Doug McGowan

Military Might: Highway Star sees the promise in second careers

TORONTO, Ont. -- Doug McGowan submitted no fewer than 101 resumes, but not one fleet had called him back. It just didn’t make any sense. During his time in the military he drove everything from armored vehicles to military pattern trucks, and learned how to work tire chains in punishing environments north of the Arctic Circle. Shouldn’t that count for something? The sign promising jobs for “propane seasonal drivers, Class 5 with air” screamed out like an insult. He submitted his resume and clean abstract to that very business two weeks earlier, and hadn’t heard a thing.  But McGowan went back again. And again. And again. Four times in all. The job that emerged became his first stop in a second career.

Westcan driver named 2018 Highway Star

TORONTO, Ont. – Doug McGowan of Westcan Bulk Transport has been named the 2018 Highway Star of the Year – recognizing Canada’s top truck driver or owner-operator. Selected through a national search by Newcom Media’s Today’s Trucking, Truck News, and Truck West magazines, the driver was presented with the honor during the Truck World trade show in Toronto. “It’s a great honor ... there are a lot of excellent drivers out there,” said McGowan. “I’d also like to take this time to promote retiring military personnel towards driving positions, using myself as an example.”