VIDEO! New TirePass May be Too Good to Pass Up

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- It's been about two weeks since Love's Travel Stops launched TirePass, a new system that inflates tires automatically while drivers fuel up, and it's already available at more than 90 locations across the U.S. TirePass is a fuel and tire inflation lane where a trained Love's technician checks and inflates your tires for you while you fuel, in addition to them measuring tread depth and performing a visual check of the tire and wheel assemblies. According to Love's, this new system helps to lower downtime, reduce the risk of breakdowns, increase fuel mileage and prolong your tire life.

Spot Market Freight Volume Down, Remains Strong

PORTLAND, OR -- Spot market freight volume remained relatively strong in May, edging down just 1.7% compared to April, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.Compared to the extraordinary volume of May 2014, freight declined 27%, however, volume exceeded same-month totals for 16 of the 18 years since the index was established in 1997. May freight volume dipped 0.8% from April for vans, 4.6% for flatbeds, while refrigerated freight increased 8.1%. Rates on the spot market followed the trends in volume by equipment type, slipping 1.9% for vans, 0.5% for flatbeds, while reefer rates rose 2.7%, compared to April.

Got a Favorite Trucking Loo? Share It for Annual Contest

MISSISSAUGA, ON -- Have you ever walked into a public restroom, especially at a truckstop or any other place that caters to trucking, that impressed you so much you had you to take a photo? One that was so memorable you walked out and immediately told a friend "You will not believe what that washroom looks like!" We must confess, at Today's Trucking, some of us have been guilty of this, though we aren't saying who. But why keep such discoveries a trucking industry secret? Its time to let the whole world know, or at least Canada, that trucking has some great, clean water closets and a contest has arrived for just such a purpose. The restroom supply company Cintas Canada is on the hunt to find these washrooms, launching its 6th Annual Canada's Best Restroom Contest. Through July 31st nominations can be submitted through the contest website.

Minister Urges Trucking to Address Mental Health

TORONTO--Federal Minister of Labor Dr. Kellie Leitch recently wrote to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), asking the group to encourage member carriers to take action to address the issue of psychological health in the workplace. The minister's letter refers to sources of data showing that a significant proportion of the Canadian workforce suffers from some form of mental illness, affecting worker productivity, safety and workplace losses, according to the group. The minister's letter provides a link to tools that can assist employers in assessing, addressing and mitigating psychological health and safety issues from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

Fight Expected Over Upcoming Truck Emissions Rules

The trucking industry in the U.S. is bracing for federal regulators to soon propose new rules requiring the fuel efficiency of new trucks to increase by as much as 40% by 2027 from 2010's level. That's according to a story this week from Reuters, in which it reports that some trucking aren't necessarily opposed to tougher standards. The reason is because fuel is one of any trucking operation's greatest costs, but the real fight may lie in the smaller details of the plan. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier said it will introduce "performance-based" standards, meaning truck makers can use a variety of options to hit fuel economy and emissions targets, ranging from changes in the engine all the way to putting additions on trucks and trailer bodies.

LNG projects and shipbuilding contracts will transform transportation in B.C.

WHISTLER, B.C. — If just one or two of the more than 40 LNG projects proposed for British Columbia get the green light there will be a profound impact on…

OTA to host industry meeting with Pan Am officials

  TORONTO, Ont. – With just a few weeks left to go before Pan Am Games officially kick off, the Ontario Trucking Association along with the Ministry of Transportation have…

Trailcon hosts grand opening for new Brampton facility

BRAMPTON, Ont. – Trailcon Leasing opened its doors to media, customers, and guests today to show off its brand new state-of-the-art Brampton, Ont. facility during its grand opening. Trailcon’s…

OTA applauds Toronto Council vote on Gardiner hybrid

TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Trucking Association is celebrating the Toronto City Council’s vote today to redesign the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway to respect the need of road…

Trucking conditions weaken, but capacity crisis expected in 2017

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Trucking conditions in the US softened in April, reflecting some weakness in the sector, according to FTR’s latest Trucking Conditions Index. The April reading fell 9% from…

No single solution available to meet looming “energy challenge”: Shell

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A surging world population and a global shift towards urban living will create unprecedented demand for energy by 2050, but where will that energy come from?…

Extensive field testing giving Shell confidence in new engine oil category

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The PC-11 engine oil category has yet to be fully developed, but Shell says it has run enough miles using prototype oils to gain confidence in…

Mike Sharpe becomes new dealer principal of Eastgate Truck Centre

HAMILTON, Ont. — Announced today, Mike Sharpe has joined the Eastgate Truck Centre as an ownership partner. He will assume the role of dealer principal at the Hamilton-based…

Sharpe Now Eastgate Truck Centre Dealer Principal

HAMILTON, ON — Mike Sharpe has joined Eastgate Truck Centre as an ownership partner, assuming the role of dealer principal.  Sharpe’s industry background spans 20 years…

Safety Officials Push for Collision Avoidance Systems

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Safety officials in the U.S. are recommending what it calls the "life saving benefits" of a technology to become standard on all new commercial and passenger vehicles. A new National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Special Investigation Report, The Use of Forward Collision Avoidance Systems to Prevent and Mitigate Rear-End Crashes stresses that collision avoidance systems can prevent or lessen the severity of rear-end crashes, to help save lives and reduce injuries. According to statistics from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end crashes kill about 1,700 people every year and injure half a million more. More than 80% of these deaths and injuries might have been mitigated had the vehicles been equipped with a collision avoidance system.