TOP 10 of ’17 — Picks for the top products of the year

TORONTO, ON -- An acquaintance of mine once quipped that he hates picking winners for different contests. Sure, you'll make a friend, he said, but you're still annoying plenty of people who didn't make the cut. So it is when picking the Top 10 products of the year. Today's Trucking's annual look at the top in tech involves looking at hundreds of launches from throughout North America. Trucks themselves have been excluded, but everything else was fair game in my review of components and other offerings that have been improved, reinvented, and reimagined.

Exemption for CBs extended

TORONTO, ON - Drivers in Ontario can hang onto their CB radios for a little while longer, thanks to a temporary reprieve from a law that would have permanently silenced the units in the new year. An Ontario Ministry of Transportation representative says CBs won't be taken out of cabs until January 1, 2021 - a three-year extension on the earlier January 1, 2018 deadline - to "allow for the development of more viable hands-free technologies." As the first jurisdiction to make the wired CB radio illegal in moving vehicles, Ontario said it was doing so because the devices were a dangerous distraction to drivers. The latest delay is on top of the five-year timeline that was originally introduced to come up with alternatives. The continued exemption will allow the radios to be used by roadside assistance and service vehicles, taxis, street cars, delivery and courier vehicles, and drivers of construction or commercial motor vehicles. It applies to radios mounted on dashboards or worn on clothing. After the new exemption expires, the radios will be off limits for everyone except law enforcement officers, firefighters, and provincial offenses officers.

IN PRINT — Sleep Well: Researchers focusing on driver sleep

TORONTO, ON -- For most people, the time-honored New Year's resolution to get healthier will be toast by mid-February. But if you're determined to focus on health and wellness in 2018, experts say you should sleep on it.

Stemco names new director of aftermarket sales, Americas

LONGVIEW, Texas – Stemco,  announced the promotion of Chip Stuhr to the position of director of aftermarket sales, Americas today. In his new position, Stuhr will be responsible for aftermarket…

Petro-Canada Lubricants first to achieve ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications

TORONTO, Ont. — Petro-Canada Lubricants has announced it is the first white oils, speciality base oils, and lubricants manufacturer in the world to achieve the latest ISO 9001:2015 and…

Volvo Trucks buys 49 acres to extend test track

DUBLIN, Va. — Volvo Trucks has secured 49 acres next to its NRV plant in order to extend its 1.1 mile customer experience track. The acreage was acquired from the…

CFI raises $54,000 for charities across North America

JOPLIN, Mo. — Twenty-three deserving charities in eight cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada received donations from some 3,500 employees of CFI from its annual Truckloads of Treasures holiday…

Wabco takes stake in Nikola

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Wabco has announced it has made a $10-million investment to acquire a 1% equity stake in Nikola Motor Company, in an agreement it says will…

Strong Class 8 orders adding to backlogs

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Strong Class 8 order activity in November is boosting backlogs. ACT Research reports Class 8 truck build backlogs grew by 10,100 units to 115,200 units in November.

Trucking has role in BlackBerry resurgence

MISSISSAUGA, ON -- When the leader of the free world embraces your product, you know you have a winner. So it was with BlackBerry -- then known as Research in Motion -- when it could boast dedicated smartphone users like U.S. President Barack Obama, who once said in an interview, "They're going to pry it out of my hands."

Petro Canada beats ISO deadline

MISSISSAUGA, ON - Petro Canada Lubricants has secured ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, 16 months ahead of a related industry deadline to do so.

Wabco invests $10 million in Nikola

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Wabco Holdings is investing $10 million into Nikola Motor Company - a business in Salt Lake City, Utah that plans to produce hydrogen-electric trucks.

New Brunswick announces carbon pricing program

DIEPPE, N.B. –  The province of New Brunswick has announced its carbon pricing model which will be in effect in 2018. The program is a carbon…

PMTC Young Leaders add to board

MILTON, Ont. – The Young Leaders Group (YLG) of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) has added three members to its board. Kimberly Black, a consultant, Byron Eveley,…

Ontario won’t crack down on CBs…yet

TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will continue to allow the use of handheld CBs and two-way radios until 2021. The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) said it’s…