Trucks For Change Committed to Combat Child Hunger A number of Canadian Trucking companies are joined in an initiative to address child hunger during the summer months when children are out of school and do not have access to in-school nutrition programs. The Trucks for Change (T4C) network has joined forces to assemble nutritious food packs for Food Banks Canada's annual After the Bell (ATB) program. The program includes the combined efforts of T4C supporters along with carriers accustomed to transporting ATB food packs in May and June. Over 50 volunteers participated in the event held at Mississauga's International Centre. Nearly 450,000 food packs have been delivered to communities since 2020 with the help of T4C's trucking network. They are expected to help deliver 185,000 lbs. of healthy, child-friendly packs to food banks across Canada in the summer of 2023. Trucks for Change chair Scott Smith said, "As an After the Bell partner, Trucks for Change is pleased to have been invited to participate in the ATB Volunteer Packing event. Not only did we help build and box food packs, but we were able to provide a little trucking expertise when it came to preparing the food packs and pallets for shipping." Betsy Sharples,...

Don’t Do The Crime if You Can’t Do The Time: Truckers Caught Importing Cocaine at the Canada U.S. Border Does crime pay? Not if you are one of the following individuals, commercial truck drivers arrested trying to bring narcotics across the Canada/U.S. border Last week, a Canadian man pleaded guilty to trafficking large quantities of cocaine by tractor-trailer, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office Northern District of New York. Guillaume Latour-Laitre, age 26, of Prevost, Quebec, pled guilty on May 24, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Latour-Laitre admitted that from November 2019 through December 7, 2019, as vice president of a commercial trucking company in Quebec, he trafficked cocaine from the United States to Canada via tractor-trailer. On December 7, 2019, Latour-Laitre co-conspirator and employee at the trucking company, Jason Nelson, attempted to leave the United States for Canada at the Derby Line, Vermont Port of Entry. At the border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers performed an outbound inspection on Nelson's tractor-trailer. They discovered approximately 142 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in the trailer. Latour-Laitre was extradited from Canada in December 2022 to face the charges....

Change to the chain? On the verge of a new market cycle. According to a report by Statista, the estimated market size of long-distance freight trucking market in Canada was $26.5 billion USD in 2021. However, the Canadian freight spot market weakened in April 2023 with more trucks and fewer loads. The US freight market supply and demand undercurrents are showing signs suggesting demand fundamentals are improving and capacity is starting to tighten. Could this be the bottom of the freight cycle? The market freight cycle is about supply and demand in the truckload market. The truckload market moves in a recurring cycle, going from equilibrium (where shipper demand and carrier supply are balanced) to inflation (more freight than trucks) to deflation (more trucks than freight) and back to equilibrium. A full market cycle typically lasts around 10-12 quarters (two to three years). Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s vice president and senior analyst, said this about the Cass Transportation Index Report April 2023. “After a long soft patch, we see the U.S. freight transportation industry on the verge of a new cycle as we begin to transition from the bottoming phase into the early phase of the freight cycle in the months to come.” The freight...

Some great news for the trucking industry. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it will remove the vaccine requirements for non-U.S. citizens entering the country as of May 12, 2023. In a statement, the DHS confirms that" Beginning May 12, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security will no longer require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request. DHS intends to rescind these Title 19 travel restrictions in alignment with the end of the Public Health Emergency and the termination of the Presidential Proclamation on air travel." The White House also confirmed the removal of the mandate along with several additional COVID-related emergency measures. It stated that further details relating to the end of these requirements would be available in the coming days. In Canada, the Canadian Trucking Alliance is working on several additional border barriers and areas where border policies along with a coalition of trucking groups that include the American Trucking Associations (ATA), National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) and Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). Removing these border barriers is a big step to returning to "normalcy" in the...

Both Canada and the US have passed laws to protect their workforce.  One drivers need to pay strict attention to is known as “interstating”. Under reciprocal rules, Canadian drivers are permitted to operate in the US, the same as US drivers are permitted to operate in Canada.  Basically, interstating occurs if you hook to a third trailer in the US, or if you load in the US, and deliver in the US.  For example, if you bring a load from Calgary to Los Angeles, anything you reload must be going to Canada. If you deliver in Los Angeles, and reload for St. Louis, that is illegal. You can drop the loaded trailer, and hook to an empty, take it someplace to live load back to Canada, and that is perfectly legal. Same as if you deliver in the US, take that empty someplace else and swap it out for a preloaded trailer. Perfectly legal. But if you drop the loaded trailer, hook to an empty and drive to a shipper, drop the empty and hook to a preloaded trailer, that is not legal.  Only under very narrow circumstances can you have handled 3 or more trailers in the US.  The...

Trucking is one of the most important pillars of transportation in the Canadian supply chain. Canada’s extensive road network prove the primary mode of transport used to ship goods across the country. The trucking sector is also the key mechanism for trade with the United States – Canada’s number one trading partner. However, the lack of harmonized regulations, both among the provinces and various countries, hinders the flow of trade. In addition, the trucking sector faces many challenges in responding to the growing demand and the driver shortage is currently a major cause for concern. (Expected 2023 driver shortage 25,000) Without counting the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, at a time where climate change has generated global concerns, the trucking sector is also being asked to reduce its environmental footprint, which presumably will require shifting to more environmentally friendly heavy vehicles.  How is the Canadian west being won? From east to west Canada flexes its roadway muscles for 5,514 KM’s and 4,634 KM from north to south. With such vastness comes huge challenges for the timely transportation of goods coast to coast to coast. Western Canada transport truck drivers face adversity from Weather and very long hauls to name the top...

Hauling combinations, be it A-trains, B-train or C-trains, there are a few rules and safety procedures that simply must be followed to prevent dangerous and illegal situations that could very easily result in serious injury or death. For this article, we will stick with weights, but other factors will be covered in the future. When pulling any combination units, the heaviest trailer MUST be hooked to the tractor and the lightest trailer must be the rear most trailer.  Dispatchers and planner may say otherwise, but they are incorrect.  This is a law, and it is spelled out quite clearly.  The reason is safety. If you had a heavy trailer behind a light trailer, the heavy trailer will, not might, it WILL cause the front trailer to wiggle from side to side, which will cause the rear trailer to wiggle more, causing the front to wiggle more, and before long, you’re folded up in the ditch. Even if both trailers are empty, the heavier one must be hooked to the tractor. As a rule, from heaviest to lightest are: Reefers Heaters Dry vans Step decks Flat decks Chassis It should be obvious that the more axles a trailer has, the heavier it...

Scaling LCV’s (long combination vehicles) can be a very tricky endeavour. As we know, in 2 or 3 trailer combinations, the heaviest trailer (called the “lead”) must be hooked to the truck, and the lighter trailer (called the “pup”) must be on the back. Before you even start to hook everything together, grab your converter with the truck, and run them over the scale to get the empty weight of your drive axles, and the empty weight of the converter. You will need these numbers.  For the sake of this article, we’ll use 8,000 lbs for the weight of the drives, and 4.400 lbs for the weight of the converter. After scaling the drives and converter, drop the converter out of the way and hook to your rear trailer, and run it over the scale to get your axle weights and gross weight.  To determine the weights, take the weight on your drives, subtract 8,000 and add 4,400. For example, if the scale shows  34,000 lbs on the drives, subtract 8,000 (the weight of the drives when empty) and add 4,400 lbs (the empty weight of the converter, and you will have the weight on the converter when everything is...

Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced on Monday, March 27, that Canada is creating a new economic path under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to help employers hire skilled refugees and displaced individuals.  This new pathway will allow employers to fill in-demand jobs, including truck and delivery drivers.  The EMPP connects skilled refugees and qualified displaced people with Canadian employers trying to fill labour shortages in certain key occupations. In a win-win scenario, this allows Canadian employers to access a skilled talent pool and fill jobs to help grow the economy while allowing Canada to welcome vulnerable people, such as refugees, who are seeking a new life.  Stephen Lakowski, President of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, said  "This program seeks to protect refugees needing help while connecting them with employers who have in-demand jobs available. This program will keep Canada moving by addressing acute labour shortages in critical sectors while safeguarding potential new workers to Canada who are most at risk." The trucking industry is a logical destination for many under the EMPP program.  "Canada is a global leader in helping skilled refugees connect with employers struggling to find workers in critical areas while allowing newcomers to restart their careers and their lives...

  The Truckload Carriers Association 2023 Annual Convention, Truckload 2023 Orlando, culminated with two Canadian carriers picking up major awards. Bison Transport of Winnipeg, and C.A.T. Inc of Coteau-du-Lac, QC, were big winners.  Bison Transport won the  2022 TCA Fleet Safety Awards Grand Prize. in the large carrier division (total annual mileage of 25 million or more) for an impressive 14th consecutive year. Bison had exceptional safety programs and accident frequency ratios over the last year. TCA president Jim Ward in a statement. "This year, we received the most entries in the history of the Fleet Safety Awards, showing that TCA members are truly industry leaders regarding safety. FTC Transportation (winner in the small carrier division total annual mileage of less than 25 million) and Bison are very deserving of the Grand Prize as a symbol of their amazing efforts to improve safety on our roadways."  TCA and Carriers Edge named C.A.T Best Fleet to Drive For in the large carrier category. The Best Fleets to Drive For is an annual survey and contest that recognizes the North American for-hire trucking companies that provide the best workplace experience for their drivers. The award is in its 15th year. Fleets must be nominated by a company...

Thankfully springtime is almost here. But with the rising temperatures comes increased damage to our roadways. In order to help protect our roads, the province enforces reduced load restrictions on trucks to protect Ontario's highways during spring thaw when road damage is most likely to occur. All annual and project overweight permits are not valid on any highways unless otherwise specified on the permit during the following: March and April in Southern Ontario March, April and May in Northern Ontario Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways listed in Schedule 1, when appropriate, between March 1, 2023, to April 30, 2023. Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways listed in Schedule 2, when appropriate, between March 1, 2023, to May 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways/Roads listed in Schedule 3, when appropriate, between March 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. The MTO has provided a list of highways that may be affected is included in this memo: https://ontruck.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-Spring-Loads-Restrictions-Memo_public.pdf You can view up-to-date information on...

As spring approaches, a senior driver’s thoughts turn to…Wild life. Yes, it’s that time of year, when hibernating animals awaken, and almost all animals are bearing their young. Here in lies the potential for disaster. Most animals will chase away their offspring after 18-24 months so they can properly care for their newborns. Moose, deer, caribou and elk typically chase the older calves off in March or April in anticipation of new calves, while bears tend to chase off the older cubs in late May or early June.  When adolescent animals are first on their own, they are often frightened and confused as they adapt to the world alone. If spooked, they will bolt, but which way they will bolt is impossible to predict. They may bolt into the bush, directly into your path, or directly into the side of your truck. A moose hit will likely put your truck into the shop for a number of weeks. Older, more mature animals, with more experience in the wild are leas likely to be spooked and bolt, but it does happen.  If you do see a female moose, caribou, elk, deer, etc, be on the lookout for a baby following...

The official announcement of $46 milion grant by the Canadian government to deal with shortage and training of truck drivers and transportation workers has brought cheers to the Trucking Industry.  This grant will go a long way in helping the trucking and logistics sector as the incentives and grants will help the employers in tackling multiple problems pertaining to shortage and training of employees.  The details of the grants are as follows;  A grant upto $10,000 will be given for the training of a new truck driver and this can be a new hire or an old employee aspiring to become a driver. An additional incentive of $10,000 wage incentives for employers to ensure that drivers are ready for roads.   An employer hiring an employee for a non-driving but in-demand job (which are categorized as hard to fill roles) will also be eligible for $10,000 wage incentives. On the other hand, the government will give upto $7,000 grant for offering a post-secondary student with employment and learning opportunity. Another important segment being, an incentive of $10,000 for creating a career opportunity in trucking and logistics for youth under 30.  Also, special incentive upto $10,000 for the employers hiring and providing training to a young driver under...

Volvo Trucks North America has emerged as an envoy for sustainable environment by promoting Electric Vehicles.  The company has reached a mark of making 25 certified EV dealers across North America thereby ensuring customer support towards electric vehicle adoption.  Realising the need for a consolidated dealer network to shift the customer base from fuel vehicles to battery operated electric vehicles, Volvo Trucks has left no stone unturned to achieve the target.  There are 15 U.S. states: California, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia and three Canadian provinces named British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec where Volvo Trucks has announced its certified EV dealers.  These 25 dealers have become the leaders by opting to invest in certification program ensuring an unequivocal support so to customers interested in deploying electric trucks in their respective regions.