There actually is a free lunch with fuel economy

It’s a mystery to me why saving fuel is still a perplexing prospect for so many folks. It may not be easy, especially after you’ve picked all the low hanging fruit like aerodynamics, limiting speed, and idle-reduction technologies,...

Human resources practices play a key role in safety programs

Attracting and retaining qualified employees can be a challenge at the best of times, and there is little hope the situation will improve anytime soon. A recent study by the Conference Board of Canada concludes our industry might be short more...

Power plays

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The next generation of trucks built with the promise of cleaner exhaust will also deliver better fuel economy, and most available engine models will be certified to meet related standards a year ahead of schedule.That...

Big gains, super trucks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – At a time when a truck’s typical fuel economy floats around 6 mpg (39 litres/100 kms), the promise of 10 mpg (23.5 litres/100 kms) may seem like a pipe dream. But the dream may be closer to reality than you think.

TSQ: What are your thoughts on the newer generation of engines?

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Our cover story from last issue, ‘Dirty players,’ revealed that tampering of emissions controls for truck engines is both widespread and easily attainable. The so-called DPF Delete process is a booming...

Innovation and Technology Come to the Freight Brokerage Industry

In my 2012 year-end blog on Trends in Transportation, I identified a number of areas where I expected to see some changes in 2013. One area I highlighted was the…

Defeating emissions systems a short-sighted solution

Many of you are going to be upset about this month’s cover story on the widespread tampering of emissions controls. I get it.

Too many roadblocks?

Attending the Transport Institute’s Northern Exposure 2 conference in Winnipeg recently proved an illuminating foray into the challenges of serving Canada’s northern communities – admittedly the kind of stuff those of us who...

New report quantifies Canada’s driver shortage

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The shortage of qualified truck drivers in Canada may reach the tens of thousands by the start of the next decade, according to a recently released report from the Conference Board of Canada, leaving the industry...

Paying yourself and the taxman

You wear a lot of hats as an owner/operator. You’re the boss and an employee, the business manager and the guy at the wheel, the chief cook and the bottle washer. As the big cog at your operation, you deserve your fair share of grease, if...

A culture of wellness the secret behind Erb’s weight loss success

NEW HAMBURG, Ont. – The scales have been tipped in Erb Transport’s favour, with the New Hamburg, Ont.-based firm winning the company portion of the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) second annual Trucking’s Weight...

Factoring in the decision

TORONTO, Ont. – Generating consistent cash flow is one of the greatest challenges facing small fleets or start-ups, which has given rise to the prominence of invoice factoring.

The path of least resistance

February saw the release of yet another report on Canada’s driver shortage. This one, Understanding the Truck Driver Supply and Demand Gap and Its Implications for the Canadian Economy, is meant to “quantify driver supply...

Collision review committees can look much deeper than a single crash

Every crash site tells a story. Skid marks can be used to calculate vehicle speed, direction, and where the brakes were applied. Gouges in the road, when matched to damaged equipment, help determine the direction and force of impact.

TSQ: Is the industry trending towards a substantial driver shortage?

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – A recently-released report from the Conference Board of Canada surmises that the driver shortage is not only real, it’s dire, with the Canadian trucking industry facing a shortage of up to 33,000 drivers by the...