Autumn brings seemingly annual diesel crunch to west

EDMONTON, Alta. -- Diesel fuel was in shorter supply than normal across the west as September rolled over into October. And it looks as if the crunch may be an annual occurrence for diesel supplier Suncor and its Petro-Canada wing.

Food drive wheels into Western Canada

CALGARY, Alta. -- In the two months before the holiday season, 18 Wheels of Christmas is rallying to collect donations in support of local food banks.

Keeping your liver fit and trim

We often link liver disease to excessive drinking. However, the most common chronic liver disease in North America, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), is experienced by people who drink little or no alcohol. With this condition, because...

Longer term vision for truck weights and dimensions standards needed

A way back in February 1988, in a galaxy far, far away the Canadian Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation & Highway Safety of the day, jointly endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve uniformity in regulations...

Lessons learned as an owner of a small fleet

I sometimes receive e-mails asking for advice on how to start a trucking company. That was covered in the first three Truck News columns I wrote, so we can’t rehash it again.

The importance of a proper pre-tip inspection

Here are a couple of questions for you drivers: How thorough is your pre-trip inspection? Do you feel it is a necessary and important part of your daily routine? Why or why not?

Remote diagnostics is the real deal

 Fleets and owner/operators have had legitimate reason over the past few years to complain about a costly increase in unplanned downtime. Most of the problems can be traced back to the emissions systems installed on 2007 and later model...

Fuel surcharges: Is there a better way?

Researching and writing about fuel prices and their impact on transportation costs since fuel prices initially started to spike back in the late 90s I’ve come to realize – despite what some fuel experts will tell you – the...

A bright idea from Europe

My feelings on the emission control systems on heavy trucks are no secret: I’m not a fan. Now don’t get me wrong, the theory behind them is good. We all want to breathe cleaner air, especially those of us who spend all day sitting...

Safe and secure practices can protect fleets from cargo crime

The estimated cost of cargo crime is staggering. Across Canada, losses amount to as much as $5 billion a year, most of which disappears along the corridor between Windsor and Montreal. Thefts in the Greater Toronto Area alone are valued as high...

Young leaders chart their own course

An important part of our future has been forecasted. It has to do with aging and because it hasn’t been addressed in any significant manner, this part of our future remains bleak.

Watch out for signs of astigmatisms

Professional truck drivers rely heavily on their eyes to perform their daily work tasks. Even the slightest problem in vision can greatly inhibit a driver from performing his or her job effectively and safely.

Bad apple season

Within the first 10 days of October we had two clients call to say how they were almost scammed by someone falsely claiming to be from Canada Revenue Agency.

Snowball fight in the capitol

GATINEAU, Que. -- A dozen rigs blocked Ottawa’s Champlain Bridge this summer as part of a fight by the Greater Ottawa Trucking Association (GOTA) to restrict Quebec dump truck access to Ottawa snow removal work this winter.

PIT shares test results for trailer side skirts, undercarriage devices

MONTREAL, Que. -- After five years of testing trailer side skirts and undercarriage fairings, the results are in, and the fuel savings are real.