Lessons from the best in the biz

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Just being nominated as a Best Fleet to Drive For and then going through the extensive evaluation process is an eye-opening process of self-awareness for fleets that have had the opportunity. Mark Murrell, president of...

Drivers need to actively participate in the rulemaking process

We’re now into our sixth year since the amended Canadian hours-of-service regulations came into effect on Jan. 1, 2007. Remember those heady days? I remember being impressed by the sleep research that had been done leading up to those...

Making better use of the drivers we have

First of all, I want to say hello to my first ever fan! I was in Regina waiting for a truck to pull off the dock so I could back in and get my load off. The driver of that truck, a flat-top Lowmax Western Star from B.C. came over and said he...

For the health of it

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Siphiwe Baleka was a world-class athlete before deciding to embark on a career as a professional driver with Prime Inc.

On the road to a berry good summer

Whether you like berries fresh from the field, sprinkled on your cereal, or blended into a smoothie, now is the season to enjoy the health benefits of these tasty fruits. Raspberries, currants, loganberries, strawberries and blueberries are all...

Talking ’bout the next generation

Can’t we all – as in motor carriers and shippers – just get along? Well, who says we can’t? In fact, despite popular folklore, many successful companies these days are pretty sophisticated in dealing with competing...

Get ready

Everybody remembers too well what trucking companies went through lately, specifically in 2008-2009. How many new enemies would I make by saying I feel strongly that the next wave of the economic slowdown is coming, and soon?

Understanding and managing your insurance costs

In an article in the May issue, Truck News brought to light a number of challenges that owner/operators are facing when it comes to securing insurance at reasonable rates. After reading that article, we felt that it was important to try to...

Coping with ruptured eardrums

The tympanic membrane, more commonly known as the eardrum, is a thin layer of tissue that separates your outer ear from the middle ear. Although fairly uncommon, a ruptured or perforated eardrum can occur. The good news is that in most cases a...

Regular performance reviews enhance driver behaviours

Every driver’s seat offers the promise of an open road, but it can still be an isolated workplace. Ask any long-haul trucker who leaves a fleet yard for weeks at a time, receiving little or no feedback other than e-mails, text messages...

Incorporation: A tale of two circles

Whenever I’m asked to explain what a corporation is, I start by drawing two circles on my notepad. In one circle, I write the person’s name, in the other, I write “corp.” It’s a simple way to illustrate the point...

Good times and some good causes

Every two years, associate publisher Kathy Penner and I strap on our lobster bibs and head east to the Atlantic Truck Show. It represents a great opportunity to get reacquainted with our East Coast friends as well as to sample some of the...

Reloaded

LISLE, Ill. – Navistar International has started a new chapter in its long history, rolling out the very first MaxxForce 13 engines with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in its best-selling ProStar tractor.

A new alternative

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Driving along I-80 just outside Sacramento, I’ve got the window down and my ears strained. I’m in a Volvo VNL day cab belonging to Texas-based Martin Transport with a D13 engine under the hood, mated to an...

The Blame Game: Part 1

His adventure as a livestock hauler over and done with, Mark gave Bud a call, looking for a new load.