KIM RICHARDSON ON THE DRIVER TRAINING PROBLEM

If you’ve been reading Truck News in recent months, you know there are some strong opinions out there on the current state of training for entry-level drivers in Ontario. Some have opined it’s time for mandatory training standards....

There’s nothing quite like a truck convoy

 In trucking, there’s no better symbol of unity than a slow-rolling truck convoy. There are two types of ceremonial convoys: those that celebrate a cause; and those somber rolling tributes to a fallen trucker.

Expect more, again

Ten years ago, when I first wrote in this space for Truck News after being appointed editorial director, I wrote that “In a business climate as turbulent and as quickly changing as today’s, to stand still is to fall behind.”

Border skirmish

BLAINVILLE, Que. -- Cats and dogs soaked the track at the Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Test Centre in Blainville, Que. as Performance Innovation Transport (PIT) launched its Energotest trials Sept. 11. The research yielded to strict SAE fuel...

New record set for Ontario Convoy

PARIS, Ont. -- The Ontario leg of the World’s Largest Truck Convoy lived up to its name Sept. 14, with truckers, law enforcement officers, Special Olympians and other industry friends gathering at the Paris Fairgrounds to celebrate...

Ontario’s entry-level driver training industry is a mess

CALEDONIA, Ont. -- A debate has been raging within the pages of Truck News in recent months, about the need for heightened standards within the entry-level commercial driver training industry.

Can a high-tech wrist band measure driver fatigue and predict crashes?

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Managing fatigue has always been an issue in the trucking industry, all the more so as the professional driver population ages.

Five steps toward easier tax payments

I hope you had a busy summer of running hard and avoiding all those vacationers in their overloaded, pillow-crammed-in-the-back-window vehicles.

A focus on safety ratings can deliver real financial benefits

Carrier safety ratings create a minimum barrier of entry for anyone who wants to run a truck fleet. At the very least, a poor score – caused by factors such as driving violations or equipment defects - will trigger added attention from...

Solving the driver shortage: a game of inches

One man practicing sportsmanship is better than 100 preaching it; so said Knute Rockne, the Notre Dame coaching legend, who went on to be one of the greatest college coaches of all time. His point was that when it comes to inspiring others and...

Matching the right driver with the right fleet

During the PMTC’s annual conference in June of this year, we had the opportunity to examine some best practices in the area of hiring and managing drivers, and we followed that up by celebrating the induction of some true driving...

The bright side of fall vegetables

The beautiful colours of fall have started to warn us that winter is on its way. Fortunately, the fall season also provides us with many colourful vegetables that can help boost our immune system to fight the colds and flu winter will bring.

Running south has become a less appealing option for drivers

The demand for drivers is concentrated in the long-haul category and US-bound drivers are particularly sought after. One of the main attractions to this profession is the opportunity to travel. Getting paid to be a professional tourist is a...

Heath and safety regulations run amok

On a recent trip out to Vancouver I was left shaking my head in dismay. For once it wasn’t the behaviour of one of my colleagues at fault, which is a refreshing change, it has to be said. The subject of my disapproval this time is health...

Better brakes, bigger decisions

Braking systems on today’s heavy trucks are better than they’ve ever been, and maybe ever will be. Advances in drum brake designs and the increased penetration of air disc brakes into the North American market, were two of the...