Blogs
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Mudslinging over speed-limiter debate has gone too far
What has been most disappointing during the past couple of years is seeing the discussion about speed limiters become polarized and degenerate to mudslinging. How else can I categorize last month’s remarks from Joanne Ritchie, head of the Owner-Operators Business…
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Rolling protests are not the answer
As I write this, hundreds of dump truck operators are planning rolling protests throughout the GTA. They plan to slow down traffic on well-travelled routes to bring attention to their concerns: stagnant rates; dangerous working conditions; and escalating costs. While…
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Understanding the science behind global warming
I would like to spend my next few blogs discussing the risks and opportunities presented by the need to move to more environmentally sustainable supply chains. But first I want to spend a few moments discussing some of the basics…
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Alberta continues to hold out on speed limiters, hours-of-service
The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) must have been mildly disappointed last week when their keynote speaker and provincial Transport Minister showed no interest in following the leads of Ontario and Quebec and introducing legislation to mechanically limit truck speeds.…
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Fuel costs having a trickle-down effect on store prices
I stopped by my local Tim Horton’s the other day and noticed my coffee had increased in price from $1.56 to $1.65. A sign in the window said the price increase was due to increased operating costs. It didn’t specify…
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Competing engine technologies will offer fleets a choice
With the next round of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission standards for heavy-duty engines on the horizon, the battle lines have clearly been drawn. EPA2010 emissions standards call for further reductions in NOx, and there are two vastly different approaches…
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Speed limiters: Non-compliance by O/Os may be costly for carriers
So here’s another twist to the speed limiter issue which may not have received due consideration when the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) was developing the proposal. According to a Ministry of Transportation official, it’s likely that violations of the speed…
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It’s good to finally hear from you!
For weeks now, I’ve been wondering if anybody reads this blog. I posted an entry on speed limiters, and that’s usually guaranteed to get a reaction out of our readers. But nothing but crickets responded. This morning, I received an…
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Taking a position on Ontario’s speed limiter legislation
As expected, the Ontario government finally tabled legislation that would require all trucks operating in the province to be mechanically limited to 105 km/h. The writing has been on the wall since the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) first introduced the…
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Want to clear the air? Show us the money
I just returned from the National Truck Equipment Associations’ Work Truck Show in Hotlanta, Ga. (The city failed to live up to that nickname during my stay, by the way – I even noticed a few snowflakes on Wednesday morning).…
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Cost increases are becoming a worrisome and long-lasting trend
Just received the latest financial statistics on the nation’s motor carriers, and, frankly, they are worrisome. The trend towards costs growing faster than revenues, which first appeared back in 2006, continues with a vengeance. Operating revenues for the nation’s top…
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Is B.C.’s “carbon” tax little more than a thinly-veiled fuel tax?
While environmental groups laud B.C. for becoming the first North American jurisdiction to announce a full-fledged “carbon” tax, the trucking industry must feel like it will be shouldering an unfair share of the burden. If approved by the legislature, diesel…
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Stability systems: Is the CTA initiative a moot point?
The CTA is forging ahead with its attempt to have stability systems made standard on all new Class 8 trucks sold in Canada. Frankly, I think it’s a policy that has a lot of merit. But I hope the CTA…
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HDAW Report: Why fleets buy
Between them, they make buying decisions for more than 100,000 vehicles: Sid Gooch, FedEx Express; Kevin Tomlinson, South Shore Transport; Steve Duley, Schneider National; and Carl Lyth, Pepsi Americas. So it stands to reason, that any parts supplier or distributor…
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HDAW Report: The risks of carrying non-brand name parts
If you’re a parts distributor, you’ve likely been there. Across the desk sits a smooth-talking salesman who’s got a slick PowerPoint presentation showcasing a new product that’s going to revolutionize the industry. Maybe it’s a friction product, with stopping distance…