in-cab behaviour are ineffective, as it’s mobile communications systems an individual’s beliefs that drive when the trucks were in motion. In their behaviour and in some cas- 2009, the company increased the es those beliefs must be reshaped severity of violating its distracted before any meaningful outcome driving policies, making using a is achieved. cell phone while driving a fireable That was the thought-provok- offence. ing message from Don Osterberg, Meanwhile, the company has device-president, safety and driver veloped policies for non-driving training with Schneider National staff aimed at making it easier for when he addressed an audience on drivers to stay focused on the job distracted driving at the American at hand. Drivers’ cell phone num- Trucking Associations Manage- bers are not given to customer ser- ment Conference and Exhibition. vice staff, so drivers don’t have to “I believe behaviour-based safe- worry about receiving calls from ty management is old school,” he anxious office staff looking for said. “If you want to attack it at information on the status of a the root cause, it’s at the belief delivery. level that we store what is really And when a prospective new relevant. Your beliefs shape your strict enforcement: Schneider National first banned the use of cell phones hire calls the driver recruitment attitudes, which shape your hab- while driving in 1998. It’s now a fireable offence. department from a cell phone, re- its, which shape your behaviour. cruiters are advised to instruct If you’re focused on behaviour, them to park some place safe and you’re already too late. You have example and maintain constant sit- significant number of your asso- call back. to address the beliefs.” uational awareness while driving.’ ciates. The existence of a policy “We spend a lot of money to Osterberg said people behave “They sign it, tape it to the steer- alone will have a deterrent effect make that phone ring and there in accordance to the people they ing wheel of their truck and it’s on the behaviour of many of your are a lot of organizations that say believe themselves to be. “If we something they see every time associates.” ‘I really need to have this conver- know we’re undisciplined, if we they get in,” Osterberg said. “If Osterberg cited a study that sation,’ but think about the mes- know we cut corners, if we know you have people sign their name found the presence alone of a sage we send to that driver, who we’re prone to adverse behaviours, to something, they tend to read it policy against cell phone use was isn’t even one of our drivers yet,” we will behave that way,” he ex- and tend to feel they have made a enough to influence the behaviour Osterberg said. “A lot of them plained. “And those beliefs are commitment.” of at least some drivers. probably don’t (call back) but in stored at the subconscious level. Still, when you run a fleet the In Schneider’s case, the carrier’s my view, that’s okay. That’s walk- The challenge then is to reprogram size of Schneider National’s, not distracted driving policies have a ing the talk.” people, to reprogram their beliefs. everyone is going to buy into any history that can be traced right The company is taking a look at That’s not easy but it’s not impos- policy. Osterberg is under no illu- back to the company’s formation some emerging technologies that sible to do.” sions that the carrier’s strict dis- 75 years ago. At that time, founder disable cell phones while the ve- Specifically addressing the is- tracted driving rules aren’t regu- Al Schneider preached: “Nothing hicle is in motion, however Oster- sue of distracted driving, Oster- larly broken, yet he says that’s no we do is worth hurting ourselves berg doesn’t think they’re “ready berg said it’s not enough to simply reason not to have a policy. or others.” for prime time” just yet. create policies. Safety leaders must “I will tell you candidly that The company was focusing on But invasive technologies like make the message personal and in- our no cell phone policy is vio- distracted driving even before it cell phone signal jammers may still in drivers the belief that things lated in my company every day. I became a mainstream issue. It not be required if a carrier is able like using cell phones while driv- know that it is,” he admitted. “If banned the use of all cell phones to instill in its drivers a belief that ing is wrong. At Schneider, driv- you strive for perfection and won’t while driving back in 1998. distracted driving is just plain ers are required to sign a business create a policy that you can’t per- “I think that was a very forward- wrong. Osterberg said he himself card-sized pledge that reads: ‘Be- fectly enforce, I would argue you looking policy to have in place has taken “the pledge” to not use a cause I am a disciplined, safety- are missing an opportunity to at back then, because I don’t think phone while driving, and he hopes conscious professional, I lead by least influence the behaviour of a we even understood the effects of everyone else in the organization is equally vigilant. “You can’t say ‘I’m going to cut back on distracted driving; I’m going to talk on my cell phone less’,” he pointed out. “What I have come to learn is, this is an all-or-nothing proposition. You have to make the commitment to say ‘I will not do it’ and then hold yourself accountable to that standard. It’s the only thing in my experience that works.” Finally, Osterberg said he would like to see the US as a country develop a national safety cul- Authorities/Permits technology solutions educAtion ture. And he left attendees with this poignant message: “In 2009, IFTA Filing • IRP Plates Avaal Express Starting a career or business 3,380 people were killed in truck- in trucking? Enroll in our involved crashes. We do a lot of C-TPAT, FAST, PIP, CSA Dispatch Software Trucking Dispatch celebrating in these venues – and US & Canada Bonds I’m not being critical of our friends let's you manage your business Specialist Course at ATA – saying, we’ve never been ACE • ACI all in one application! Brampton: Sat-Sun 9am -2pm (2 weekends) safer as an industry. And while Surrey: Mon-Fri 6pm-10pm (1 week) that may be true, I frankly find New Batch starts every month • Web Development • I.T. Infrastructure Setup Logistics Management Course that may be interesting but irrele- • Network Solutions • Data Backup and Recovery also available vant. Because I know 3,380 is levels of magnitude too many. We Head Office Surrey Office Winnipeg Office have to do better than that. We 2 Automatic Rd. Unit 110 302-17665 66A Ave. 1780 Wellington Ave. Unit 100 have to hold ourselves collective- Brampton ON L6S 6K8 Surrey BC V3S 2A7 Winnipeg MB R3H 1B3 ly to a higher standard. We have (905) 595-1313 (604) 579-0200 (204) 772-1313 to, as a society, say it’s unaccept- avaal.com (1-877) 995-1313 able that we kill nearly 100 people every day in traffic crashes.” n

pg 22 tw dec v1.indd 22 09/11/11 10:23 AM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 23 fuel economy One-year payback predicted when fuel economy standards take effect By James Menzies ers. OEMs will receive credits for ance workshop will look to provide to meet the 2014 standard by next GRAPEVINE, Texas – When selling a speed-limited truck, but some answers on how to ensure a year. phase one of the NHTSA/EPA only if the speed setting is hard- fuel-efficient truck stays that way EPA’s Bynum repeatedly em- fuel economy standards for me- wired and tamper-proof. If a fleet throughout its useful life. phasized the benefits for trucking dium and heavy trucks goes into wishes to spec’ a speed-limited Some fleet managers in atten- companies. She indicated a Class effect with model year 2014 vehi- truck with a setting that expires dance, nervous that they’ll be 8 truck in 2018 may cost $6,220 cles, most progressive fleets will at a certain mileage (prior to re- forced to use devices that are not more than today, but over its life- not have to spec’ trucks any dif- sale, perhaps), or one that pro- practical in their application, were time it will reduce fuel consump- ferently than they do today. vides drivers with an extra boost assured they will continue to have tion by 26,150 gallons providing a If you’re currently spec’ing fu- of power for passing to reward access to trucks that don’t meet lifetime fuel savings of US$79,100 el-efficient trucks, the early re- fuel-efficient driving, the OEM the standard. Manufacturers will based on $3/gallon fuel. quirements are already likely be- will be docked credits according- be measured across all their sales, That translates to a one-year ing met. Which begs the question: ly. Therefore, you can expect man- so while not every vehicle they sell payback. A medium-duty voca- ‘Why bother, then?’ ufacturers to encourage fleets to will have to meet the standards, tional truck, meanwhile, will see Faced with that very question order trucks that will be perma- the average must fall within the its purchase price increase only at the American Trucking Asso- nently governed. accepted range. OEMs also will $380, saving 2,000 gallons of ciations Management Conference One fleet manager in atten- have the opportunity to collect fuel over its lifetime, delivering and Exhibition, Cheryl Bynum, dance wondered aloud if truck- credits in advance of the 2014 US$5,900 in fuel savings and also manager of the EPA’s SmartWay ing companies will enjoy ex- standard if they comply with the providing a one-year payback. Transport Partnership, noted 80% tra pricing leverage with OEMs fuel standard early – and it seems “Fleets said they wanted an 18- of US trucks belong to fleets with when spec’ing options that allow likely they will. to 24-month payback,” she said. 20 or fewer vehicles, and they’re the truck and engine manufactur- Freightliner officials indicat- “That’s what we aimed for and not necessarily spec’ing the most er to maximize the credits they ed at a press event preceding the I think we did a good job of do- fuel-efficient trucks. earn on the sale. ATA convention that they hope ing that.” n “Leading fleets are already do- The biggest change, Bynum noted, ing a lot of this,” Bynum admit- is that truck dealers and manufac- ted, when listing some of the tech- turers will now have a greater in- nologies that will be employed by centive to encourage the uptake OEMs to meet the 2014 standard. of fuel-saving technologies. “But there are a lot of trucks on “Manufacturers didn’t have an the road that are not operated by incentive to offer a lot of alumi- leading fleets.” num on the truck unless the fleet Some of the technologies that asked for it, now they have an in- DWAYNE TYLER JACK ROSS may be used to meet the 2014 fuel centive,” she said. “There wasn’t Missing Since: October 1, 2003 standard include: chassis fairings; an incentive to talk to fleets about Date of Birth: March 26, 1985 low rolling resistance tires; light- vehicle speed limiters, now they Missing From: Thompson, Manitoba, Canada weight components; speed govern- have an incentive.” Build: Slim - 5’9”, 160lbs ing; anti-idling devices; and auto- She also suggested fleets will Eye Colour: Brown shutdown features. Bynum said benefit because the latter stages Hair Colour: Black the NHTSA and EPA had a hard of the program will require OEs time figuring out why said tech- to spend the money to develop nologies weren’t already being more efficient engines. used by all trucking companies? “You as a fleet may not have “This was one of the primary the clout to convince the engine discussions we had,” she said. “If manufacturers to spend millions these technologies pay back in of dollars to design new engines. three years or less, why isn’t ev- This is going to help the engine eryone using them if the trucking manufacturers improve the effi- industry has thin profit margins ciency of their engines,” she said. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MISSING CHILD, and fuel is the second highest cost When asked how the NHTSA after the driver?” and EPA will ensure fuel-sav- PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US TOLL-FREE The government’s answer was ing options aren’t tampered with missingkids.ca 1-866-KID-TIPS to mandate their use. The new (chassis fairings removed, for ex- (1-866-543-8477) fuel economy standards will focus ample), Bynum didn’t have an an- both on the truck and the engine. swer. OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALL CALLS CONFIDENTIAL missingkids.ca is a program of Child Find (Ontario) Inc. is an affiliate of theCanadian Centre for Child Protection Inc. The trailer escapes the NHTSA/ She said an upcoming compli- and trade-mark of Together, they provide missing children services in the Province of Ontario. EPA’s scrutiny, for now. “When EPA/NHTSA began looking at this, we realized trailers are very complicated,” she said. “We felt that for right now, it was better to defer action on trailers. We did state the intention at Guess who found a new job? some point in the future to regu- Are you stuck in a job, and late trailers but we’re not doing it Getting a new job looking for something new? as part of this rulemaking.” The new requirements will see is life-affirming! Well, you too can find a job truck fuel efficiency improve from in 2011 on www.truckops.ca, 10-23% between 2014 and 2018, a job website for depending on vehicle type. Phase transportation and supply one will focus on currently available technologies while the more chain professionals. aggressive 2018 standard will require advanced technologies such as waste heat recovery. “There is going to be a tremendous amount of fuel savings from www.truckops.ca this rule,” Bynum said. “It’s going to be the most beneficial rule is brought to you by: we’ve done for vehicles since the Job Postings EPA began regulating vehicles.” The onus will be on the truck Are Free! and engine manufacturers to increase the uptake on their fuel- saving options. There will, howev- Your ad will appear simultaneously on three jobs websites: er, be changes to how fleets spec’ Motortruck

FlCANADA’See BUSINESSt Ex MAGAZINEecu FOR FLEETti veOWNER S trucks as a result of the rules. www.truckops.ca, www.transportplanet.com and www.hirelogistics.ca Take for example speed limit-

pg 23 tw dec v1.indd 23 09/11/11 4:04 PM PURITY ISN’T JUST OUR GUARANTEE. IT’S OUR OBSESSION. To maximize your engine performance and fuel efficiency, we guarantee the purity of every bottle of our H2Blu Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). When just 1 teaspoon of salt can contaminate an entire 20,000 Litre tanker of DEF, that promise is very hard to keep. That’s why we obsessively guard and test each batch of our product every step of the way, from manufacturing, to bottling, to delivery. Because when the performance of your fleet depends on the purity of your DEF, there’s no such thing as being too careful.

, *Versus non SCR technology

H2Blu.indd 1 11-10-31 1:58 PM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 25 industry tainly appears to be no safety ratio- whether the federal government is nale for following the US – but one prepared to tackle the problems as- never knows. sociated with the current lack of reg- Number Two: The US DoT will ulatory harmonization, at least in Economic outlook also publish its long-awaited final those areas where it has constitu- rule on EOBRs. A universal man- tional authority. More of the same, but significant date is expected. Again, what will There are a host of other issues at Canada (the federal government the provincial level that the industry and the provinces) do? will be interested in. Will the rest regulatory changes will make 2012 Number Three: Both the US and of the provinces follow the lead of Canada will finalize their new fuel Quebec and Ontario by equalizing economy/GHG reduction rules for the allowable axle weights for wide- a pivotal year for Canadian trucking heavy-duty tractors and engines. base single tires and conventional What will this really mean for prod- duals? Will a national accord be The biggest question on most car- uct availability? How will differenc- reached on extending B-train com- riers’ minds as we head into 2012 es in Canadian weights and dimen- bination lengths to accommodate is much like it has been in the last Industry Issues sions standards be accounted for in the maximum tractor wheelbase? couple of years: What is the econo- the regulations? Will the Canadi- Will the provinces and the federal my going to look like? an government grant the industry’s government introduce regulatory/ The answer also appears to be David Bradley wish for a program of complemen- legislative amendments to nullify “more of the same.” The economists tary measures to accelerate invest- indemnification clauses in freight are telling us to expect slow, choppy disciplined approach to capacity, the ment in the new ‘GHG-compliant’ contracts that transfer the liability growth combined with a lot of un- industry should be fine and well-po- equipment and voluntary retrofits for shipper/3PL negligence to car- certainty. While Canada’s economy sitioned for improved growth which of the existing fleet? riers? How will Ontario expand its has up until now fared better than the forecasters are now putting off But, that’s not all. LCV program? most of the rest of the G20 econo- until 2013. (Economists are always The reports from the two com- Last but not least, carriers will mies, we are not immune from the eventually right). mittees established by the US presi- continue to debate how to deal with effects of the ongoing problems in While the economic outlook dent and the Canadian prime min- the looming driver shortage (which the US economy and the Europe- might be more of the same in 2012, ister in 2011 – the Beyond Borders many in some jurisdictions say has an debt crisis. The risk seems to be not so for the regulatory environ- Working Group and the Regulatory already arrived). more to the downside than the up- ment that governs the industry. The Cooperation Council – will reveal In combination, these issues pose side, but that too is something we list of major regulatory changes we whether in fact there is an appetite, potential challenges and opportu- have become used to. are likely to see over the coming particularly in the United States, nities for the industry and for the Not surprisingly then, in terms of year is a long one. for a better balance between se- associations that represent the in- what carriers can expect for their First, what I call the Big Three. curity and border/trade efficiency. dustry. Some have the potential to businesses in 2012, from an eco- Number One: The US DoT will Will Canada adopt a new danger- change the face of the industry it- nomic perspective at least, I expect publish its final changes to the US ous goods security regime similar self. Make no mistake, 2012 prom- more of the same. In other words, hours-of-service rules and no one to the US program of mandatory ises to be a pivotal year for trucking not bad, but not great either. The is expecting them to become more security plans, training and man- in Canada. n ratio between freight volumes and flexible. The question for us is what agement systems? Will the US in- trucking capacity appears to be will Canada do? At this point there troduce new food safety security – David Bradley is president of more or less in balance and as long appears to be little appetite at either regulations? How will Canada re- the Ontario Trucking Association as things don’t go south in a hurry the federal or provincial level to respond? The report of the Red Tape and chief executive officer of the and carriers continue to take a more open this can of worms – there cer- Reduction Committee will indicate Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Another interesting initiative is Quebec’s attempt to attract and train We’re not getting any younger young people in the 17-18 years of age bracket to become drivers. This Of the myriad issues facing truck panies and private fleets that operate was a topic of conversation during a transportation in North America, in a professional manner, that treat recent meeting of the PMTC Board none may be as potentially impact- Private Links their employees well, that offer train- of Directors. ful for its future as the seemingly in- ing and advancement opportunities Some expressed concerns with nate inability to attract young peo- – in short, that do all the things com- having people of that age group in ple to the workforce. And in many Bruce Richards panies in other industries do in order charge of a transport truck, but the respects the industry is the author of to attract and keep good employees. components of the program may al- its own misfortune. on their list of chosen fields of em- And yet, the image of the industry lay some of those fears. The require- A good deal has been written ployment, and due to age restrictions remains an over-riding obstacle to ments, which include pre-screening about trucking’s aging workforce. on entry, competing for that talent is attracting new talent. of applicants, high-level training, a Often those articles focus on the a difficult chore. So, the long-term question be- probationary period, an experienced driving corps, but the issue is much We know many of the reasons why comes, can the industry do some- company mentor, and ongoing eval- broader. Mechanics, technicians, of- trucking is not seen as a desirable thing to promote its more attractive uations of the probationary driver, fice staff and other so-called white vocation: low pay, long hours, poten- side and thereby become of interest seem designed to make this program collar workers (although you seldom tially lengthy time away from home, to young people? successful. see a white collar in the office these poor training, limited opportunity One step is for trucking compa- So, what conclusions can be drawn days) are equally in demand. for career advancement – little won- nies with hiring and retention is- on the subject of how the trucking The usual manner of addressing der that truck driving, and the in- sues to take a hard look at their industry can compete in the entry- the issue in the short-term is for one dustry generally is not seen by the human resources policies. For many, level employee market and sustain company to poach from another, broader populace as any more than that might mean beginning at the its future workforce? maintaining the cycle but not doing a default job. start and actually developing those Well, there are a lot of negatives, as anything that will have a longer-term And then as if to pile on, we have policies, and then training their itemized above, but solutions to the impact on improving the situation. government departments that look management group on using them problem are being offered that, if act- The quick fix approach is under- for the least expensive – rather than effectively. ed on, could help make our industry standable, but a longer-term view is the best – training that can be of- Once again there is help at hand. one of choice for our target market. needed if the industry is to have a fered for those seeking to become For those truly interested in improv- The opportunity to improve HR prosperous future. a driver. ing their hiring and retention practic- practices (CTHRC’s guide) will Research by the Canadian Truck- This approach can point potential es, the CTHRC’s Guide to Human lead to better hiring and retention ing Human Resources Council drivers to substandard training that Resources for the Trucking Industry practices and by default a better in- (CTHRC) a few years ago identified will not lead to a good job. It’s not a provides the answer. dustry image, and Quebec’s initia- that the largest proportion of Cana- very encouraging start to a career PMTC recently hosted a small tive aimed at attracting young peo- dian drivers was over 40 years of age in trucking. group of fleet operators in a walk- ple could lead to similar programs and that 27% were over 50. Another example of obstruction- through of the guide and the reviews in other jurisdictions. Absent an influx of younger peo- ism is British Columbia’s recent de- were overwhelmingly positive. The There’s hope yet if we start think- ple to the industry, this situation cision to change its funding model guide’s three volumes cover a lot of ing about the future. n can’t improve. that pretty much makes it unafford- ground, but its templates and instruc- The need to attract young people able for young people to get the level tions make it relatively easy for any – The Private Motor Truck Council is not unique to trucking of course – of driver training that the industry carrier to develop HR policies and is the only national association ded- every conceivable industry wants to wants in a new hire. practices that can help make their icated to the private trucking com- do exactly that. But because young The irony is that despite the image operations more effective, and help munity. Direct comments and ques- people do not rate trucking very high issue, there are many trucking com- attract people for all positions. tions to [email protected].

pg 25 tw dec v2.indd 25 09/11/11 10:25 AM Page 26 TRUCK WEST December 2011 opinion on our equipment, so we can continue on to our destinations to de- Wishing you all a Merry Christmas liver our loads on time and on bud- get, thank you. As we approach the holiday season, personnel who tend to the wildlife To the trucking journalists and on behalf of our members, family and keep them safe and keep our their magazines for keeping us up- and friends we would like to wish Constructive forests free from fires, thank you. to-date, informed and current on everyone in the trucking industry a Dialogue To the line painters who paint the all relevant information, thank you. very Merry Christmas. lines on our highways so we can see To the trucking associations, their This is the time of year I would Ron Singer where we are going, thank you. members and staff who work tire- like to give thanks to some very im- To the tow truck drivers who at- lessly to represent the best inter- portant men and women who don’t keep our mountain passes open and tend the collision sites, clean up the ests and concerns of their members, often get thanked or appreciated safe to travel, thank you. debris from them and tow the dam- thank you. near enough: To the police and motor transport aged vehicles off the road to the re- To the government legislators, bu- To the snow plow operators who enforcement officers who make sure pair facilities when they break down, reaucrats, politicians and their staff keep our roads and highways plowed our roads, highways and commu- you are truly the broken down driv- and agencies who keep us honest and sanded during and after winter nities are kept safe and compliant, er’s best friend, thank you. and compliant, thank you. storms, thank you. thank you. To the mobile repair personnel To the driving schools that work To the road construction crews To the firemen who keep our that tend to the broken down vehi- diligently to do the best they can to that build and repair our highways, roads and communities safe and cles on our highways under danger- educate and train the new recruits thank you. free from fires, etc., thank you. ous conditions, thank you. entering into the trucking industry To the flag persons and crews who To the ambulance personnel, doc- To the truck stops, restaurants, as drivers, thank you. flag the traffic during road con- tors, nurses and health care workers food take-out facilities that keep To all the drivers, mechanics, struction, avalanche control and that tend to the victims of collisions our professional drivers fed to keep welders, driver trainers, supervi- collisions sites, thank you. and sickness within our communi- them healthy, thank you. sors, executives, owner/operators, To the avalanche control crews ties, thank you. To the service and repair facilities secretaries, office staff, etc. in the that shoot down the avalanches to To the park wardens and forestry that stay open late to make repairs trucking industry, thank you. To the general public and all other road users, thank you. To everyone else who has a con- cern for the trucking industry or helps and assists our industry in any way, shape or form, thank you. To everyone or anyone who I have forgotten to mention, thank you. This is also the time of year I like to think about doing something nice and considerate for some of the less fortunate people in our society. Like the unemployed who are down and out, try to help them find a job. Like the homeless people on the street, give them a lift to the closest shelter and offer them a hot meal. Like the elderly that are on a fixed income and are unable to pay all their bills or do all the maintenance work around their homes, offer them some financial assistance, cut their lawn, shovel their sidewalk or just talk and visit with them to let them know you care. Like the person walking down the road, pick them up and give them a lift to where they are going. Like the driver whose vehicle has broken down on the road, assist them in the repair; offer your phone so they can make the appropriate call for assistance or just give them a ride to where they need to go. When at the local 7-11, Tim Hor- ton’s or other check-outs, put your change in the donation boxes to help out the needy. When you grow out of your clothing or have old clothing you no longer use, take it to your local Salvation Army so someone less fortunate has something warm to wear. Volunteer at your local nursing home to visit and assist the elderly. When you are Christmas shop- ping and you see your Salvation Army volunteer ringing their bell in their red suit, put some cash in their donation bowl, shake their hand and thank them for their volunteer time and service. It’s a time to give thanks, appreciate what you have and do something nice for someone. Merry Christmas everyone. n

– Ron Singer is owner of Ron Sing- er Truck Lines and Alberta director of the North American Truck- ers Guild. He can be reached at 403-244-4487 or by e-mail at [email protected].

pg 26 tw dec v2.indd 26 11/11/11 8:53 AM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 27 feature Smooth movers Movers face unique challenges. Like what do you do when you find a gun in the nightstand?

By Julia Kuzeljevich or sentimental item that customers LANSING, Mich. – Moving day, are most worried about, and to ex- which happens for more than four plain exactly how it will be handled. million Canadians each year, is said While you might expect that when to be one of the most stressful days movers arrive at a house they will in a person’s life. find only packed cardboard boxes, Usually you’re moving because it is not unusual, even when a cus- something has happened – often tomer service representative calls something negative – to spur on the several times in advance to prepare move. But even when circumstanc- the client, for movers to arrive and es are positive, moving at the same find nothing packed, or some items trucking of a different sort: Two Men and a Truck franchisees time as running your everyday life left scattered around. must adhere to certain spec’s – including automatic transmissions – when is an immense challenge for most “Day of the move” boxes are pro- purchasing their trucks. people. vided for the smaller items like keys A move could be the result of a and TV converters that are need- divorce or because seniors are leav- ed right up to the last minute, and and he said the company has gotten match,” he added. ing their family home and moving that can easily be transported in the better at getting recognized even as Moving trucks are not running to assisted living. In many cases, cli- client’s car. fewer moves may be going on. their engines constantly, but the ents are emotionally unprepared for Cardboard boxes and a glass case In Canada, Two Men and a Truck floors and walls do get a lot of wear their move. modeling a packing box for china has focused Canadian growth in the and tear, noted Hopkins. Movers, on the other hand, are are on display for the training. Southern Ontario market, develop- Commercial Babcock manufac- dealing with nightmare items such As a packaging “test” of sorts, the ing 12-15 franchises with plans to tures and installs the 24- to 26-foot as plasma screen TVs, pianos, cu- china box, when properly packed, can develop 45-50 franchise territories moving boxes on the back of the rio cabinets full of knick-knacks and be heaved off the back of the truck in total to service the Canadian chassis, which franchisees can select delicate china. with the china remaining intact. market. from one of the four recommended Or, they might come across a Since his early days driving the Trucks are spot-checked on a manufacturers: Kenworth, Freight- stash of drugs, cash shoved in a hid- original pick-up truck with which regular basis to ensure that main- liner, General Motors Corporation ing place or a handgun in the drawer the company was launched, Two tenance is on schedule, that the and International. of a nightstand. Men and a Truck’s president and logo always looks the same and that New trucks must be a 2009 or A good moving company can step CEO Brig Sorber found that the the truck’s appearance is well newer model year, spec’d for an ex- in and smooth the process, laying moving industry “had a lot of clo- maintained. pected front axle load of 8,500 lbs, out the steps and counting down sure to it.” In Lansing, COO Randy Shacka rear drive axle load of 17,500 lbs with the customer what must be “It was an easy way to make peo- said that 60-70% of the company’s and gross vehicle weight capacity looked after, and when. ple happy. We train movers to al- costs are people- or truck-related, of 26,000 lbs and with an automatic Franchised moving company Two ways talk positively about the moves with 5% of costs relating to fuel. transmission. Men and a Truck has built its mar- and the location they’re going to, The company is in the midst of Only a G licence is required to keting platform on being ‘movers seeing themselves as problem solv- piloting a Web-based automation drive the trucks, but drivers are still who care,’ aiming to treat customers, making the customer happy at project that will integrate sched- trained in techniques such as skid ers ‘as you would treat your Grand- the end of the day,” said Sorber dur- uling, estimating, accounting control, reduced idling and prop- mother.’ ing a tour of the company’s Michi- and intranet capabilities for the er loading. GPS technology tracks In Lansing, Mich., new franchi- gan head office in September. franchisees. idling and the metrics data is stored sees attend an eight-day training electronically, said Hopkins. session at the Stick Men Universi- The moving industry, not unlike ty, named after the stick men in the ‘We train movers to always talk positively the trucking industry, has seen its company logo. reputation affected over the years The training aims to cover ev- about the moves and the location by a few bad apples. ery circumstance of what happens In 2010, this led Two Men And during a move, from the aspects of they’re going to,’ a Truck Canada to create a Cus- the physical move to the customer Brig Sorber, Two Men and a Truck tomer Bill of Rights to differen- service issues that can arise before, tiate the franchise after a police during and after. crackdown in the Toronto area un- About US$300,000 has recently The company has grown from Data such as historical informa- covered moving companies using been put into the training facility, modest beginnings in the 1980s, tion on service schedules will be- a variety of illegal tactics – from which hosts franchisees, trainers, when brothers Brig and Jon Sorb- come more transparent, and route overcharging customers and chang- drivers and sales staff through- er drove an old pick-up truck pur- maximization is also one of the ing estimates mid-move, to holding out the year for courses and chased by their mother, Mary Ellen project goals. goods ransom until customers pay conferences. Sheets, to a current fleet of 1,300 A built-in reverse logistics com- up to triple the amounts quoted in A typical house layout has been trucks featuring the now-trade- ponent will also offer the potential the estimates. recreated, with rooms staged to marked hand-drawn logo of two for backhaul business opportunities. “We wanted to be on the right represent what movers would find stick men in a truck. The project will tentatively launch side of that and to be an initiative at a typical residence and that can Sheets made an initial $350 in- in summer 2012. to band together the good moving create moving challenges: plasma vestment in the company, purchas- “The Movers who Care software companies. We’ve gone out of our screen TVs, leather couches, chemi- ing the pick-up for her sons and is the backbone of the entire sys- way to promote the message,” said cal cleaners (that cannot be moved fielding calls for moving services. tem to help the franchise do its job,” Hopkins. by Two Men and a Truck), and your She franchised the company in 1989. said Dan Hopkins, Two Men and a Among the rights listed are that typical awkward furniture that can’t Franchisee accountability, said Truck Canada’s chief operating of- customers can request a written get through the door. Sorber, is not just lip service, and ficer and vice-president, operations quote outlining the scope, cost per Some rooms are also staged with the company asks for a lot of trans- and development. hour and have both parties’ legal an “unorthodox” scenario such as a parency from its franchisees. Sales results are also measured rights and responsibilities explained gun left in a bedside table drawer, “A rogue franchise can really hurt across a matrix and available to to them in advance of a move. or marijuana under a mattress. (The your system. In some years we might each franchisee for comparison in Movers must adhere to the pre- correct response? Stop all moving non-renew or terminate more fran- an accessible database. move estimate and the terms pro- activity and ask the customer to re- chises than we add,” he said. “It’s The transparency of inputs en- vided, while also supplying an item- move the item). more important to us that our ex- ables the franchise to see exactly ized invoice upon completion of the Trainees can also practice load- isting franchises can handle multi- where labour costs and revenues are move when requested. ing a truck, the interior of which has ple moves. If the model works, the on a weekly basis, which gives them “In Canada, the way fuel costs are been set up within the facility. The customer is wowed, and franchisees the ability to schedule accordingly. handled is that they are calculated trucks are framed so that loads can gain market share.” “For example, they can make as part of the hourly rate, so that be sectioned off and well secured. Sorber noted that the company has a comparison with data from the they are not shown as an additional Movers are taught to zero in on experienced 34% growth over the franchise that matches theirs, and charge and are absorbed into the to- the piece of furniture or valuable last two years in a bad US economy, in the business matrix that’s the best tal price,” said Hopkins. n

pg 27 tw dec v2.indd 27 09/11/11 10:26 AM Page 28 TRUCK WEST December 2011 technology Waste not A Canadian company has designed an APU powered by recovered waste energy

By James Menzies the more sustainability-minded BOLTON, Ont. – As engine man- and technically-savvy companies ufacturers look to improve the ef- in the business; not the types to ficiency of their products to com- be enamored by an unproven or ply with impending fuel economy implausible technology. standards, one of the obvious ad- MacDonnell said JD Smith and vancements to explore is waste Sons was so impressed, it has pur- heat recovery; harnessing wast- chased a stake in the company, ed energy produced by the inher- donated a truck for test trials and ently inefficient internal combus- is eager to take delivery of the tion engine. first field trial unit in the com- It’s estimated that as much as ing weeks. 30% of the energy produced by a Challenger Motor Freight, Kris- diesel engine is lost through the ka Transportation and Loblaw tailpipe in the form of heat. have also committed to field- Several engine manufacturers testing the system, MacDonnell have hinted they are working on added. waste heat recovery systems that The premise behind the Hyper will capture that wasted energy system is simple, even if the tech- and then use it to power certain nology itself is not. MacDonnell aspects of the truck, however such describes it this way: “If you think systems are still in the early stages of a bar fridge at the cottage; you of development. plug it in and it runs a refrigera- A small Canadian firm, mean- tion cycle. That’s what we’re do- while, has quietly designed a fully ing; we’re driving a refrigeration functioning auxiliary power unit cycle without plugging into the (APU) powered solely by waste wall. We’re using high temper- heat recovery, capable of pro- atures to pressurize the system. viding heating, cooling and ho- There’s high-grade heat in those tel load power for up to 10 hours big diesel motors, anywhere from without any fuel consumption. 300-800 degrees C. We just pull It’s also able to provide heat- that heat out and drive this re- ing and cooling while the truck is frigeration cycle and we drive the in motion, providing fuel savings heat cycle too. We massage those and eliminating the need for an thermal conditions and store them hyper apu: Could this Canadian-designed APU be the first real breakthrough AC compressor. – either hot or cold – and we can using waste heat recovery technology? Photo by James Menzies Truck West was the first truck- store 5 kWh of energy within an ing news outlet to see the Hyper hour of running this system.” (Hybrid Power and Energy Re- Importantly, that’s enough to components down,” MacDonnell “The system ties into the stock covery) storage system at work, provide long-haul drivers with a explained. “Some of the compo- exhaust,” Dave Gibbs, director of at developer EnerMotion’s mod- full 10-hour rest cycle of heat- nents are over-engineered right technological development, ex- est lab in Bolton, Ont. ing, cooling and hotel load power now; they’re heavy and some are plained during a demonstration. The project has been kept un- without having to burn any fuel, bulky. I don’t want to blow smoke “We capture some of that thermal der wraps while all the necessary MacDonnell noted. out in the industry and say this is energy and use it to drive our sys- patents were filed by global legal The driver uses the existing ready for prime time right now, tem, providing heating and cool- giant Norton Rose. HVAC controls, as the unit is in- but by the same token we can’t ing to the occupants both while Now with the muscle of one of tegrated with the truck’s existing wait any longer.” the truck is in motion and while at the world’s largest patent protec- dials and ducting. Regional fleets MacDonnell realizes that with rest. You no longer need to turn a tion law firms behind it, Ener- such as Loblaw and JD Smith and engine manufacturers develop- mechanical air-conditioning com- Motion president and CEO Jack Sons are interested, he added, being waste heat recovery systems pressor, because the system will MacDonnell is able to openly dis- cause their drivers can keep the of their own, they’ll soon be com- do the cooling while you drive. cuss the project. cab comfortable without idling peting for the same lost energy. It makes no noise and the driver His excitement is palpable as he while waiting to load or unload. But he’s comfortable with the pat- doesn’t have to do anything. It’s describes the system. Based on metrics collected by ent protection his company has a very simple and very elegant “Several of the OEMs are look- EnerMotion and then supported secured and wants to license the system.” ing at waste heat recovery tech- by Canadian fleets, the company technology to the OEs in addi- The Hyper system also provides nology and have been for a year is expecting to reduce fuel con- tion to offering the system in the engine pre-heating and even cool- or so, but we’ve been developing sumption by 9% with its system, aftermarket. ing if temperatures reach danger- this system for a number of years providing a payback in less than “We want to partner with these ous levels. now, so we believe we are ahead a year – as long as it works, that guys and license the technology With 20 units set to be deployed of the curve,” MacDonnell told is. And proving its reliability in to them,” he said. “We have re- with some big name fleets across Truck West. the field is the next step for the sisted the urge to knock on their various duty cycles, MacDonnell MacDonnell assembled the developer. doors until we have some units figures it’ll be 12-18 months be- team that would be responsible “We’re entering the demonstra- out there. The time is now to tell fore the Hyper system is launched for the design of the system in tion phase, which is to validate them what we’re doing, we have commercially. Meanwhile, the 2007 and incorporated the com- the metrics we have on paper with to get out there and expose our- company is also studying other pany in 2008, just as oil prices real road trials and also to put it selves because we’ve been flying applications, such as using the were hitting record highs. into different drive cycle environ- under the radar for too long.” same technology to refrigerate Last summer, EnerMotion re- ments,” MacDonnell said. “We’ve The prototype system is simi- trailers. MacDonnell is under- ceived a $1 million grant from been simulating this thing but it’s lar to a trailer refrigeration unit standably excited to get the mes- Sustainable Development Tech- one thing in the lab and a differ- in size and shape, and is mounted sage out. nologies Canada and the Toronto ent thing out on the road.” to the back of the cab. “Nobody’s doing this anywhere Atmospheric Fund has since come EnerMotion has been running It weighs about the same as a in the world,” he told Truck West. to the table with some additional its own trials on a 2003 Interna- diesel-powered APU and contains “There are some industrial appli- financing. tional with a C12 Cat engine with no moving parts. cations but nobody is doing it at Meanwhile, some of the first 435 hp. So far, so good, the com- The thermal storage unit boasts this scale and nobody is doing hot Canadian fleets to see the sys- pany claims. a higher energy density than lith- and cold and storing it so it runs tem at work have also come on- “From an engineering perspec- ium-ion batteries, MacDonnell itself in an autonomous mode as board; and they include some of tive, it’s now all about scaling noted. ours does.” n

pg 28 tw dec v2.indd 28 09/11/11 10:28 AM

CMF-TruckNews DEC11.qxd 11/4/11 12:38 PM Page 1

WISHING YOU THE

Season’s Greetings from our family to yours and wishing you and your family Best ofa safe andthe Happy Holiday! Season!

Call us today and put We go the distance. your career on the path of your choice: T 1 800 334 5142 F 1 888 876 0870 E [email protected] W www.challenger.com Other opportunities: Page 30 TRUCK WEST December 2011 fleet news ing out the list in order were Sys- co Foods, Beaver Truck Centre, Payne Transportation and Maxim Truck and Trailer. “I would sincerely like to thank WE ARE you and your teams for your par- ticipation and the donation of the trucks in the Local Industry MOVING! Truck Pull competition,” said Laura La Palme of Bison Trans- port. “Your involvement in the truck To: pull, answered our challenge to help show support for our com- 80 munity and raise money for the 80 United Way.” This is the second year that truck-pull champs: The winning Dr. Hook team in action. Manitoba trucking companies have held a truck-pull competition Valleybrook Trucking companies, suppliers pull to raise money for the charity. “There are over 400 for-hire Drive trucking companies headquar- together to raise funds for United Way tered right here in Manitoba so WINNIPEG, Man. – Six Mani- bled teams of 10 that competed to it is important for our industry to toba-based trucking companies pull a truck 150 ft in the shortest show continued community sup- Toronto, and suppliers have raised $3,000 amount of time. port and leadership which is why for the United Way after taking Taking first place was Dr. Hook, the MTA is a proud supporter Ontario part in a friendly truck-pull com- with Bison Transport coming in of this event,” said Terry Shaw, petition Oct. 13. second “by milliseconds,” accord- manager of the Manitoba Truck- The six companies each assem- ing to event organizers. Round- ing Association. n M3B 2S9 TransForce announces plans to purchase Quik X MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – TransForce has announced freight and is known for developing its own sophisticated it has entered into an agreement to acquire all the proprietary software. It’s an asset-light carrier with annual shares of Quik X Transportation, including its US revenues of about $200 million. operations. The deal should close near the end of the year, Trans- Quik X has a network of 17 centres across Canada and Force announced. the US, with more than 600 employees and agreements with “The transaction…should provide a solid return on All phone numbers 325 independent contractors. our investment for shareholders,” said TransForce presi- Founded in 1990, Quik X specializes in time-sensitive dent, CEO and chairman Alain Bedard. n remain the same _C7J1222_28.61%.tif • KS08-017_C7J7893_2_36.36%.tif D-TF-Label_TAGa_cmyk.eps FTC_chrome_Work_tag_wht.eps • _DSC0040_ad_7a5df7d31a8089afa28ac4d1c301291e5ae8ca0b_51.64%.tif Friday, November 4, 2011 1:12:07 PM 11296_FTVOC 6238 Retail Ad M2.indd IMAGES: DATE: FILE NAME:

WORK SMART. FINISH STRONG.

Take advantage of up to* in incentives on selected new vocational trucks from corporate or dealer inventory ﬁ nanced or leased with Daimler $5,800 Truck Financial now through December 30, 2011. Restrictions apply. Contact your Freightliner Dealer for details.

*Canadian customers can select from two options: Up to $4,300 for an extended basic chassis warranty plus a $1,500 Freightliner Trucks Customer Support MasterCard® prepaid card; or up to $5,800 for an extended basic chassis warranty. Competitive financing available through Daimler Truck Financial. For the Freightliner Trucks Dealer nearest you, call 1-800-FTL-HELP. www.freightlinertrucks.com. FTL/MC-A-1140. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Copyright © 2011. Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.

pg 30 tw dec v2.indd 30 10/11/11 10:09 AM

11296_FTVOC 6238 Retail Ad M2.indd 1 11/4/11 1:27 PM NEW ShEll DiESEl Extra™ iS NoW availablE at SElEct ShEll FlyiNg J locatioNS

NEW Shell Diesel Extra is designed to help: n Save fuel by up to 3%* n Keep the fuel system clean and protect it from corrosion n Lower CO2 emissions and smoke** For more information on how NEW Shell Diesel Extra is designed for extra kilometres, and a list of participating Shell Flying J network locations or Shell Distributors, visit www.shell.ca/commercialfuels

*Based on internal Shell tests under normal operating conditions with heavy-duty on-road diesel engines using Shell Diesel Extra versus regular diesel without fuel economy formula. Savings

may vary per truck/vehicle. **A heavy-duty truck travelling approximately 10,000km/yr consumes approximately 3500L of diesel and produces approximately 92.05 tonnes of CO2/

year. A fuel consumption saving of 3% will result in 2.76 tonnes less CO2 produced. Improving the fuel economy of a fleet of 10 such heavy trucks by 3% in a year will result in 27.6

tonnes less CO2 produced and return the same benefit as cancelling out the annual CO2 emissions produced by 5 average sized gasoline cars. (Values taken from the Natural Resources Canada Energy Efficiency Trend Analysis Tables (Canada) for 2007 (latest year available) at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/statistics/neud/dpa/analysis_ca.cfm?attr=0)

Shell Canada.indd 1 08/11/11 9:12 AM Page 32 TRUCK WEST December 2011 oem/dealer News Titan Trailers to open new plant, welding school TILLSONBURG, Ont. – Aluminum we’ve been exploring.” tion of Hwy. 4 and Jackson Side trailer manufacturer Titan Trailers has The new facility will be used pri- Road, just six kilometres from the announced plans to build a new sub- marily to receive running gear com- company’s head office. Titan also assembly plant in Tillsonburg, Ont. ponents such as axles, tires and plans to open a new welding school The company, best known for its light- suspension parts, which will be as- on its new property. weight, extruded aluminum smooth- sembled to order on-site. The run- “Finding and recruiting enough side trailer bodies, is headquartered in ning gear sub-assemblies will then qualified welders has always been a Delhi, Ont. where it operates a 32,000 be shipped to the Delhi location for challenge for us,” Kloepfer says. “So sq.-ft. facility housing its trailer finish- installation on trailer bodies, the com- we decided we should start training ing and engineering operations. pany indicated. our own.” Company officials say the new facil- The new plant will also be used to He notes that working almost ex- dual purpose: Titan’s new plant ity in nearby Tillsonburg offers 60,000 install the moving floors on Titan’s clusively on aluminum rather than will also house a welding school so it sq.-ft. of multi-purpose manufactur- self-unloading trailers. steel is a new challenge for many can train its future hires. ing space that’s well suited to the trail- “This Tillsonburg site will help to welders, so the new program will pro- er manufacturer’s requirements. streamline our entire production provide welders with the skills needed and successful graduates will have the “This property gives us a ready- cess,” Kloepfer explains. “Our exist- by the manufacturer. The school will chance to earn back their tuitions made solution to Titan’s needs for ing facilities will be better focused on focus on fabricating with aluminum, through employment at Titan. added capacity and efficiency,” says their key functions, while our storage with extra attention paid to reading Finally, the new Tillsonburg loca- Mike Kloepfer, founder and president and sub-assembly activities will final- and interpreting blueprints, the com- tion will include a retail walk-in coun- of Titan Trailers. “It has everything ly have a dedicated space of their own. pany says. Courses will be offered to ter, so local customers can purchase we need for secure, enclosed storage We’ll have a better process for build- students as a competitive trade school off-the-shelf trailer parts. n and custom assembly work, plus space ing better trailers.” for us to develop other opportunities The new site is located at the junc- Daimler optimistic about future growth By Lou Smyrlis Renschler said Daimler is not DTNA rebrands powertrain portfolio; GRAPEVINE, Texas – It may be seeing any significant negative ef- that being a market share leader in fects on its business, adding he is Detroit Diesel becomes Detroit North American Classes 6-8 truck confident 2011 will prove to be a GRAPEVINE, Texas – Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is dropping sales makes for a more optimistic good year. the Diesel from Detroit Diesel, as part of a new branding initiative designed outlook, but Andreas Renschler, As of August, three of Daim- to better reflect the diversity if its powertrain portfolio. head of Daimler Trucks is not buy- ler’s four core markets were show- The new Detroit brand was showcased for the first time at a press ing into all the economic doom and ing significant growth compared to conference at the American Trucking Associations Management Con- gloom. the previous year: Europe by 41% ference and Exhibition. Company executives said the Detroit brand In his address to the media prior in the medium- and heavy-duty was created to encompass all powertrain-related components and is to the start of the American Truck- segments; the NAFTA region by evidence of the OE’s intentions to respond more quickly and efficiently ing Associations convention, Ren- 38%; and Brazil by 16%. in “developing an optimized line of vertically integrated components.” schler acknowledged that economic Year-to-date, global sales of Andreas Renschler, management member of the Daimler board, indicators today are making it feel Daimler trucks have climbed by said “DTNA and Detroit Diesel have embraced Daimler Trucks’ a bit like the fall of 2008 but was 18% through August. strategy through implementation of uniform production standards optimistic we would not see a re- Daimler Trucks North America and processes, and a modular strategy for engine development, en- turn to global crisis. in August achieved its best sales gineering and manufacturing processes that draws upon Daimler’s “The clouds are a little bit darker results since March 2007. Sales global resources.” but I’m still optimistic we will not climbed by 52% and Canada did The new Detroit brand will be supported by more than 800 dealers and see a global crisis… while it’s true even better with 53%. Incoming or- distributors across North America, the company noted. that the risk of a double-dip reces- ders are running a full 114% higher “The Detroit brand of powertrain components continues our com- sion has become more pronounced than the same time last year. mitment to innovation, which is the essence of DTNA,” said Martin over the course of this year, it’s still “Our production capacity is full Daum, president and CEO, DTNA. “Based on the existing Detroit a less likely scenario,” Renschler until the first quarter of 2012,” Diesel brand long synonymous with quality, reliability, fuel efficien- said. Renschler said. cy, power and performance, the new Detroit brand will be the plat- He added that the more real He cautioned that when looking form for all current and future DTNA optimized vertically integrated threat is a crisis of confidence. at these extreme growth rates, one powertrain components.” “As President Franklin Roos- needs to keep in mind that they are Daimler officials said the new brand will officially be rolled out next evelt famously said: The only based on low levels from the pre- March, likely at the Mid-America Trucking Show. n thing we have to fear is fear itself’,” vious year, so “it’s absolutely okay he said. if we’ll see lower numbers in the time to come.” But both Renschler and Mar- tin Daum, president and CEO of DTNA, expected more growth for Hiring OWNER OPERATORS 2012 in Class 8 truck sales. Daum said that growth could be in the For Our Winnipeg Terminal 30-40% range should the economy prove stronger than currently We Offer: We Require: forecast or 15-20% under a more Sign On Bonus $1,500 2 Years Minimum AZ Experience tepid economy. Renschler also liked what he saw Excellent Fuel Incentive Program Equipment: Prefer 5 Years or Newer when he looked further into the Consistent Mileage FAST Card and/or CDN Passport future. He sees global automotive Paid Referral Program Clean Abstracts markets growing by over 40 mil- Criminal Record Search lion units in sales by 2020. And there is great demand for truck re- placements in the North American market. “The average age of truck fleets here has now reached the highest level in about 30 years,” he said. “In spite of any short-term fluctuations, in the medium- and long-term, our business is a growth business. As … Our people make it happen. a global truck manufacturer, we’ll profit from this growth – no matter where it occurs.” Come visit our New Terminal in Winnipeg at The company is preparing to 1-905-670-0057 meet this increased demand by 1-877-588-0057 123 Wheatfield Road, Winnipeg, MB expanding its capacity in Santia- [email protected] • www.rosedalegroup.ca 14 Locations Across North America go, Mexico with a US$45 million investment. n

pg 32-33 tw dec v2.indd 32 09/11/11 12:35 PM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 33

Western Star adds second shift New England ferry company wins Cat CT660 PORTLAND, Ore. – Daimler PEAKS ISLAND, Me. – A fami- public,” said George Taylor, direc- Trucks North America (DTNA) ly-run ferry company in Maine has tor of Caterpillar’s On-Highway is looking to ramp up produc- been awarded a Cat CT660 voca- Truck Group. “Mulkern and the tion at its truck manufacturing tional truck as part of Caterpillar’s LPA team did an outstanding job plant in Portland, Ore. with the ‘Win a Cat Truck’ contest. explaining their business, their loy- addition of a second shift and LPA Marine, a fourth genera- alty to Caterpillar and their need the creation of about 350 new tion family business, submitted for a new CT660.” jobs at the facility by the end the video that received the most LPA Marine was founded in 1967 of 2012. votes from visitors to the contest as a barging company. Today, it op- The additional workers rep- Web site. The contest garnered erates two large Cat-powered land- resent a nearly 50% increase in more than 300 entries that received ing crafts that deliver cargo be- personnel at the plant and will over 47,500 votes, Caterpillar tween the New England coast and include about 330 shop employ- announced. island properties. ees, and an additional 20 engi- “We have always struggled to “We buy Cat earthmoving equip- neering and support positions to brisk business: Western Star’s Portland find a truck that can match Cat- ment and depend exclusively on Cat facilitate increased production. truck plant is adding a second shift and erpillar’s balance of good design, marine engines to power our fer- The Swan Island facility ex- taking on 350 new employees. reliability and durability. We think ries,” Mulkern said. clusively produces heavy-duty Caterpillar can do for our trucks The Win a Cat Truck contest was Western Star brand Class 8 trucks for use in mining, logging, oil field what it has consistently done for opened Aug. 1 to US and Canadi- and construction, as well as on-highway trucks and other specialized our marine and excavating equip- an companies. Entrants were asked vehicles. ment,” said LPA Marine’s Coley to describe the vocational applica- Officials say the increase in production capacity and hiring comes in Mulkern in his entry. tion in which they’d work the Cat response to a strong and steady rise in Western Star orders through- He noted the company has used CT660 and how the truck would out 2011 and company expectations for continued growth in 2012. The Cat equipment and engines to serve aid their operations. Portland plant currently employs approximately 700 shop workers and communities and islands along Online voting occurred between 50 engineers, managers and support staff. coastal Maine. Oct. 1 and 15. Cat says LPA Marine “Western Star is known as a serious work truck, and for good rea- “We received many great sub- will begin spec’ing its new CT660 son,” said Martin Daum, president and CEO of DTNA. “They’re built missions, but when you watch LPA in the coming weeks and will take here in Portland with a heritage of the toughest vocational uses: log- Marine’s video, it’s easy to under- delivery in the first quarter of 2012. ging, mining, specialized heavy hauling and military use. Despite global stand why this entry garnered more The winning video can be viewed economic challenges, Western Star has been able to leverage its well- than 3,000 votes from the general at DriveCat.com. n earned reputation and access to Daimler resources and technology to capture market share, leading to our announcement today.” The current hiring activity is the first time since 2006 that DTNA has had open-market hiring for shop positions at this plant. Hiring of Dana wins award for lightweight driveshaft new employees will begin in November and the new production shift GRAPEVINE, Texas – Dana has received a Frost & Sullivan technical is slated to be at full capacity by February. A second wave of hiring is innovation award for its Spicer Diamond Series driveshaft, which uses a planned for next summer to support the projected increase in demand. n unique welding process to join an aluminum tube to steel u-joints, reduc- ing weight by up to 100 lbs, the company announced. In an interview with Truck West at the American Trucking Associa- tions Management Conference and Exhibition, Santiago Salazar, senior Wakefield opens Canada’s first DEF director, global product planning, said the new aluminum driveshaft will also be more resistant to corrosion than its steel counterparts. solutionizing facility for H2Blu The lightweight driveshaft, initially announced at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show, is set to roll out commercially in the first quarter of 2012, TORONTO, Ont. – Wakefield of its kind in the country. Wakefield Salazar indicated. Canada has opened its H2Blu die- sources prill through CDI (Cer- Dana developed a new welding process called ‘magnetic pulse sel exhaust fluid (DEF) solutioniz- vantes-Delgado Inc), a partner of welding,’ which allows it to attach dissimilar metals, something that has ing facility in Toronto. The recent PotashCorp. traditionally proved difficult. ribbon cutting ceremony took place Wakefield says by manufacturing In addition to using lighter weight aluminum for the tube, Dana was well ahead of the original business and packaging H2Blu in its own fa- also able to eliminate the centre bearing for further weight savings. Salazar timetable, officials said. cility, the company is able to control said the Spicer Diamond Series Driveshaft is the industry’s first one-piece The company says the strength the product’s purity. aluminum driveshaft. of sales of H2Blu in the first six “Purity is critical to the operation The new lightweight driveshaft is one of several developments Dana months justified increased Cana- of today’s SCR (Selective Catalytic has been trumpeting to help fleets lower their operating costs. dian production and the construc- Reduction) clean diesel vehicles,” “Understanding how best to minimize our customers’ cost per tonne tion of the facility. the company said in a release. “Im- mile driven is critical to maximizing value,” Salazar said. The new facility will take prilled purities can cause engines to oper- Other technologies Dana has developed specifically to minimize cost per urea, the raw ingredient in DEF, ate improperly, slow down (derate) tonne mile include: Spicer Life Series (SPL) Service-Free U-Joints, which and process it into ready-to-use or even stop.” are permanently lubricated for reduced maintenance costs; and the Spicer H2Blu DEF. The solutionizing fa- In addition to the manufactur- Pro-40 Tandem Drive Axle, a 40,000-lb tandem axle that reduces weight cility is housed within Wakefield’s ing equipment, Wakefield has also by 100 lbs and reduces parasitic losses. The Pro-40 will be of limited use existing lubricant blending plant in increased its distribution fleet add- in Canada where 46,000-lb-rated tandem axles are the norm, but Salazar Toronto’s Long Branch area. ing the specialized trucks required said the new driveshaft will be popular north of the border. n Officials say the facility is the first for distribution of sensitive DEF. n This month’s Hiring Log Trucks CROSSWORD • Rates adjusted every 15 days to match SOLUTION fuel price fluctuations • Cost of living assistance is brought to you by • Paid every 15 days • Contracts available for the 2011-12 fall & winter haul • Long term contracts are available for qualified contractors For more information contact: Darren Brownlie – Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Mon. to Thurs. 7 AM to 5 PM 1-800-661-5210 (ext. 8173) after hours: 780-689-7804 e-mail [email protected] Try it online at www.trucknews.com www.alpac.ca

pg 32-33 tw dec v2.indd 33 09/11/11 12:39 PM Page 34 TRUCK WEST December 2011 special report cy feature when stuck in deep clay,” 750. The bitter Swedish rivals have chimed in Ed Saxman, Volvo Trucks’ taken turns upstaging one another powertrain product manager. in an ongoing battle of horsepower. Also available is ‘Greatest Possible Volvo’s FH16 750 is the decided win- Downshift,’ ideal when approaching ner – for now – offering greater horse- a long grade. Drivers can increase en- power than has ever been offered in a gine speed in advance of reaching the European commercial truck. hill, press the minus button, put the But is it possible to get good fuel shifter into Manual mode and then mileage when managing 750 hors- the transmission will complete one es and a staggering 2,600 lb.-ft. of large downshift (instead of multiple torque? Hedstrom says so: “Because downshifts), allowing the driver to of the hill climbing capacity, it doesn’t run the entire hill in one gear with- gear down, it just keeps in the high- out any further shifting. er gear, which is fuel-efficient,” he Finally, there’s the ‘Prevent Up- told me. shift’ function, which is also useful on Before you get too excited, it’s un- hills and in poor traction situations. likely the 750 will ever make its way to Drivers can push the minus button North American shores. For starters, to prevent upshifting and can delay it’s not EPA2010-compliant. While a downshift by pushing the plus (+) the FH16 750 uses selective catalytic button while the engine rpm is low. reduction (SCR), it doesn’t add ex- In addition to these vocational- haust gas recirculation to the mix, The I-Shift shines in Sweden minded options, one of the smartest falling short of North American capabilities of the transmission may emissions requirements. Think your application is too severe for Volvo’s be EcoRoll, which decouples the en- Aside from that, introducing a gine from the transmission on gradual 750-horse monster would buck the automated mechanical transmission? Think again. downhill grades, allowing the truck to North America-wide trend towards coast along without consuming fuel. smaller displacement, 13-litre en- By James Menzies The first generation I-Shift was About 50% of European customers gines; Volvo’s bread and butter. GOTHENBURG, Sweden – It may constructed completely from scratch are now spec’ing EcoRoll, which is Still, I wasn’t about to pass on the pain us to admit it, but the Europe- and features a proprietary Volvo equally useful among Canada’s roll- opportunity to drive the beast. ans are far ahead of us when it comes ‘powertrain can’ that transmits data ing hills. The engine returns to nor- The timber truck I drove grossed to adopting certain truck technolo- between the engine and gearbox. Be- mal operation as soon as the brake 60 tonnes (132,000 lbs). The truck it- gies that have the potential to trans- cause both the engine and transmis- or throttle is applied. self was loaded with three stacks of form the industry for the better. Take, sion software was written by Volvo, Another neat feature is ‘Idle Driv- three-metre logs; one on the truck for example, automated mechanical “We have all the information we need ing Mode,’ which allows drivers to and two on the drawbar trailer that transmissions (AMTs). Volvo Group, to make the right decisions,” said An- creep along using the idle governor, rounded out the combination. manufacturer of the highly touted I- ders Eriksson, software design engi- adjusting speed by using the plus or Interestingly, while popular opin- Shift AMT is finally enjoying some neer. The two most powerful micro- minus buttons on the shifter and al- ion is that AMTs are limited to lower well-deserved market acceptance in controllers on the entire truck were ternating between the lower six gears gross combination weights and main- North America, where close to 45% located in the transmission, which al- without applying the gas. stream applications, the 750 cannot of trucks sold with Volvo power are lowed Volvo to essentially give the Collectively, these options amount be ordered with anything but the now being spec’d with the transmis- transmission supreme control over to what is a very sophisticated piece I-Shift. Frankly, Volvo doesn’t trust sion. (About 80% of the trucks Volvo the engine in contrast to the histori- of equipment. The full capabilities of the average driver to be able to han- sells here are now powered by Volvo cal order of things. the I-Shift require a high level of in- dle such high power and torque on engines). “The transmission is master of the tegration between engine and trans- their own. Still, it’s a far cry from Volvo’s system,” Eriksson said. “It controls mission, which is why the I-Shift is “If you are not careful, when you go homeland Sweden and other parts the engine.” available only on trucks spec’d with off the clutch, you put all the torque of Europe where practically every The driver interface is remarkably Volvo engines. Still, despite all the from the engine straight down into new truck is spec’d with an automat- simple. Two types of shifters are technological wizardry that went into the wheels and you will spin the ed gearbox. Certain sectors of the available; a basic and premium ver- the design of the transmission, it is wheels and use the fuel in an ineffi- North American trucking industry, sion. Drivers simply put the truck into having trouble finding a home in the cient way,” Hedstrom explained. “It is as well, are slower to embrace auto- the desired gear and go, much like in more rigorous of applications. Not in easier for us to handle the strong en- mated transmissions. a passenger car. However, key to gain- Sweden, however. gine torque through the I-Shift than There’s a widely held perception ing the trust of experienced truckers, through a manual transmission.” Handling huge torque that automated transmissions are Volvo has incorporated a ‘Manual’ And that’s to say nothing of the intended exclusively for on-highway mode that allows the driver to over- During my visit to Sweden, an as- number of clutches an average driver trucking, and that there’s no place in ride the I-Shift – as long as it won’t sortment of Volvo cabover trucks in would burn through if using a manual the bush, the pit, or any other off-road incur any harm as a result. a variety of configurations were made transmission. The fact the I-Shift is destination for anything other than a available for test drives, first on the a must-have on a 750-hp/2,600 lb.-ft. A versatile transmission stick shift. track at the Volvo Trucks Demonstra- engine says a lot about the capabili- That’s not so, according to Vol- While the I-Shift is making inroads tion Centre and later along a 120-ki- ties of the transmission. vo, which recently invited a group in the linehaul sector of the North lometre route between Gothenburg On my drive, which included a mix of North American trade journalists American trucking industry, you and, well, the middle of nowhere. of city and rural driving along some to Sweden to see that over there, the won’t find many in vocational trucks From there, we were to meet up hilly terrain, the I-Shift never missed I-Shift is being put through its paces where manual gearboxes are still the with some real-life Swedish log- a step when pulling 60 tonnes. I even in the toughest duty cycles one can norm and torque converter-style au- gers, who have been spec’ing Vol- tested its Hill Start capability at that imagine. And so began a little Swedish tomatics compete with AMTs for the vo D13 engines with the I-Shift for weight, on a steepish grade at the adventure… remaining space. operation in a pretty harsh off-road demonstration centre. That invalu- Surprisingly though, the I-Shift can environment. When choosing from able feature lets you come to a com- A historical perspective be ordered with a number of features the available trucks, I naturally grav- plete stop, and then take up to a sec- The roots of Volvo’s I-Shift can be designed specifically for vocational itated towards the longest, heaviest, ond and a half to move your foot from traced as far back as the 1980s, when operators. A ‘Rock-Free’ function, highest-horsepower of them all: a the brake to the accelerator without a group of engineering graduates sat for instance, provides the ability to FH16 750 – and yes, the 750 repre- rolling back (or forward) as much down to contemplate ways of auto- rock a stuck vehicle back and forth, sents horsepower. as an inch, even when opposing 60 mating the shifting of a manual trans- simply by pumping the accelerator Believe it or not, in Europe there’s tonnes and serious forces of gravity. mission, Sven-Erik Tibb informed us rather than manually switching be- an insatiable appetite – and appar- Built for the bush during a briefing at Volvo headquar- tween forward and reverse gears. It ently a practical need – for a 750-hp ters in Gothenburg. works well in situations where a truck engine, according to Carl Axel Hed- After a leisurely, scenic drive from The I-Shift project was formally is stuck in the mud and its wheels are strom, who’s in charge of customer Gothenburg to Kalleryd in southern launched in 1997 with the first genera- spinning, Eriksson explained. When activities in Gothenburg. Sweden, we stopped for coffee and tion unveiled in 2001, making this the the Rock-Free feature isn’t enough He told me the 750, which is cur- met up with some loggers from six- 10-year anniversary for the product. to free the vehicle of mud or clay, a rently in pre-production with the truck timber fleet Sundbergs Akeri The benefits of an AMT are obvious: ‘Power Starting’ feature allows a driv- commercial rollout slated for Febru- AB. Sundbergs is owned by Johans it requires less skill to operate than a er to rev the engine as high as 1,300 ary, is ideal for applications with gross Sundberg and the fleet is comprised manual transmission; allows drivers rpm in the lowest gear and then by combination weights of 40 tonnes of Volvo FH trucks with D13 engines to keep two hands on the wheel and pressing the minus (-) button, dump (88,000 lbs) or more, especially in the ranging from 520-540 hp, all with the focus on their surroundings; and so- the clutch and use the momentum to hillier regions of Scandinavia. I-Shift. Sundbergs’ drivers checked phisticated programming enables it to pull free. However, you’d be naïve to think out my 750 with envy and needled shift at the optimum rpm every time, “It’s not that hard on the truck, but Volvo’s rivalry with Scania wasn’t a their boss to put in an order for one, often improving fuel mileage. it’s wonderful to have as an emergen- consideration when launching the but he smiled and countered the D13s

pg 34-35 tw dec v1.indd 34 09/11/11 10:29 AM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 35

do just fine in southern Sweden. loading beyond 60 tonnes is strictly Sundberg has earned a reputation forbidden. for carefully specifying the most “When he delivers to the pulp efficient timber trucks possible. His mills, they pay for the first 60 tonnes,” efforts seem to be paying off; the explained Volvo’s Hedstrom. “If you company recently opened a beauti- transfer anything else, it’s on your ac- ful new shop that would be the envy count. You don’t get paid for it. (Com- of any fleet owner. The pristine shop pany owner) Johans has been very was an extraordinary sight, surround- careful about how to reduce the total ed by tall evergreens in the Swedish weight of the truck itself. He has over countryside. 42 tonnes of payload, which is a very Sundbergs runs 23-metre (75-ft.) good figure for timber trucks. He combinations grossing 60 tonnes, not doesn’t allow the drivers to be above unlike my own ride from earlier that 60 tonnes (gross), as he has optimized morning. I joined driver Magnus An- the design of the truck and trailer to dersson on a run deep into the Swed- carry 60 tonnes and not more.” ish bush to pick up a load of logs for For all the subtle differences, a log- delivery to a nearby paper mill. ging operation in Sweden is not en- Asked if he liked the I-Shift, An- tirely unlike those here in Canada. dersson admitted it took some getting that’s efficient: A Sundbergs driver unloads at a sawmill. It took less than The terrain is similar and the Sun- 10 minutes for him to offload about 42 tonnes of logs. Photo by James Menzies used to, but said he wouldn’t have it dbergs drivers are highly skilled; able any other way. to unload 42 tonnes of logs in less He still works the shifter constant- Swedish logger. The truck he drives computer; drivers must insert their than 10 minutes, turn a truck around ly, overriding the transmission’s de- is operated around the clock; in An- operator’s licence into a slot in the in a space so tight it defies logic, and cisions at times, depending on the dersson’s care from 4 a.m. till 4 p.m., cab when they begin their shift and demonstrating constant situational terrain. The I-Shift’s predictive ca- though European laws only permit the information can be downloaded awareness and a vigilant attitude to- pabilities are remarkable, but the one nine hours of driving per day. by enforcement officers at any time. wards safety. They’d fit right in over thing it does lack is a set of eyes. The Volvos are meticulously main- It’s not unusual for Swedish trucks here, but they may not want to trade When I tell him the I-Shift isn’t tained and clean inside and out, to be equipped by an Alcolock de- you trucks. very common in North American which is impressive given their sur- vice, which requires drivers to blow The I-Shift has become a wel- forestry applications, he shoots me roundings. Another Sundbergs driv- a sample before starting the engine comed part of their daily lives and a quizzical glance and asks “Why?” er who hosted us even asked visiting to ensure they’re sober. I don’t think they’d be willing to re- “It’s very convenient, I don’t have editors to remove their shoes before About a third of Volvo trucks sold turn to the old ways of jamming gears to think about gearing on roads like climbing into his truck. in Sweden are equipped with the op- all day long. Will the same eventually this,” Andersson explained as we Trucks with trailers are limited to tion, which costs about $1,500, ac- be true on this side of the pond? wound along a paved logging road, 80 km/h in most of Europe, though cording to Carl Johan Almqvist, traf- After all, the I-Shift sold here is which would later give way to a dirt many of Sundbergs hauls are over log- fic and product safety director with the same as the one used in Europe, road and then little more than a trail ging roads where they’d rarely reach Volvo. Increasingly, he noted, ship- aside from some small programming through the woods leading to the highway speeds. Sundberg favours fu- pers are requiring their trucking pro- modifications. loading point, which was marked by el-efficient D13s, but Hedstrom told viders to spec’ the device. Yet, here in Canada, we cling so a red triangle on the in-cab GPS. me 16-litre engines are still the norm Depending on the customer, Sund- desperately to our traditional way of During our drive, Andersson pro- in most logging operations. bergs is paid either by the volume or doing things. But you can only keep vided a glimpse into the life of a All driving activity is tracked by weight of the load. Either way, over- progress at bay for so long. n

FREE REGISTRATION FORM COMPLETE & FAX TO 905-795-0539 We will enter your information in driverlink where companies and recruiters search for drivers.

First Name Last Name

Address City

Prov/State Postal/Zip Email

Home Tel Cell BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME: WORK PREFERENCES: Owner Operator Hwy Team Hwy Single/Company Driver Home Tel Cell E-Mail Lease Purchase Driver Trainer Other Other Local Moving

OWNER OPERATOR? Manufacturer Year/Model Engine/Size Preferred Trailer Type (check all that apply): Other Flatbed Heavy Hauling/Specialized Moving Van Tanker Straight Truck Super B Reefer Van Trailer Type Experience (check all that apply): Other Flatbed Heavy Hauling/Specialized Moving Van Tanker Straight Truck Super B Reefer Van

CURRENT DRIVERS LICENSE: Do you have a Commercial License? Yes No Type Exp Date License# Prov/State issued Total Truck Driving Experience /yrs Has your license ever been suspended? Yes No Last Employer Name Company City Prov/State Tel Start/End Date Job Description Reason for Leaving

CERTIFICATION / TRAINING: Can you lift 50lbs? Yes No Doubles/Triples Air Brake Adjustment Name of School Over-Size Loads Name of Course Completed Hazmat City Prov/State Start/End Date Air Brake (Drive) Tankers CROSS BORDER TRAVEL: I am able to cross the Canada/U.S. border to haul international loads Yes No I am willing to cross the border Yes No I am FAST approved Yes No Would you like to contacted by driver agencies? Yes No By lling out and signing this application, I agree to abide Driverlink’s terms and conditions and consent to the use of personal information according to the Driverlink privacy policy. Signature: Date: Driverlink is proud to protect the privacy of your personal information as required under federal privacy laws. If you would like to see a copy of our www.trucknews.com privacy policy, please go to www.driverlink.com/privacy. If you would like a printed copy of our privacy policy, please call us at TRUCK NEWS CAREERS 1-800-263-6149 and we will be happy to mail one to you.

pg 34-35 tw dec v1.indd 35 09/11/11 10:31 AM Part 2 FICTIONFICTION Part 4

Mark Dalton: Owner/Operator counted out a bunch of twenties Mark Dalton: Owner/Operator equal to what she was owed. “Thank you,” she said as she took her pay. The Good Shepherd “No need to thank me,” Mark Licence renewed said. “You earned it.” By Edo van Belkom By Edo van Belkom through the valley and was pounding “I’ll keep you in my prayers.” The story so far… theright highway now, but with his birthday’sraindrops comingas big asup Mark sighed and shook his Mark is lookingThe story for aso load. far... Bud has a blackin a month, flies. Mark and slowedhe’s scared Mother to death Load toof head a little. It was nice to be in Marksweet isone at ato truck California stop near that Winnipeg won’t be alosing crawl hisand licence. set the wipers That isn’tto their going fastest to someone’s prayers, but he doubt- andready sees for a a woman few days. talking In the to drivers, meantime, ask- setting.happen Still, is it?” the rain kept coming down ed it would make any difference ingBud themasks for Mark a ride. to help She’s an attractive, older driver, and harder,“Not lookingif he renews at times his aslicence.” if someone in his life. “Maybe I’ll see you whenCharlie Mark Knowles, learns she’s get headinghis licence to Van re-- was“This standing year?” on top of the cab empty- on the road sometime,” he said couver,newed. he Charlie’s offers her a reala ride character hoping theyand ing“And buckets every of water year ontoafter the 65.” windshield. pragmatically. mightMark agreesget intimate to help along out. the way. She “Never“That doesn’tseen it thisseem bad,” fair. Mark He hasn’tsaid. “God willing,” she said, clos- had a problem in years…in fact he’s ing the door to the cab and wav- stops that train of thought• cold. “It is coming down pretty hard,” Cindy seems like a nice girl with a Cindynever hadagreed. an accident in his life.” ing goodbye. “Yeah, sure” he goodMark head had on agreed her shoulders. to help Mark prepare can’t “I“That’s imagine admirable this is what sir, Noahbut research saw in muttered. “God willing.” figureCharlie out Knowleswhy someone for allwould the leave tests herhe thehas daysshown before that older the arkdrivers set sail.”are more He • stranded.needed to But complete as they intalk, order Mark to discovget his- lookedlikely to over develop at Cindy medical thinking conditions the joke It wasn’t until a day later and he Illustration by Glenn McEvoy erscommercial she’s a hardcore driver’s licenceChristian renewed, woman wouldthat affect ease theirsome ability of the tension,to drive. but After she was well on his way into North- andbut whather constant that meant, talk of Mark God didn’tcan get have an- had65, herdrivers eyes areclosed one-and-a-half and seemed timesoff in ern British Columbia to pick up his next dering if you could take my good deeds noying.a clue. MarkOther decides than a to physical let Cindy everydrive. anothermore likely world. to Markhave pressedan accident on, but than the load that he noticed a drop off in pow- and add them to Cindy’s prayers and few years, Mark hadn’t been tested on drivers between 45 and 64.” After first saying a prayer, she drives as if driving conditions weren’t getting any er. Mother Load had been chugging maybe help me get out of this.” his driving ability since he’d first re- She knew her stuff, that was for sure. she’s on glass. Mark is strangely at ease better. He could feel his rig hyrdoplaning up a steep incline and her speed kept Mark took a deep breath, and waited. ceived his licence and that had been And Mark could concede the fact that and immediately falls asleep. Later, she over the water and the steering wheel slowing until she was moving along at a Nothing but silence all around. some 15 years ago. How could he pre- as drivers got older they had more crawl…and the engine finally gave out. “Well, it was worth a try.” stopspare someoneat a Habitat for somethingfor Humanity he build,didn’t oftenhealth went issues. light So in an his eye hands test asand the a convincing Mark to donate a bit of his wheels became separated from the He pulled to the side of the road with But then there was a sound of an ap- know anything about? physical were probably a good idea, proaching car coming from the south. time,So giving he logged his life onto balance… the Internet and pavementbut that didn’t by a explain thin layer the of rest water. of it. “So whatsenior little citizen. momentum he had and came on Charlie’s face. “Then the price is • “We might have to stop,” he said at to a stop. He tried restarting the engine. At first he saw the glow of headlights off checked out the Ontario Ministry of why do they have to be road-tested “You Mark Dalton?” Charlie asked theright,” trees, he then said, the continuingheadlights themselves.to stare at MarkTransportation’s spent the bulk Web of site, his daybut wascutting, un- last.too?” “It’s getting dangerous and I don’t Itin would his thick turn Scottish over, butaccent. wouldn’t catch. Mark through narrowed eyes. “And Mark stepped out onto the road and sandingable to andfind painting anything gingerbread about driver mold li-- wantShe to paused,wreck my as truck…or if thinking. get both“The ofli- Mark“You had don’t a feeling remember the problem me?” wasn’t what about using your truck for the waved his arms. The car stopped, pulled ingcence that renewals would be for going commercial on the outsidedrivers uscence killed.” renewal process has been devel- seriousCharlie – a lookedbad switch, at him or astrangely. clogged test? You’ll be charging me for that, I over. Inside was a pretty blonde-haired eaves65 and of over.the house. Although It was Mark tedious wasn’t work, a opedBut Cindywith the was help silent, and consultationeyes shut and of fuel“Should line –I?” but he knew he wouldn’t be suppose?” butcomputer the time genius, went by he’d quickly used for the him, Internet talk- lipsthe movingpeople everyin the soindustry slightly. to enhance goingMark anywhere smiled and without related the the help story of ofa womanAgain, wearing Mark ahadn’t white topthought and pants.about ingbefore to people and could from walksusually of find life he’dwhat nev he- truck“I said, safety. it’s getting That includes dangerous…” re-assess- mechanic.the early days He pulled of his out truck his drivingcell phone ca- what“Problem?” truck Charlie would use. erwas encounter looking onfor, the so road. his results There were mentAnd of just a person’sthen, there driving was a ability.”break in the toreer call when Bud he’dand beenask him recently to send divorced some- Obviously“Broke down,” the man Mark had said.no truck “And of myhis housewives,puzzling. There students, was a tradesmensection for anddriv- clouds.Mark Light sighed, poured knowing into the he cab probably and the one,and buthe’d when let his he flippedpersonal open appearance his phone cellown phone and would doesn’t have work to outrent here.” one to do eveners renewing another trucktheir driverlicences who over had 80, a drummingwasn’t going of the to getrain anywhere on the roof with eased this theget graphic out of onhand. the screenHe’d lookedtold him likeit was a theShe test. smiled. Renting “You a truckhave was to have a costly the dayand offall andkinds was of helpdragged with outrenewing to the job ex- upwoman. until it was“You just know, a slight a tapping lot of driverssound. “Searchingbum, but Charlie for a network had called connection.” him a los- rightendeavour, provider. especially Here, use when mine.” it would She bypired his wife.licences and booking appoint- Andhave then, to rent moments trucks later,and trailers even that to wastake er.“Dammit!” “Do you rememberhe said. that?” handedbe for just him a herfew cellhours. phone. “I guess I could mentsAt one for point new intests, the day,but nothing the landscap about- gonetheir tests,and sunshine costing thembeamed money down and into a HeCharlie’s looked up eyes and down narrowed the highway as he letMark you usetook my it truck.”and called Bud. A me- erswhat needed Mark to wantedremove a to tree know. stump Mark from theday cab. off work just to keep their licence.” andlooked there Mark was noover. one “Aye, in sight. I remember. And when chanic“For would free?” be on the way. thewondered front yard if he’d and missed Mother something Load was on “Wow,”“That’s unfortunate.”Mark said, taking a peek at heYou thought were a aboutloser then.it, he Yourealized still could that “DoMark you didn’t need like anything?” the word free. He calledthe site, in tobut get to hooked the best up ofto ahis chain abilities and the“And suddenly if a bluedriver sky, has “that been was onweird. the whilebe. I don’the’d beenknow driving, that much he abouthadn’t you.”seen was“Water, doing maybe…if a favour youfor Budhave and some.” that pullhe couldn’tit from the find ground. anything After that,about Mark the Iroad thought 40 foryears sure without we were a problem,going to have why anyoneMark going had considerednorth or south thanking for a very the implied“You’re thatin luck. Bud I’ve would just been return shop the- wasMTO’s a hero licensing and it policywas even regarding easier to old- go toshould stop, orhe be have stopped.” to prove he can still longman time.for shaking On top him of that, up enoughhe was thirstyto get ping.”favour She some handed day. But him as a two-litrefar as Charlie bottle er commercial drivers. drive? That seems like age discrimina- his life back on track, but it didn’t seem was concerned, the use of truck would back to sanding and painting wood. At At last Cindy turned to face him. “It and hungry, and there was nothing in of water, a couple of granola bars and Mark had hoped that the Web site tion to me.” the right time for it now. indeed be free. “Yes,” he said at last. day’s end a coffee truck stopped by and was God,” she said. the truck to eat or drink. All of a sudden, some apples. “Best I can do,” she said. would help him understand the reason- “The ministry regularly reviews the “How much you gonna charge “Free.” donated what was left on the truck to “Huh?” the situation looked dire. If he didn’t pick “No, that’s fantastic,” Mark said. “Just ing behind the policy, but the fact that renewal requirements. If you have con- me?” Charlie nodded. “Good. But you bet- up his load soon – cedar shakes for a what I needed.” everyonehe couldn’t working find anything on the house.– even Markusing cerns“He –answered as you obviously my prayers do for– then safe I “What?” Mark said. He hadn’t ter get a trailer. I can’t exactly drop a had a salami sandwich, a sugar donut passage through troubled times.” distributor in Ontario – that sweetheart “Do you need a cigarette?” the site’s own search engine – made suggest writing to the Ontario thought to charge anything. As far as trailer“Thanks, on the but day I don’t of the smoke.” test if there isn’t andhim athink hot coffee.that perhaps All things the considered, program TransportMark had Minister, to admit or yourthat themember weath of- loadhe knew would he go was to someone doing Bud else a and favour he’d. one attached to the truck now, can I?” it was a pretty satisfying meal. er cleared up all of a sudden, but then have to bobtail back across the country. “Okay, then. I’ll be on my way.” was too new, or the ministry wasn’t provincial parliament.” “Did Bud tell you you’d have to pay?” AndSpeaking just as ofquickly tests, asMark she’d had arrived, been very“Well, proud how of it,did or you it was like just it?” another Cindy again“Write the forecasta letter?” had been for clearer What“He to didn’t, do? He but could I’ve startcalled walking, around but to interacting with Charlie for all of five she was gone. Mark stood dumbfound- askedtax-grab as theykind made of program their way like to MothDrive- skies.“Yes, “It sir.”had to be a coincidence,” he therethe schools were thick and woods some onof themeither chargeside of minutes and he felt like he was the one ed staring down the road thinking it had erClean. Load Thereafter the had job to site be was some all realcleaned rea- said.Mark “God hung can’t up be the concerned phone. ‘So with be the it,’ the$3,000... road and and who that’ knews just for what a refresher kind of who was being tested – most of all his been like a miracle. He’d needed help upsons for driversthe day. were required to jump plightthought of everyMark. person If there’ ons athetest, planet.” then it animalscourse.” lurked within? Or he could set patience. “I’ll make sure,” he sighed at through“Not as all bad sor asts ofI thought hoops itjust would because be.” was“He’s his not,” job she to said make with sure conviction. Charlie up “That’somes reflectors,a lot of money get some.” rest and andlast. there she was, giving him all the theirCindy most smiled. recent “That’s birthday a sense was of fulfilltheir- “Onlypassed with it. those who believe in him and hope“You a fellowbet it’s truckera lot of stoppedmoney, especial-to see if help“Right he’d needed.then! Let’ Hes get paused started.” a moment I ment65th? for Mark having wanted helped to know someone what theyless serve him with their lives.” Mark nodded, hely whenneeded I’ve any been help. driving But neither truck option twice as the realization hit him like some fly- • fortunatewere, so thanhe decided yourself.” to call them up knowing better than to disagree. How- heldas long a lot as of thepromise. snot-nosed boy who’ll ing– Markalligator. Dalton Then he looked returns up into next the n andMark ask. knew she was right on some everMark it methappened, Charlie inthe the roads parking were lot dry of be“How teaching the hell me am has I goingbeen toon get the myself plan- nightmonth sky and in thought Part 3about of God. Licence level,It tookbut he a wasn’twhile aboutbefore to hegive got her con the- nowa truck and yard the outdriving by the was airpor easy.t. Charlie outet.” of this mess?” he said aloud. Renewed. satisfactionnected to aof human knowing being it. “No, who I thought could was sitting in his pick-up• at the far end HeMark thought was awareabout ofit athe moment, insult, but then he Did you know that there are two full-length answer his questions, but when the of the yard and when Mark pulled in, couldn’t help but smile. Charlie was novels featuring Mark Dalton?: Mark Dalton I’d be a lot more sore.” Mark dropped Cindy off at a truck yard looked skyward. Did you know that there are two full-length right“And woman you’re finallynot?” came on the line onhe thewasted outskirts no timeof Vancouver. getting out He ofstuck his such“Why a character not?” he. Who said. else Then, could “God, insult I “SmartDriver” and Mark Dalton “Troubleload.” novels featuring Mark Dalton?: Mark Dalton she“No, was I’m both exhausted.” pleasant and profession- aroundtruck and long hopping enough into to makeMother sure Load. she knowsomeone I’m notwho a wasreligious doing man, something but I’ve For your free copy register with ecoENERGY for al. He scaled the cab so easily and nice for them? “Bud asked me to do “SmartDriver” and Mark Dalton “Troubleload.” • did indeed have a rig and a load wait- always tried to do the right thing and Fleets (Fleet Smart) at fleetsmart.gc.ca. Both “How can I help you?” slipped in the open passenger side this. I wasn’t going to charge you any- For your free copy register with ecoENERGY for A day later they were halfway through ing for her and used the time to figure that’s got to count for something…I know are also available in audio book format. theMark Rockies decided when toa thunderstormstart slowly. “Yeah, broke outdoor her so pay effor fortlessly, the tripMark west. would Then have he Cindy’sthing.” praying for me, so I was won- Fleets (Fleet Smart) at fleetsmart.gc.ca my dad is a truck driver and he’s 64 never have guessed the man was a What passed for a smile appeared

The continuing adventures of Mark Dalton: Owner/Operator brought to you by MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA (CANADA) INC.

pg 60 tn dec v3.indd 1 07/11/11 4:36 PM December 2011 TRUCK WEST Page 37 opinion people Cavalier Transportation Group has at the end of 2011 in order to devote appointed Rick Brooks to vice-presi- his full attention to personal and Fighting for your beliefs dent of business development. Operat- family business concerns, the company ing out of Buffalo, N.Y., officials said announced. Michael Schmidt. Remember that Brooks will be working closely with Pines’ responsibilities will be name. He’s taken up a fight that many the company’s US marketing partners, taken on by other members of the believe he can’t win, a fight that ulti- Publisher’s managing select corporate accounts Great Dane executive team. Dean mately may cost him his life. Comment and developing new opportunities Engelage, executive vice-president Mr. Schmidt has, according to the for Cavalier, including the continued of strategic planning, will assume re- Ontario Court of Justice, broken the Rob Wilkins growth of its domestic US logistics sponsibility for the sales organization, law. He’s been convicted of 15 provin- business. and Rick Mullininx, executive vice- cial offences all related to what many that requires countless hours of nego- Brooks recently held the position president of engineering, will oversee consider to be Mother Nature’s most tiating and stick handling. of senior vice-president of sales for a the warranty and quality departments. wholesome food: milk. Mr. Schmidt believes that people leading expedited carrier. Over his ca- In addition, Sam Gupta has been pro- You see, Mr. Schmidt is a dairy should have the right to make their reer, he has held senior management moted to executive vice-president of farmer who has been giving his fel- own choices in the foods they eat. roles with USFreightways, CP Express manufacturing. low co-op members (who technically That sounds like it should be a given and Intercity Truck Lines. Brooks will • own part of his herd) unpasteurized in a country like Canada, land of the be reporting directly to Brian Ledson, Michelin North America has a new milk and that is what has gotten him free. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear executive vice-president of sales and chairman and president in the form into a heap of trouble. The law states to be the case. marketing for the Cavalier Transpor- of 29-year Michelin veteran Pete that anyone selling milk is required to This fundamental fight over pro- tation Group. Selleck. He succeeds Richard “Dick” have it pasteurized for safety reasons. choice has been rearing its head a tad • Wilkerson, who is retiring to become Mr. Schmidt doesn’t think he’s bro- too often lately. We’ve seen the advent Douglas Harrison has been named chairman emeritus. Selleck assumes ken any law. He’s asked Dalton Mc- of speed limiters and more than likely president of Day and Ross General responsibility for coordinating all Mi- Guinty to listen to his side of the story EOBR legislation is just around the Freight. Harrison was previously presi- chelin activities in Canada, Mexico but the Premier refuses. After numer- corner. South of the border, CSA is dent of Calyx Transportation Group. and the US. He returns to Greenville, ous futile attempts to set up a meeting, now the law. Prior to that he was president of Ack- S.C., from the Michelin Group’s glob- the Durham farmer decided his only The argument can be made that lands-Grainger, an industrial supply al headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, recourse was to begin a hunger strike. these were all mandated for safety rea- company, and vice-president and man- France, where he has served as presi- That strike began in early October and sons. Maybe so, but none of you had a aging director at Ryder Integrated Lo- dent of Michelin’s global Truck Tires was still on when I wrote this column choice. Either you comply or get out gistics, where he held responsibility for division since January 2006. on Nov. 1. of the business. Ryder’s Canadian and European logis- • He’s bound and determined to get Mr. Schmidt is fighting for pro- tics organizations. Mark Pillow has been named director the powers that be to listen…even if choice and deserves to be heard. I He has served on a number of cor- of business solutions for Goodyear’s it means losing his life in the process. hope our Premier takes the time out porate boards and is currently a mem- commercial tire systems division. In If our beloved Premier doesn’t al- of his busy schedule to save this man’s ber of the board of directors of Hori- his new role, Pillow will oversee Good- low him the time to be seen, and this life. All it will take is a few minutes; zon Utilities, the Conference Board year’s business solutions portfolio, in- gentleman does end up making the ul- about the same time it takes him to get of Canada and Mohawk College of cluding the company’s fleetHQ pro- timate sacrifice because of his convic- his hair cut. n Applied Arts and Technology. gram, on-highway operations, and tions, it would be a shameful example • retreaded tire business. Pillow most of what’s wrong with our country. – Rob Wilkins is the publisher of Jim Pines, executive vice-president of recently served as director of commer- Accessibility to an elected govern- Truck West and can be reached at sales and operations at Great Dane cial systems and off-highway tires for ment official shouldn’t be something 416-510-5123. Trailers, will step down from his role Goodyear Canada. n

List of Advertisers

A.C.T.A...... 16 Aaval.Technologies...... 22 Alberta.Pacific.Forest...... 33 Arnold.Bros..Transport...... 21 Bison.Transport...... 10 Careers...... 10,18,21,29,32,33,38 Challenger...... 29 Chevron.Global.Lubricants...... 4. Child Find/Missing Kids...... 23 Crossword Puzzle & Solution...... 14,33 De-On.Supply...... 13 Fountain.Tire...... 5 Freightliner...... 30. H2Blue/Wakefield.Canada...... 24 Husky.Oil...... 17 HWT...... 18 Imperial.Oil...... 20 Exceptional, high International.Trucks...... 2 Irving.Oil...... 6 quality used trucks Mack.Canada...... 40 Michelin...... 9 Penske...... 37 • All types of used trucks, tractors and trailers Private Fleet Research Study...... 26 Prolam...... 39 • Maintenance history available Shell.Canada...... 11,31 The.Rosedale.Group...... 32 • Online inventory updated daily Trans.X.Group.Of.Companies...... 38 Truck West -DriverLink...... 35 Truck West- Subscription...... 15 Truck West –TruckOps...... 23 gopenske.com/ad/tw TruckPro...... 8 UFA...... 7 855-237-1173 Yokohama...... 19

pg 37 tw dec v2.indd 37 09/11/11 3:06 PM Page 38 TRUCK WEST December 2011 TSQ MILTON, Ont. – British Colum- bia’s recent changes to its provincial nominee program (which Truck Stop Should trucking provides accelerated permanent companies be recruiting resident status to qualified workers Question from other parts of the world) to in- from overseas? clude long-haul truck drivers as a permanent part of the program has adam ledlow brought a touchy subject to light ? Neil for the industry: should Canadian are unemployed and properly Vlatz carriers be recruiting drivers from train them to be safe drivers,” he overseas? told Truck West. While some argue that such “They could put people in their programs are a necessity to fill own country back in employment think there’s any need to bring any- empty seats with qualified driv- and work trucking into the peoples’ one else from anywhere else.” ers, others are calling the prac- lifestyles.” • tice a raw deal and one that takes • jobs away from Canada’s work- Mike Neil Vlatz, an owner/operator force. We dropped by the Fifth Lynch with Black Pearl Express in Straf- Wheel Truck Stop in Milton, Ont. fordville, Ont., echoes Lynch’s to ask drivers if Canadian truck- sentiments, saying we should be ing companies should be search- recruitment practices – especially looking for skilled workers in our ing for drivers in other parts of when both Canada and the US own backyard. the world. have so many unemployed look- “I think that there is enough job • ing for work. loss here and that there would be Tom Mike Lynch of LCL Bulk Trans- “The US has a 9% unemploy- enough people here,” he said. “If Beggs port in Green Bay, Wis., says he’s ment rate and I think that they you want to qualify anyone then in not favour of such far-reaching could retrain these people that get people from over here. I don’t

Tom Beggs, a driver with Ulch Transport in St. Mary’s, Ont., dis- agrees, saying the mass exodus of older drivers from the industry is going to require seeking out talent wherever carriers can find it. “I don’t think that there are enough people around the rest of Canada that can fill the jobs for Canadian truck driving,” he says. “There are so many people, especially in the truck driving business, that are coming up for retirement, and there are not enough people to fill those jobs. If they have to bring them out of another country to fill them, fine by me.” •

Martin Domingues

Martin Domingues, a driver with Mesilla Valley Transporta- tion out of El Paso, Texas, says for those who are hard workers, they shouldn’t feel threatened by workers from overseas getting trucking jobs. “I think that for the people that are lazy here and don’t want to work, it’s going to be harder for them to get a job, and that is why they are taking people from other places to get the jobs because obviously they don’t want to work and just (want to) collect government benefits. If you are a hard worker then you have nothing to worry about,” he says. “Trucking isn’t a job for everyone; it’s a hard life, but it’s good pay.” n

– Do you have a topic idea for the Truck Stop Question? Con- tact Adam Ledlow on Twitter at Twitter.com/adamledlow or by e- mail at adam@transportationme- dia.ca and we may feature your question in an upcoming issue of Truck West.

pg 38 tw dec v2.indd 38 09/11/11 10:38 AM on top, under: Keep MoISture AWAY.

Protect your floors from the effects of weathering, surface wear and delamination with Prolam’s innovative over- and undercoating processes to help get more life out of your trailer from inside out.

Prolam’s Waxin is an innovative P•u•R is a hot melt polyurethane process that incorporates paraffin wax reactive undercoating that outperforms into the hardwood surface of the floor, traditional water-based paint coatings, generally applied to the first eight feet offering the best protection against from the rear door, making it the best breakdowns associated with intense defense against weathering effects water spray and road debris. and surface-wearing.

For more on how to protect your floors with the ultimate in moisture protection, visit www.prolamfloors.com or call 800.883.3975.

100% SFI Certified Floors AvailableOnly From Prolam

Prolam.indd 1 13/01/11 2:11 PM

PROL-1650,Waxin_PuR_TruckNews.indd 1 13/01/11 11:28 AM LIGHT, STRONG AND EFFICIENT

ADVANTAGEADVANTAGE #87#87 THE MACK® PINNACLE™ RIDES ON A LIGHTWEIGHT-YET-STRONG CHASSIS AND IS DRIVEN BY AN MP™ ENGINE ENGINEERED WITH AN INCREDIBLE POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO TO HELP YOU MAXIMIZE PAYLOAD.

SEE ALL THE ADVANTAGES AT MACKPINNACLE.COM

MCKTRK_6436_BuiltPinDC_TNTW.indd 1 4/12/10 1:41 PM Mack Canada.indd 1 12/04/10 2:21 PM