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pg 1, 6 tw mar v2 2/17/10 11:31 AM Page 1 March 2010 Volume 21, Issue 3 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com Rules changed for Sask. LCVs REGINA, Sask. – Beginning in ear- ly February,Saskatchewan has made changes that have loosened the reg- ulatory chain on long combination vehicles (LCVs) and improved har- monization with Alberta. Effective Feb. 1, turnpike dou- bles, triple-trailers and Queen City Triples can be operated at 100 km/h, up from 90 km/h, on designated four-lane highways. LCV operators no longer need to monitor speeds using tacographs or other devices. Trucking compa- nies are still required to make a “reasonable effort” to monitor adverse weather along transport routes. Later this year, B-train gross vehi- cle weights will be increased to 63,500 kgs from their current cap of 62,500 kgs. The changes came as the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure shifted some of its regulatory components to Saskatchewan Government Insur- ance and also as a result of a recent- ly-signed memorandum of under- standing with the province of BACK ON TRACK: The National Professional Truck Driving Championships, derailed last year by a slumping economy, are already being planned by an organizing committee in Manitoba who assure the competition will be held. Alberta. The Saskatchewan Truck- ing Association (STA) applauded the changes. “Our industry’s relationship with the ministry continues to grow,” said Start your engines! STA president,Glen Ertell.“There’s a constructive dialogue going on here and these changes show they’re National Driving Championships to return after one-year hiatus listening.” The changes were also lauded by By Jim Bray are back on track for 2010. say it’s full speed ahead anyway, the Alberta Motor Transport Associ- WINNIPEG, Man. – After an And while the financial world with things looking good so far. ation and Manitoba Trucking Asso- economy-inflicted hiatus of a still isn’t trucking along at a speed “We started getting the ball ciation. The western provinces are year, the National Professional most people would like, the 2010 rolling on this even before we seeking to harmonize LCV regula- Truck Driving Championships event’s organizers in Winnipeg Continued on page 6 tions across the Prairies. I There’s a new engine in town InsideInside This Issue... Mark Dalton O/O • Trucks for sale: Is being an owner/operator in your future? If so, the time may be right to consider buying a good used truck. Prices have never been better, some experts say. Page 8 • Border battles: The owner of the Ambassador Bridge has ramped up his battle against a government-controlled second crossing. Page 10 • Over-the-road: A professional over-the-road driver shares his perspectives in a new column. Page 14 See page 16 • End of an era?: An outspoken Navistar executive declares the end of the ‘long and tall’ truck era. Page 22 Page 28 Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau To view list of advertisers see pg. 27 E-mail Jim Bray at [email protected] or call 403-453-5558 PAP Registration No. 11065 PM40069240 What’s inside a Bridgestone radial? Experts – with REAL Answers Tires are just the beginning Wherever you are, there’s an experienced Bridgestone representative to help you get the most from your truck tire investment. Ask your dealer or truckstop what else choosing Bridgestone can do for you. BridgestoneTrucktires.com Bridgestone.indd 1 11/02/10 11:42 AM pg 03 tw mar 2/17/10 10:16 AM Page 3 March 2010 TRUCK WEST Page 3 group is just asking guys to respect Down in the dumps one another out there and demon- strate a level of professionalism and March 2010, Volume 21, Issue 3 I wrote in a recent blog on courtesy that seems to have been Canada Post Canadian Publications Editorial Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069240 Trucknews.com that it seems more waning in recent years. “Return Postage Guaranteed” difficult than ever to make a decent Comment There is a precedent for this. The 12 Concorde Pl., Suite 800, Toronto, Ont., M3C 4J2 Sales: 416-510-6892 / Editorial: 416-510-6896 living driving dump truck. Truckers Association of Nova Scotia Fax: 416-510-5143 The observation stems from the James (TANS) is a pretty effective little Truck West, USPS 017-178 is published monthly by growing number of calls I field from Menzies industry group out east that looks BIG Magazines L.P., a div. of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd., a leading Canadian information dump truck operators who say after its members and has even company with interests in daily and community they’ve been forced to park or sell convinced government to agree that newspapers and B-2-B information services. US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd, their rigs since rates have been driv- my there has cooled off, the overca- a certain percentage of trucks on Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals Postage en down to unsustainable levels. pacity there is as bad as in other any taxpayer-funded job site will be- Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US postmaster: Send address changes to Truck West, PO Box 1118, There’s little I can do for these folks, provinces and, of course, cue the long to independents. Niagara Falls, NY 14304. besides lend an empathetic ear. rate-cutting. Nova Scotia dump truckers are SENIOR PUBLISHER – Rob Wilkins ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER – Kathy Penner One such owner/operator was Overcapacity and rate-cutting is not without their problems, but EXECUTIVE EDITOR – James Menzies Gord Balford from the Barrie area. not a problem that’s unique to con- there’s a level of respect among MANAGING EDITOR – Adam Ledlow He said he has parked his Western struction truckers, of course. You’ll them that’s almost non-existent in CIRCULATION MANAGER – Vesna Moore CIRCULATION ASSISTANT – Anita Singh Star gravel truck and sold his pup find evidence of it in every segment many other parts of the country. CREATIVE– Carolyn Brimer, Beverley Richards trailer because there are simply too of an unregulated industry. Singer says TANS is the model V.P. PUBLISHING – Alex Papanou many guys running their trucks for However, it seems more cutthroat ACTA aspires to. PRESIDENT – Bruce Creighton Circulation inquiries: 416-442-5600 ext. 3553 $70/hr and too many customers ex- in the construction business than We wish Ron and the ACTA well Change of address: Please include subscription ploiting the situation. Some compa- elsewhere. I can’t help but feel dis- in their endeavour to raise the pro- number from mailing label. I Subscription rates: Canada (Includes GST) – nies – including major corporations heartened by the current state of the fessionalism of their industry. One year $40.60; U.S. – one year $66.95; – are taking months to pay drivers. construction trucking industry. foreign – one year $66.95 Send subscription orders, address changes (incl. mailing label from Balford had just recently received a Fortunately, there are those out – James Menzies can be reached by latest issue) to above address. On occasion, our subscription list is made available to organizations whose products or services may be cheque in mid-January for work he there who are willing to work to get phone at (416) 510-6896 or by of interest to readers. If you prefer not to receive such information, please write to us. Please allow 8 weeks for changes or corrections. completed in August. their industry back on track. Ron e-mail at [email protected]. PAP Registration No. 11065 The sad thing is, take a look at the Singer of the Alberta Construction You can also follow him on Twitter We acknowledge the financial support of the equipment you see on and around Trucking Association (ACTA) at Twitter.com/JamesMenzies. Government of Canada, through the Canada Magazine Fund, towards our editorial costs. construction sites these days. The has been work- We acknowledge the financial support of the nice iron is getting parked because ing doggedly to Government of Canada, through the Publications the rates are being undercut by have every dump Assistance Program, towards our mailing costs. someone with a 1979 beater that truck operator in spews black smoke at every upshift. that province sign The extent of the problems facing on to a Code Advertising inquiries gravel haulers and construction of Ethics and truckers varies by region. One visi- Standards that Kathy Penner: 416-510-6892 tor to my blog commented that in would encourage Fax: (416) 510-5143 the Ottawa area, a record snowfall ethical business had opportunists running out to buy practices. vocational trucks for snow removal Singer feels contracts. Come summer, the rate that if everyone wars were in full gear as those truck- in the business ers struggled to keep their trucks unites, they can working. Follow that up with a mild force some real winter and – well, you know what change when it Rob Wilkins Kathy Penner Publisher Associate Publisher happens. comes to rates (416) 510-5123 (416) 510-6892 Out in Alberta, as recently as a and working con- rwilkins@ kpenner@ few years ago you couldn’t help but ditions. We’re not trucknews.com trucknews.com make money with a gravel truck. talking about The business was so lucrative, in union organiza- fact, that people from neighbouring tion and we’re provinces flooded to Alberta to cash not talking about in on the boom. Now that the econo- price-fixing – his Don Besler Brenda Grant three or lower; 45% say their satis- National Sales Mgr.