Solving the driver shortage crisis is easier than it seems

I have a secret. I know the answers to one of the biggest problems facing the trucking industry. I don’t claim to be any smarter than any of my industry colleagues; hell, on a good day I may attain the status of average intelligence. I...

Common sense ways to keep traffic flowing smoothly

I spend a lot of my driving time in the dark. Not the usual ‘Need to know’ kind of in the dark, but actual darkness. I’ve noticed a few things on the less crowded roads that could make a big difference to both road safety, the...

Tuning out isn’t always the best solution

I have been reading a variety of blog posts this summer regarding citizenship, community, and democracy. Most of these blog posts have been investigating the reasons why fewer and fewer of us participate in the democratic process and the...

No reason to jump off a cliff

Recently, the famed sci-fi author, Ray Bradbury, passed away. Everyone who ever took Grade 10 English had to read The Martian Chronicles. I am not a big science fiction fan but I remember I liked that book. In one of the obituaries that...

Something new for the small guys?

Every now and again something curious pops up in the news, something that is a bit of a head-scratcher. Late in June one of those items came across my desk, and I was curious enough to do a little research to find out more.

Too hot to handle

It sure has been a hot, dry summer – and the weather man promises that it’s going to stay that way a bit longer. Since you can’t spend your days chilling at the beach or a pool, be cool and monitor your body temperature to...

Good value or cheap service?

You get what you pay for. The tough part is looking at a price tag and trying to decide if what you’re getting is a good value or just plain cheap.

Congrats to our O/O of the Year

The 2012 Owner/Operator of the Year is Harvey McDonald. I had the pleasure of presenting Harvey the award along with our sponsors, Goodyear, Castrol and Mack during the latest edition of the Fergus Truck Show. Harvey won the award with some...

No good deed goes unpunished

When I was a kid, I was a bit of a do-gooder. More than once, my “good deeds” would backfire and I’d come home wailing because things hadn’t worked out the way I planned. My mother would often quip that “no good...

Detroit transmission dazzles in debut

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. – Daimler Trucks North America has taken the wraps off its highly anticipated automated manual transmission, showcasing it to trade press editors during a recent test drive.

Human traffic on the road: Part 3

The story so far:Mark gets a regular run between Toronto and Montreal that gives him two round-trips every three days. He ends up staying overnight at a truck stop near Kingston once every three days and notices the lot lizards working the lot....

Total Quality Logistics contest looks to make trucker’s dreams come true

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is looking to make the dreams of one lucky truck driver come true with the launch of its Drivers Dreams program.

Special message from BCTA chief for National Trucking Week

TORONTO, Ont. -- With National Trucking Week coming up next week, the British Columbia Trucking Association’s president and CEO Louis Yako has released a special message for drivers, old and new.

North American surface trade up 6.6% year-over-year in June

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Trade using surface transportation between Canada, the US and Mexico was 6.6% higher in June than in June 2011, totalling $82.6 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of...

PACT-Ottawa launches feedback survey for TruckSTOP campaign

OTTAWA, Ont. -- PACT-Ottawa is launching a feedback survey to determine the effectiveness of its TruckSTOP campaign, an awareness initiative that provides truck drivers and frequent travellers with information to help identify suspected cases...