John G Smith
John G. Smith is Newcom Media's vice-president - editorial, and the editorial director of its trucking publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, and Transport Routier. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.
Clear the Way: Bypass programs perfect carrot to offset enforcement stick
I was introduced to the concept of a hospital triage by watching episodes of MASH in the 1970s and early '80s. Centered around the happenings of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, the show's TV doctors were regularly seen moving through the latest batch of wounded soldiers, deciding who could wait and who needed immediate attention. (They also looked for new ways to torment Frank Burns, but I digress.)
IN PRINT — A Sense of Scale: The push for more bypass programs is on
Time is money when stuck in the lineups for roadside inspection facilities. Drivewyze, the Canadian maker of an app used to bypass these ever-dreaded "coops", has clocked a typical delay at three minutes and 37 seconds per truck - or about $12 per visit when considering fuel, labor and downtime. Those who are actually pulled in for an inspection can expect higher costs than that.
IN PRINT — Better Safe than Sorry: Safety procedures are there to protect, not annoy
Tire irons and jacks are not worth a human life, yet a tire service technician in Whitehorse, Yukon died while retrieving his tools from under a truck he had been working on. The incident happened back in 2011, but it has stuck with me for years because the death was needless and could have easily been prevented - and also because I can't count how many times I have backed a truck out of a shop without first checking to make sure nobody was beneath it.
RCMP seek truck shooting witnesses
CHILLIWACK, BC - One man is charged with attempted murder after shots were fired at vehicles on BC highways 16, 37 and 97 over a 14-hour period that began Friday, March 24 at 8:30 pm -- and police are looking for further witnesses. Shots were reported in communities including Houston, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Clucuz Lake, Prince George, Quesnel and 100 Mile House. While there were no injuries during that initial shooting spree, bullets did hit radiators and windows. Most of the shootings involved commercial vehicles, although one passenger vehicle was hit as well, RCMP Staff Sergeant Annie Linteau told Today's Trucking. There have been 22 reports of shot trucks overall.
U.S. rates steady despite volume increases: DAT
BEAVERTON, OR - While U.S. truck volumes increased in many van lanes last week, rates are holding steady because of available capacity, DAT RateView reports in its latest findings. Combined with lower fuel surcharges, van and reefer rates actually dipped a penny a mile. Average flatbed rates rose a mere cent on their own.
Quebec renews support for natural gas trucks
MONTREAL, QC - Quebec's latest budget has renewed the Ecocamionnage (green trucking) program until 2020 and offers more financial support to those who want to fuel up with natural gas. And $20.5 million continues to be available to expand the fueling network.
