Most of Doug McGowan’s loads of propane have been destined for the ski hills of southern B.C. this winter, but the Covid-19 outbreak ended that demand a month early – despite this season’s record snowfalls.

The truck stop facilities began to shut down while he was on the road.

“I plan certain stops on the road to augment my packed meals,” he says. “Once things started closing, I really wanted to keep my meals in reserve and see what I could get on the road still. The help was excellent. One lady had closed early but had left her door open, and she was kind enough to warm me up a hot sandwich. Another owner had his drive-thru and counter open, and thanked me for what I was doing and for coming in.

“I thanked him back just as warmly.”

He says Keenan Advantage Group and Westcan Bulk Transport have both been prepared and open with their communication since the Covid-19 outbreak began. Contact with shippers, plant staff, office staff, and service shops has all been locked down.

“I have an extensive driver network, and I’ll say they are a bunch of positive folks,” McGowan says, adding a message to “all the drivers that keep this continent rolling.”

• Coronavirus Chronicles tell the trucking industry’s personal stories from the front lines of Covid-19. They are drawn from the ongoing coverage at www.trucknews.com.