What would you like to change about the industry to make your job more fun?

by Katy de Vries

TRURO, N.S. – The Canadian trucking industry seems to thrive on its ability to adjust to change.

Whether it’s fuel costs, insurance premiums, regulation changes, road conditions or equipment costs, drivers have to keep up with the new information and updates that are injected into the industry every day.

The attempt to stay informed and on top of the turbulence can be trying at times, leaving drivers wishing they could step in and alter how the industry functions in order to simplify their jobs.

Truck News visited the Truro Heights Irving in Truro, N.S., to ask drivers what they would like to change in the industry to make their jobs more enjoyable.

Bill Elliott, an owner/operator of Bass River, N.S., said he’d like to get paid more.

“I would want to change the money aspect, or the lack of it. That is the problem right now. I’d like to get paid more for what I’m doing, the rates coming from some trucking companies are terrible right now and I think that is what has to change before we can enjoy our jobs even more,” said Elliott.

Sylvan Toews, of Toews Transport in Lakeville, N.S., said he tries to take it as it comes and deal with the challenges as they happen.

“I enjoy my job the way it is. In my opinion, when you run a business, you have to deal with things as you’re faced with them. I don’t know if there really is a whole lot I would change, but yet if there were changes I would appreciate them and deal with them at the time,” Toews said.

“I enjoy what I do a great deal,” said Tom Matheson, of Quality Transport, in Woodstock, N.B.. “I’ve got four more years of driving to go, and there really isn’t a whole lot I would change. I guess it would help matters if fuel wasn’t so expensive, but the prices are coming down now so that makes it easier.”

Glenn McDow, a driver from New Ross, N.S., wants higher rates for carriers.

“We have a job to do and we know how many hours we can run and we pretty well abide by those rules. But if we can get the rates up and fuel costs down, then maybe there will be a little more money in it for the guy who is doing the driving,” said McDow, who drives for Hughes Trucking.

Alvin MacGillivray, who drives for Gerald Battist in Pictou, N.S., said he would like to see road conditions improve.

“I do most of my driving here in the Maritimes and some of the secondary roads are getting pretty rough, which makes it harder to drive on them and it is also harder on the equipment.” n


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*

  • I learned to drive with Bill Elliott and I would love to have some contact info for him, so that I may send others his way, thank you!