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Safety concerns prompt closure of overpass in Vaudreuil-Dorion
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Transports Québec has closed the bridge on Des Chenaux
Road over Highway 40 in Vaudreuil-Dorion indefinitely, the ministry
announced Tuesday. The 53-year-old overpass, located
just west of the l'Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge, is subject to regular
inspections and has been subject to load restrictions since November. A
recent inspection of the structure found defects affecting its
load-bearing capacity, Transports Québec said, prompting the
bridge's immediate closure. "The
ministry regrets this situation but does not hesitate to close
structures to traffic if the safety of road users is in question," the
announcement states. "The safety of road users on Highway 40 is not compromised." The
ministry has put detours in place for north and southbound drivers,
sending them toward the Saint-Charles Avenue overpass instead. Assessments
of the structure and the bridge's bearing capacity will be conducted
in the coming weeks. Details of the required interventions will be
announced in early October.
On June 29, the Des Chenaux Road overpass was hit by a dump truck with its bin up. A
spokesperson from the ministry said that the closure was not due to to
any one particular incident, but to assess the gradual degradation of
the bridge to ensure it is still safe to cross. Source of article click here : CBC NEWS
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Truck driver found guilty in multi-vehicle collision that killed 4, injured 11
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Mohinder Singh Saini, 75, has been convicted on multiple counts of dangerous driving
A Quebec truck driver has been found guilty of multiple counts
of dangerous driving in relation to a 2015 multi-vehicle crash in Whitby
that killed four and injured 11. Mohinder
Singh Saini, 75, has been convicted of four counts of dangerous driving
causing death and nine counts of dangerous driving causing bodily
harm. The collision happened nearly three years ago on Oct. 2 on Hwy. 401 westbound, east of Lake Ridge Road. Three
people, including a 12-year-old boy, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 10-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the hospital two days later. Eleven people were also injured. The crash involved 21 vehicles, including three commercial transport trucks that sustained significant damage. Police
have identified the victims as Carl Laws, 67, and Jacqueline Laws, 63,
of Pickering. The two boys were identified as Jesus
Alberto Duran-Florez, 12, and Cuauhtemoc Duran-Florez, 10, from Mexico. Saini will return to court Oct. 5 for victim impact statements and again on Nov. 9 for sentencing. Source of article click here : CBC NEWS
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Ontario government tight-lipped about Highway 69 funding
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Another bump in the road for project that's faced its share of delays The widening of Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound has been in progress since the mid-2000s. But
a large section of the highway remains at two lanes. Whether or not
they'll ever be doubled may now be in doubt, though Ontario's
Progressive Conservative government is remaining tight-lipped about the
issue. But a large section of the highway remains at two lanes.
Whether or not they'll ever be doubled may now be in doubt, though
Ontario's Progressive Conservative government is remaining tight-lipped
about the issue. The
province has confirmed that a review of Highway 69 funding is part of
its line-by-line audit of all spending decisions taken prior to this
summer, but hasn't commented on how the review is progressing, or when
it may be complete. A Ministry of Transportation spokesperson replied to an interview by the CBC with an emailed statement. "Unlike
the previous Liberal government — who made outlandish promises and
mismanaged money — our Government for the People is committed to
building efficient transit infrastructure across the province, including
Northern Ontario," read the statement. The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is now lobbying Premier Doug Ford, asking for the earmarked funds to remain in place. "These
are very important funds from a variety of different perspectives, in
particular, the economic perspective," said Michael McNamara, the chair
of the chamber's board. "The loss it would create to businesses, to just
not have that consistency or to keep those goods moving." He
added that longstanding safety concerns also exist, as the highway was
constructed when freight, not trucking, was a more popular way of
transporting goods. McNamara said he appreciates the government's
desire to take a closer look at the project's costs, as well as its
implementation — including whether to continue twinning the highway in
sections, or to do it all at once. "But it's also very important for the Premier to keep in mind
the significant economic impact it will have on the north and keep the
connection to southern Ontario intact, and even make it more robust.
It's massively important," added McNamara. About seven kilometres
of the highway run through Magnetawan First Nation. It also passes
through the traditional territories of Shawanaga and Henvey Inlet First
Nations. Magnetawan First Nation Chief Lloyd Myke isn't sure there's a need for four lanes. "Be it four-lane or two-lane, there's always the possibility of anything that could happen," offered Myke. "The
highway is still there as it is today, and the north is always going to
keep growing. This is just another project that's keeping that flow of
traffic coming down that highway. But you ought to do it in a safe way
as well, and if four-laning is a real priority for this government, they
need to show that." Myke adds that if the project does continue,
the government will have to resume talks with local First Nations
regarding financial and environmental concerns. "By doing another
review it's just another example that it's just going to take a little
bit longer before we get the MTO back at the table and begin these
negotiations," he explained. Source of article click here : CBC NEWS
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Women lead charge to get more female truck drivers behind wheel
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Truck driver Vivianne Carbonneau poses next to her rig in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., Monday, August 27, 2018.
VAUDREUIL-DORION, Que. -- On a cloudy Monday in late August, Vivianne
Carbonneau fires the ignition on her semi truck bearing the load of both
an 80,000-pound trailer and a new job title hitched to her name:
driving mentor.
"If you learn from a woman, you always have that little voice inside
that says, 'See, I can do it,"' she said. "Any situation can be
overcome."
Carbonneau, 58, has been hauling freight for only two years, but has
taken on an in-house teaching role to help new drivers -- especially
women, but men too -- at XTL Transport, the first woman to do so at the
Montreal-area trucking company in its 33-year history.
"It is a guys' culture," she said of the industry. "Sometimes you go
somewhere, and it's palpable. You can feel it -- you can feel that
you're not exactly welcome.
Women make up just three per cent of freight truck drivers across the
country, according to Trucking HR Canada. The trucking industry, which
comprises some 300,000 drivers, will be short of them by 34,000 by 2024,
according to a 2016 study by the Trucking Alliance of Canada.
Confronted with a worker shortage and outdated attitudes, women are
leading a push to foster more female big-riggers and overcome the
perception of unglamorous lifestyles and an industry-wide reputation for
machismo.
Angela Splinter, chief executive of Trucking HR Canada, says aging
drivers have ramped up the need for women and young people. If unmet,
that demand will hinder shipping companies and dent the economy, she
said.
"It's very pressing. I would say we're reaching a crisis point."
Linda Young, head of human resources for Winnipeg-based Bison
Transport, chairs the trucking HR association's Women With Drive
initiative. Launched in 2016, it aims to raise the number of women
entering the 18-wheeler workforce through awareness campaigns and
resources for employers.
"In the last two years it has gotten worse," Young said. "This year in
particular we've got unseated tractors -- as many, many fleets do --
where we cannot find drivers to move our equipment. And that's a
problem."
Poor impressions of the trucking world are a major recruitment hurdle, she said.
"There's a perception -- and I've got to emphasize that word -- that
women may not be suitable for truck-driving jobs, whether it's the
physical demands of the position or being away from home," she said.
Drivers can be on the road between 10 and 14 days straight, sometimes
sleeping in their cabs -- typically kitted with beds, a mini-fridge and a
microwave -- on client lots or, occasionally, roadsides.
"Parents encouraging their children to become truck drivers, it really
isn't out there," she added. "We're up against it from a very early
age."
Commercial truck driving is not classified as a skilled or semi-skilled
trade, a category that can help fill worker shortages by allowing
access to swifter immigration streams and more training resources.
Salary may be another factor. While trade apprenticeships can be
lucrative, the average salary for a truck driver sits at $48,733 a year,
according to the Neuvoo job search engine, though more experienced
big-riggers pull in up to $100,000 annually, Young said.
Meanwhile, delays due to traffic, weather, breakdowns, accidents and
shipping hold-ups are tough to predict and can dissuade both women and
men from entering the industry.
Many truck stops are oriented toward men, noted Judy Ostiguy,
vice-president of human resources at XTL Transport. Washroom facilities
sometimes offer a single row of showers without barriers or stalls.
"Women and men are on the same hallway together. For me, it's something
that needs to be changed, just for the safety of many women," Ostiguy
said.
Maternity leave also remains effectively off-limits for many drivers,
she said, particularly those on contract, though the option is available
at XTL, where a woman, Genevieve Gagnon, is president.
The push for more women behind the wheel has attracted attention in
Ottawa. Last month, the federal government committed $294,000 to a
project by Camo-route -- an umbrella organization that works to develop
Quebec's transport industry -- which aims to raise the number of women
truck drivers in the province to 10 per cent.
Ben Santucci, founder of the North American Transport Driving Academy
in Kingston, Ont., says he's seen a slight uptick in his six-week
tractor-trailer program over the past couple years.
"The graduates are soaked up even before they finish school," he said.
"But tops, you maybe see four women in a whole year, out of about a
hundred students."
To raise awareness, the Women With Drive initiative attends job fairs,
creates mentorship guidelines, highlights women's accomplishments on
social media, hosts conferences and works closely with trade colleges.
While some Manitoba schools with vocational programs invited Trucking
HR Canada in for presentations, Calgary and Ontario boards were "less
receptive," Young said. "We've got some traction. Do I want more?
Absolutely."
Young said women drivers would be more comfortable if they had access
to a female mentor, with whom they may spend hours or days barely two
feet apart from each other in the tractor cab.
Carbonneau summed up one other potential deterrent to life on the road.
"I'm rare, and I can feel alone," she said, wheeling onto a Trans-Canada Highway on-ramp just west of Montreal.
"I'm not going to let anybody intimidate me, obviously," she continued.
"I know I'm sending a message out there not only to men, but to women,
saying, 'If I can do it, you can do it."' Source of article click here : CTV NEWS
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Paris Truck Convoy raises $75,000
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PARIS, Ont. – In its 14th edition, the Paris Truck Convoy for Special Olympics raised a whopping $75,000.
 Dan Einwechter and an athlete getting ready for the convoy The event, that saw 72 big rigs roll down Highway 401 on September
15, is one of the longest standing fundraisers of its kind in southern
Ontario. Funds raised for the event go directly to Law Enforcement Torch
Run for Special Olympics to help special athletes have uniforms, as
well as the equipment and facilities necessary for their sport of
choice.
“The numbers of trucks participating are down from last year, but
pledges are up,” said Tammy Blackwell, event coordinator. “Our top three
drivers represented $16,600…I don’t know how they do it.”
To date, the convoy has raised more than $900,000 for Special Olympics.
This year’s convoy was highlighted by the fact that the Special Olympics is celebrating its 50th birthday.
“This convoy just goes to show that it’s a terrific event, but an
even better community,” Glenn MacDonell, CEO of Special Olympics Ontario
said. “The industry sees itself as a champion for our athelets and what
more can we ask but that? We have truckers from all over the country
here, and what we notice from these drivers is sure, they’re here doing
the convoy here in Paris today but many very well join other convoys
across Canada and the U.S. after this.”
There was one very special driver this year that stood out among the others, according to Blackwell.
Dan Einwechter, owner of Challenger Motor Freight was one of the 72
drivers in the convoy this year. It’s something he said he’s wanted to
do for a long time.
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of this, but just never had the time,” he said. “And finally this year it worked out.”
Like all the other convoy drivers, Einwechter had an athlete join him in his truck.
“He is absolutely one of the busiest guys we know,” Blackwell said of
Einwechter. “We had our fingers crossed that he would participate…We
are so happy to have Challenger as one of our sponsors…they’re really
amped up their participation this year and have 13 units participating
today.”
While Blackwell said she was thrilled about the great turnout and
success of the convoy this year, her and other organizations are looking
toward next year’s convoy – the 15th annual – to be its greatest ever.
“The challenger in year 15 we want to break the $1 million ceiling
that we’ve been heading towards,” she said. “As well in year 15 we want
to break 131 trucks which will represent, 116 as our high, plus one for
every year the convoy’s been around. We are working on that. We want
our drivers to feel good about what they’ve done. I can’t say enough
about trucking industry, we couldn’t do any of this without them.” Source of article click here : Truck News
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Bridgestone issues recall of 2,700 commercial truck tires
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Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone Canada are issuing a voluntary
noncompliance recall of approximately 2,700 certain all position, wide
base radial commercial truck tires in size 425/65R22.5. The recall
includes the following tires:
- Firestone FS818 tires in size 425/65R22.5 with Department of Transportation (DOT) date codes 2318 and 2418;
- Bridgestone M854 tires in size 425/65R22.5 with DOT date codes 2418 and 2518;
- Bridgestone M860A tires in size 425/65R22.5 with DOT date code 2518;
- Bridgestone M864 tires in size 425/65R22.5 with DOT date codes 2318 and 2418.
All tires covered under this recall were manufactured on specific
dates between June 10, 2018 and June 30, 2018, and sold in the United
States, Canada and Mexico. Firestone FS818, Bridgestone M854,
Bridgestone M860A and Bridgestone M864 commercial truck tires
manufactured outside the affected production range meet regulatory
requirements and are not part of the recall.
The affected tires may not comply with a specific endurance test
requirement as prescribed under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards and similar applicable laws and regulations in Canada and
Mexico. In affected tires, there may be a risk of exposure of steel body
cords in the sidewall to the environment, which could lead to
deterioration of the cords in that area. If a rapid air loss occurs due
to that condition while the vehicle is operating, there may be an
increased risk of a crash. This is a voluntary noncompliance recall and
there are no known accidents or injuries.
Bridgestone is notifying regulatory agencies in affected regions in
accordance with local laws. Bridgestone also is notifying potentially
affected commercial original equipment manufacturers, national account
fleets, authorized dealers, company-owned stores and end-user customers
to recover and replace any tires that are included in the recall.
Bridgestone will replace all eligible recalled tires with a comparable
Bridgestone or Firestone all position, wide base radial commercial truck
tire in size 425/65R22.5 manufactured outside the affected production
range, or with a suitable replacement tire. These tires will be replaced
at no charge to customers.
To find an authorized Bridgestone dealer, visit the Bridgestone commercial tire website: https://commercial.bridgestone.com/en-us/index.
Customers in the U.S. and Mexico with questions about the voluntary
noncompliance recall may contact Bridgestone Technical Service at
1-800-847-3272. Customers in Canada may call Bridgestone Canada
Technical Service at 1-800-267-1318; select option 7. Source of article click here : Traction
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Manitoba man dies after being covered in hot tar in North Dakota semi crash
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Bradley Jackson was hauling tar from Winnipeg to North Dakota when his truck flipped The 21-year-old driver of a semi truck travelling in North
Dakota has died after a crash caused the hot tar he was hauling to spill
into his cab, burning most of his body. Bradley Jackson, from
Woodlands, Man., died in hospital Saturday at the Hennepin County
Medical Center burn unit in Minneapolis, Minn., his mother, Rose Walder,
confirmed to CBC. In a Facebook message, Walder said after fighting "one Hell of a fight" her son "couldn't fight anymore." The
crash happened in Grand Forks County on Wednesday. CBC contacted North
Dakota State Highway Patrol for details and was told the earliest they
could provide information would likely be Monday. Natasha Brydges, a close friend of Walder's, described Jackson's injuries as "horrific." "He was covered in the hot tar," she said Police called Walder about the crash around 3:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, said Brydges. Somehow the truck he was driving slid onto its
side, sending the dangerous cargo into the cab. "She was on the phone with them and she came and got me to write stuff down," Brydges said. "She was just in disbelief." Brydges
created an online fundraiser for the family, which on
Saturday, surpassed its goal of $3,000. The money will help the family
with travel costs down to the United States and back to Winnipeg,
said Brydges. "It's one less thing for them to worry about," she said. Jackson's
mother said her son was working for Jade Transport when he died. The
Winnipeg trucking company specializes in hauling liquids including crude
oil and chemicals. CBC contacted the company Saturday and has yet to hear back. Source of article click here : CBC NEWS
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Love’s opens new store early for hurricane aid
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Love’s Travel Stops (Love’s) will
open a new travel stop Wednesday morning in Bastian, Virginia, to help
the community and customers in the path of Hurricane Florence. Store
teams have been working around the clock to make sure the store, located
at 6168 N Scenic Highway (Interstate 77, Exit 58), will open earlier
than scheduled to provide fuel, food, and supplies to that area.
The more than 10,000-square-foot facility will be open 24/7 and is the 11th Love’s location in Virginia. It has:
- 51 truck parking spots
- seven showers
- laundry facilities
- an Arby’s restaurant
“We opened our location early so we can take care of customers preparing
for Hurricane Florence,” said Tom Love, executive chairman and founder
of Love’s. “Our new travel stop in Bastian will provide a fuel option
for those evacuating or braving the storm. We look forward to serving
the people of Bastian and travelers by being a community partner in
times of need and always along Interstate 77.”
Love’s is monitoring the latest developments as
Hurricane Florence marches toward the South Carolina, North Carolina,
and Virginia coasts. The company is taking precautions and increasing
fuel and food deliveries at Love’s locations in advance of the
hurricane. You find updates about our locations during the storm on Facebook, Twitter, and loves.com/hurricane. Source of article click here : Truckers News
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Stop and Think: Strategies to avoid brake violations
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TORONTO, Ont. — An unannounced Brake Safety Day enforcement
initiative by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) on April 25
saw 13.8% of inspected commercial vehicles placed out of service for
brake violations.
More than 11,500 vehicles were inspected on the day, including 1,457
in Canada. Canada’s out-of-service rate was slightly better than in the
U.S., with 12.4% of trucks taken off the road here for brake violations
compared to 14% in the U.S.
Despite steady enforcement initiatives such as Brake Safety Day, a
part of the CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program, brake-related defects
continue to be a leading cause of out-of-service violations. But fleet
maintenance departments have a direct impact on a fleet’s violation
rate, since routine maintenance can prevent many of the defects found at
roadside.
We caught up to brake guru Kevin Pfost — formally technical services
coordinator, Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake — for his insights into
brake maintenance best practices.
Today’s Trucking: Why is it that brake violations
continue to be a leading cause of roadside violations, and what can
fleet maintenance departments do to avoid adding to the statistics?
Pfost: It seems strange after all these years that
we still have a high difficulty with brake maintenance and brakes out of
spec’. Here’s the thing I tell everybody: If you bring a truck into a
garage, it takes about 10 minutes to go through and actually measure
brake stroke.
Most maintenance departments will tell you they don’t have enough
time. But when you bring a truck in for any reason, take that extra five
to 10 minutes to measure brake stroke while you have the truck in
there. If you have a truck that’s out of spec’, stroke-wise, at least
you catch it before it leaves.
Most mechanics, they don’t even look at the brakes when they bring
the truck in for another reason. I think when they bring it in for any
reason at all, they should still measure brake stroke.
Today’s Trucking: With air disc brakes becoming more
prevalent in the market, should we not see a correlating decrease in
brake-related out-of-service violations?
Pfost: Yes, air disc brakes are having less
violations. I haven’t heard of many violations as of yet. Most of the
time, when they go through the scales, (when inspectors see) they’re
disc brakes they’re waving the guys through. So that cuts down on brake
violations.
The other thing is, people like disc brakes because the pushrod is
internal to the caliper. Now they can’t measure brake stroke, right? The
biggest violation you’ll find is brakes out of spec’.
Today’s Trucking: So it sounds like a fleet that’s
having trouble with brake violations could solve them pretty much
completely by spec’ing air disc brakes.
Pfost: You know what, some of them are doing that for that reason.
Today’s Trucking: But that doesn’t mean disc brakes are maintenance-free, does it?
Pfost: Here’s the maintenance requirements for a
drum brake: you have to grease it, you’re measuring brake stroke, you
have a lot more components in a drum brake, so you have more chances of
failure or mis-adjustment.
In a disc brake, your inspection is visual. You’re looking for cracks
– cracks in the rotors, or you look up between the wheels and the
caliper. You’re looking where the pads sit. You’re looking for
mismatched pad thicknesses. Then you’ll move the caliper, check the
caliper movement on the guide pins. You want to make sure there’s
running clearance. If there isn’t, that can tell you (that) you have a
guide pin seized up.
So, they’re not maintenance-free. People get it in their heads that
they’re maintenance-free. You still visually have to inspect this, you
still have to listen for air leaks, and you’ll also have to check for
caliper movement. Grab the caliper and slide it in and out of the wheel
to make sure it moves freely.
Today’s Trucking: I have noticed, especially since
the introduction of reduced stopping distance (RSD) drum brakes, there
has been a lot of emphasis from Bendix on the importance of swapping out
like for like friction material when doing brake jobs. Why is this so
important, and is the message getting through to technicians, or does it
need to be reinforced?
Pfost: I think it needs to be reinforced. The reason
we tell you to replace friction material with the same material is
because we have to meet the stopping distance rule by the government.
Aftermarketers do not have to meet that rule. If you can make friction
in your garage and put it on a shoe, in the aftermarket you can actually
sell that. OEMs, we have to keep the same quality and same stopping
distance in our friction. Aftermarket friction has no oversight at all.
The other thing, too, that I’ve heard from people is that when they
buy aftermarket friction they don’t get as much mileage as they did with
OEM friction.
Today’s Trucking: How important is ongoing brake training for technicians? Do fleet maintenance departments offer enough of this?
Pfost: I do a lot of technician training myself.
What I find is, especially on the disc brake side right now, everybody’s
kind of leery about (the technology). But it’s not a new product. The
disc brakes on a truck are no different than the disc brakes on a car,
other than they weigh about 100 times more.
So, the inspections are the same. But, our products are changing all
the time. So I believe that technicians need all the training they can
get. There are a lot of things they don’t run into every day, so they
forget about it.
Today’s Trucking: Are there certain knowledge gaps
you’ve encountered while training technicians, or issues that are widely
misunderstood when it comes to brake maintenance?
Pfost: When I do a disc brake training class, I
start talking about different things like brake adjustments on disc
brakes. On our disc brakes you adjust them ‘til they make contact with
the rotor and then back them off until you hear three audible clicks. On
a lot of other ones, you back them off half a turn like you do on a
drum brake. Technicians didn’t understand it’s three audible clicks –
they thought they had to back it off half a turn.
Also, during the inspection process, there are a lot of guys that
have no clue that they need to check the caliper for slide-ability while
they’re doing their preventive maintenance.
On the drum brake side, look behind the clevis pin. Many guys will
not spray any lube on a clevis pin. If the clevis pin seizes, that could
be a brake-out-of-adjustment failure. A lot of guys look at me like a
deer in the headlights and say, “Wait a minute, you need to lube these?”
Yes, you need to make sure that the clevis pins are free.
Today’s Trucking: There seem to be a lot of training
tools available today, including Bendix’s Online Brake School. But are
maintenance managers doing enough to keep their technicians trained?
Pfost: There are a lot of guys that, when I get out
there and I start talking to them about our online school, they’re
amazed we have one. And I’m amazed that they don’t know about it. I
think we really need to stress to technicians that there are free online
schools – and they’re good schools.
This is what I tell fleet managers who tell me they don’t have the
time to train their technicians: I always tell them, everybody breaks
for lunch, right? One day a month, as a fleet manager, log into our
brake school, and when these guys break for lunch, buy them pizza and
pop. Put a monitor in the breakroom. Plug your laptop into it and do one
short class.
It’s 10 minutes, 15 minutes max. Play that during their lunch while
they’re eating pizza and drinking soda. I’m telling you right now – if
you put food out, they’re coming! This is a win-win.
- The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week runs Sept. 16-22.
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Andy Transport launches Tristan Fleet Management
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MONTREAL, Que. — Andy Transport today announced the official launch of its newest business venture: Tristan Fleet Management.
The new company operates several heavy truck and trailer maintenance
centers and provides personalized fleet management services, such as
preventive maintenance, equipment inspection, as well as general
mechanic and collision repairs.
“Tristan Fleet Management is a natural expansion of the maintenance
and repair services that have historically been provided to Andy
Transport and independent owner operators,” said Andreea Crisan, COO and
EVP. “The growth of Andy Transport’s fleet resulted in a strategic
physical network of maintenance and repair centers. The expertise and
dedication of its skilled workforce is now offered to third parties.”
Tristan’s customer base is composed of small- and medium-sized
fleets. Nearly 200 clients have entrusted Tristan with the planning of
their fleet’s PM and repairs, and benefit from Tristan’s 24/7 road
assistance, towing, and road service needs all over North America.
“When operating a fleet, managing a shop and an in-house maintenance
program can become an overwhelming burden and an expensive cost-center”
adds Ilie Crisan, president. “We want to help fleet owners focus on
their core business, while we propose a personalized fleet management
solution which includes opening a new shop to cater to their needs in a
strategic location, operating their existing shops, and giving them
access to our network and services.” Source of article click here : Truck News
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All but one of 10 workers injured in crash between bus and truck out of hospital
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One person remains in hospital following a collision at a rural
Saskatchewan intersection that left a bus carrying pipeline workers on
its side in the ditch.
Ten workers were injured when the school-type bus collided with a
semi-truck hauling canola in Kerrobert on Friday afternoon, a spokesman
for the company that employs the workers said Saturday.
Paul Stuckless, corporate safety manager for O.J. Pipelines, said the
workers were travelling to Kindersley, Sask., from a worksite when their
bus was struck by a grain truck.
He said 16 workers in the pipe welding crew -- including the driver -- were on board at the time.
Stuckless said the truck struck the side of the bus, sending it
spinning into a ditch, and police said the bus came to rest on its side.
"It was a pretty busy night, but we're looking after everybody,"
Stuckless said, noting he did not know the extent of the injuries of the
person who remained in hospital.
The crash came just days after the Humboldt Broncos played their first
game since the April collision involving the hockey team's bus and a
transport truck at a rural Saskatchewan intersection.
Sixteen people, including 10 players, were killed and 13 players were
injured in that crash, which also happened on a Friday afternoon.
RCMP did not release the nature or extent of the injuries in the
Kerrobert crash, but said in a news release Saturday that none were
considered life-threatening.
They also noted that the driver of the truck -- which was hauling two
trailers of canola -- and the woman who was driving the bus were not
hurt.
Three people were taken to a hospital in Saskatoon by helicopter, and
seven others were taken to local hospitals, police said. Four were
treated at the scene.
Chris Bunz, a resident of nearby Unity, Sask., said he was driving by
and saw the semi-truck in the middle of the intersection and a white bus
lying on its side in the shoulder, dented but with windows intact.
"(The semi) looked like it had probably just a little front-end damage,
and the bus had a little bit of rippling in the side, so I don't think
it was too, too big a collision, but enough to put the bus over," he
said in a phone interview.
RCMP said they're still investigating the crash, but said they don't believe at this point that alcohol was a factor.
Cpl. Rob King said the driver of the semi was licenced to haul the double rig.
Stuckless, meanwhile, said the bus, which his company leased for its crews, was equipped with seatbelts.
He said four of O.J. Pipelines' own emergency staff went to the scene and assisted local first responders.
Bunz said the presence of industrial activity, heavy traffic and
speeding drivers make the intersection where the crash occurred a
particularly dangerous one.
"There's a lot of equipment parked at the corner -- they have a
stockpile of dirt and a bunch of equipment too, so it's kind of
distracting, because you have that right in that corner and lots of
traffic too," he said.
The driver of the truck involved in the April collision, Jaskirat Singh
Sidhu, is charged with 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death and
13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily injury.
Sidhu, who was not hurt in the crash, was released on $1,000 bail in
July under conditions he not drive and that he surrender his passport. Source of article click here : CTV NEWS
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Canada’s rules for transporting animals are weak — but they’re also not rigorous
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In Canada, the rules
for transporting animals are already weak. Pigs can be trucked for up to
36 hours without food or water. For cattle, the number is 52 hours. Animals
can be shipped in the freezing cold or broiling sun — as long as they
do not suffer “undue exposure” to the elements (whatever that means).
Inspection
reports released to the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals has
revealed that in much of Canada, including Ontario, the animal
transporation rules are not rigorously enforced, writes Thomas Walkom.
But
inspection reports released to the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals
has revealed another glaring inadequacy: In much of Canada, including
Ontario, the rules are not rigorously enforced. To be more
specific, in 2016 and 2017 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
conducted spot inspections of trucks carrying animals in only five
provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and
Prince Edward Island. Exactly why Ontario and other provinces were
exempted from these spot checks remains unclear. A CFIA spokesperson
said only that the agency’s “highway and border inspections are
conducted pending the availability of law enforcement partners and
appropriate weather conditions.” The
reports, released to the animal welfare coalition by the CFIA under
access-to-information laws and passed on to the Star, show that the
federal agency conducted 269 highway inspections over the two-year
period, mainly in Saskatchewan. In virtually all of those
inspections, the truckers were ultimately found to be in compliance with
CFIA regulations — even when, initially, they weren’t. In
December 2017, for instance, an unheated truck containing 45 cows in
-20C weather was stopped by a CFIA inspector in Saskatchewan. The
inspector wrote that he initially deemed the transport inadequate but
changed his mind after the trucker agreed to put some boards along the
sides of the vehicle and after he allowed his cattle to rest for five
hours in a warm barn. In February 2016, another truck transporting
26 horses to a slaughterhouse was stopped for inspection in
Saskatchewan. The inspector found that one of the horses appeared too
sick to get up — a regulatory no-no. So he had the trucker unload
his vehicle until the downed horse could struggle to its feet. The
inspector then okayed the transport as compliant with the law and let
the truck continue on. Source of article click here : The Star
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Know a highway hero? Goodyear wants to hear the story
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Goodyear will announce the next recipient of its Highway Hero Award in March 2019.
Goodyear is accepting nominations for its annual Highway Hero Award here
through Nov. 29, 2018. The award winner for 2019 will receive a special
ring, a cash award, and a congratulatory trophy. Each of the other
Goodyear Highway Hero Award finalists will receive a cash prize and
other items.
Established in 1983, the Goodyear Highway Hero Award honors truck
drivers who have put themselves in harm’s way to help others. The 2018
Goodyear Highway Hero Award winner, Frank Vieira, saved the life of a motorist who suffered a severe injury after crashing his vehicle into the back of a truck.
“As we join the trucking industry in celebrating
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we recognize truck drivers and
the role they play in keeping our economy and way of life rolling,”
says Gary Medalis, marketing director at Goodyear. “But these
professionals deliver more than just goods and services. They are often
first responders to on-highway incidents, even before emergency crews
arrive on the scene – taking decisive action to save lives.”
Past Goodyear Highway Hero Award winners include
a truck driver who rescued a law enforcement officer who was being
strangled by a prisoner he was transporting, a truck driver who dove
into a pond to pull a child from a sinking car, and others.
To be considered for the Goodyear Highway Hero Award, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a full-time truck driver
- Must reside in the U.S. or Canada
- The heroic incident must have happened in the U.S. or Canada
- Nominee’s truck must have had 12 wheels or more at the time of the incident
- Nominee must have been on the job – or on the way to or from work, in his or her truck – at the time of the incident
- Incident must have taken place between Nov. 16, 2017, and Nov. 16, 2018
Finalists will be chosen by a panel of members in the trucking industry with final approval made by Goodyear following the official contest rules.
“Goodyear is proud to be the company that recognizes truck drivers
for their courage and selflessness,” added Medalis. “We look forward to
hearing their heroic stories.” Source of article click here : FleetOwner
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Cross-border trucking to be addressed during CTRF conference
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WINNIPEG, Man. – Registration is open for the 23rd annual Fields on
Wheels Conference, which will tackle ongoing issues with cross-border
trade between Canada and the U.S.
With tariffs being put in place and falling commodity prices, the
Nov. 2 conference will examine what is at stake when it comes to these
issues, particularly for Prairie farmers.
The event will include analysis of local cross-border truck traffic
flows in the Prairies, as well as a discussion about Canadian rail
shipments to NAFTA countries, and the impact all this could have on
Canada’s agriculture sector.
“Everything begins on a truck and ends on a truck – grain is no
different,” said Dr. Barry Prentice, professor of supply chain
management at the University of Manitoba and past director of the
Transport Institute. “Agricultural trade depends on transportation, and
the cross-border market is extremely important.”
Other topics that will be addressed during the Fields on Wheels
Conference include the tracking of grains, oilseeds, and value-added
shipments, post-CTA initiatives, the Transportation Modernization Act,
and a panel discussion on the Ports Modernization Review.
The conference will take place at Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg
South and is hosted by the Canadian Transportation Research Forum, a
non-profit association made up of transport professionals from a variety
of backgrounds, including trucking companies and shippers.
Those who would like to register for the event can do so at http://ctrf.ca/?page_id=4668 by Oct. 19 for the early bird rate of $295; after Oct. 19, the regular rate of $345 will apply. |
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Goodyear rolls out most fuel-efficient tire yet at IAA
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HANNOVER, Germany – Goodyear launched its first-ever full silica tread compound tire at the IAA truck show in Germany.
The new tire, called Fuelmax Performance, is what Goodyear says is
its most fuel-efficient tire to date. The tire has hit the European
grade A for fuel efficiency and met full Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake
winter tire requirements. 
According to David Anckaeart, v.p. of Goodyear Commercial Tires
Europe, the new tires will help long-haul European fleets save money on
fuel, while meeting the EU’s ambitious CO2 targets (heavy duty vehicles
are to reduce their CO2 emissions by 15% in 2020, and 30% by 2030.)
Goodyear estimated that fleets in Europe using the tires would save up
to 290,000 Euros in fuel costs and 557 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
“Tires are crucial for sustainable mobility and are core components
of vehicle performance,” Anckaert said. “The new Goodyear Fuelmax
Performance tires demonstrate our understanding of the challenges and
opportunities that environmental objectives pose for our customers. They
further show our commitment to supporting OEMs and fleets in achieving
those objectives and reducing costs.” Source of article click here : Truck News
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Walmart Canada orders 30 more Tesla semi-trucks, aims to shed diesel
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TORONTO - Walmart Canada is buying more Tesla semi trucks as it aims to
reduce its carbon footprint by having its entire fleet powered by
alternative energy by 2028.
The Canadian subsidiary of the U.S.-based retail giant says it will
acquire 30 of the 18-wheeler semi-trucks on top of the 10 ordered last
November.
The additional rigs, which hold the promise of eventually being
switched to autonomous operation, will help Walmart Canada meet its
initial goal of electrifying 20 per cent of its fleet by 2022.
The first 20 Tesla Semis will be used out of Mississauga, Ont.
The remaining half will operate from Walmart's distribution centre in
Surrey, B.C., set to open 2022, which will be the company's first fully
electric fleet base in the world.
Delivery dates for the vehicles over the next five years haven't been finalized.
"We are always looking for innovative ways to minimize our impact on
the environment and lead the industry in the drive for sustainable
change," stated John Bayliss, senior vice-president, logistics and
supply chain.
Walmart will have one of Canada's largest Tesla Semi fleets. Other
companies that pre-ordered the $232,000 electric trucks include Toronto
trucking firm Fortigo Freight and Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Tesla says the semi-trucks will offer a better experience for truck
drivers, increase safety and significantly reduce the cost of cargo
transport.
The company says the vehicles, with a range of about 800 kilometres,
will consume less than two kilowatt-hours of energy per mile at highway
speed, earning 50 per cent more per mile than a regular truck.
Walmart says it will be able to convert from diesel quicker because the
travel distance per charge is in line with its current fleet that
consists mainly of single-day round trips.
Vehicle cameras will help detect object and minimize blind spots, while
other safety features include automatic emergency braking, automatic
lane keeping and lane departure warning.
Walmart Canada operates 410 stores in Canada, serving more than 1.2 million customers per day. Source of article click here : CTV NEWS
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11 states, D.C. suspend hours regs as hurricane approaches
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a regional
emergency declaration for 11 states and Washington, D.C. as Hurricane
Florence, currently, a category four hurricane heads for the U.S. East
Coast.
Hurricane Florence recorded winds of up to 130 miles per hour this
morning. The storm is expected to make landfall on the North Carolina
coast Thursday evening. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting for
the storm to remain strong and be “an extremely dangerous major
hurricane through Thursday night.”
The FMCSA’s declaration covers Florida, Georgia, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, and D.C. It exempts truckers providing
direct support of relief efforts related to the hurricane from Parts
390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The
declaration is effective immediately and will remain in effect through
the duration of the emergency, or through Oct. 10, whichever is less.
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster ordered the evacuation of the
state’s coast. Residents in hurricane zones have been instructed to
evacuate beginning no later than noon Tuesday, Sept. 11. At the same
time, traffic along certain evacuation routes is being reversed. Those
reversals are as follows:
- Charleston to Columbia: A full four-lane reversal on I-26 in
Charleston will begin at the interchange of I-26 and I-526. The full
reversal continues west until the I-26 crossover to I-77 just outside
Columbia in Lexington County.
- Horry County: Horry County has two four-lane reversals along US 501:
SC 544 to US 378; and US 501: Between SC 22 (Conway Bypass) to SC 576
near Marion County.
- For the Beaufort and Hilton Head area, the state will poise and be
ready to reverse US 278 and US 21 if traffic conditions warrant.
“At this time, there is still some uncertainty about the track of
this storm and its potential impact, but we are preparing for any
possible outcome, including the potential of historic, catastrophic, and
life-threatening flooding in Maryland,” said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.
“Our state is taking every precaution, and I urge all Marylanders to do
the same. Stay tuned to your local news stations for the latest
updates, listen to state and local authorities, and most importantly,
use common sense.” Source of article click here : Truckers News
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Want to spot brake defects? ‘Bend at the waist’
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TORONTO, Ont. – Brakes are a focus of roadside enforcement officers
every day of the year, but that focus will intensify later this month
during Brake Safety Week.
Scheduled for Sept. 16-22, the week coordinated by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
combines education initiatives and inspections alike, depending on the
jurisdiction. It has traditionally allowed enforcement teams to shine a
light on a variety of systems and issues.
The focus for the last two years has been ABS violations, added CVSA
director of roadside inspection program Kerri Wirachowsky, during a
webinar hosted by EROAD. “Before ABS we wanted to know how many vehicles were using air disc brakes.” The focus for this year has yet to be determined.
But no matter what the focus has been, a wide range of violations are
spotted. Last year there were 7,698 related inspections during Brake
Safety Week, with 14% of the vehicles put out of service for brake
violations. Twenty-two percent were put out of service for violations of
any kind.
The most common brake-related violations fall under six categories,
she said. Chafing or kinking brake hose and tubing; brakes out of
adjustment; general brake issues; automatic brake adjusters on vehicles
manufactured since 1994; malfunctioning ABS lamps on towed vehicles made
between March 1998 and 2009; and inoperative or defective brakes are
all recorded.
“I’m not suggesting drivers can find them all, but I’m suggesting in
some cases they can find more than they do,” Wirachowsky said. “Bend at
the waist.”
Sure, dust shields can obscure the view or brake linings, but the
most common issues of all include out-of-adjustment brakes and chafing
air lines. “You can see kinked air hoses as you’re walking,” she said.
Push rods are marked with visual indicators as well.
Wirachowsky refers to cracked spring brake housings, a loose
compressor, or leaking air tanks as brake-related issues that might
place a truck out of service. The cracked spring housing presents an
“imminent danger” of a spring breaking free, for example. And if 20% of a
vehicle’s brakes fail to meet the standards, it’s put of service with a
general inspection, repair, or maintenance violation – recorded on an
inspection report as 396.3(a)(1).
Understanding the related codes can help maintenance teams identify
the underlying causes. “Sometimes there’s two citations on a vehicle for
one brake being out of adjustment,” she said. In a case like this, it
might not make sense to simply replace the slack adjuster. There could
be another issue with a worn clevis pin that kept the slack from working
as it should.
Differences can also be seen in the codes for lighting-related
defects. A 393.9 code refers to a lamp on a truck that is burnt out, for
example, but the 393.11 for defective lighting should only apply if the
light is actually missing.
Checking the condition of ABS warning lamps is also becoming more
important in an era when emerging safety systems like roll stability
controls rely on the underlying ABS systems, Wirachowsky said. “All the
safety systems that are being manufactured and added to vehicles rely on
ABS.” And they could leave drivers with a false sense of security if
there’s an ABS failure.
“Most drivers think it’s as simple as turning the key and the light
will cycle on the truck and trailer. Possibly, but not always,” she adds
of such inspections, referring to the example of a double combination
with an older trailer in the lead position. “They [drivers] are not
necessarily aware that all these scenarios exist, and they sell
themselves short if they don’t know.”
Avoiding any violations is a goal, of course, and she stresses the
value of some best practices – not the least of which is conducting
thorough pre- and post-trip inspections that follow proper and timely
procedures. Ensure drivers are trained in what to expect in a Level 1
inspection, she said. Because not everyone will be familiar with the
procedures.
“Everyone feels they get inspected all the time,” she said, referring
to drivers that she stopped who were never inspected before. “The odds
of being inspected is pretty low.” Source of article click here : Today's Trucking
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Highlight Motor Group creates new in-house driver training program
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CONCORD, Ont. — Highlight Motor Group today announced the commencement of its Class AZ driver training college.
In partnership with leading driver training college, Highlight Motor
Group has created a customized program at its Concord head office
facility. The comprehensive training program uses their yard, equipment,
and cross dock facility.
Highlight Motor Group says the cost of an AZ licence today is around
$8,000 — and they are willing to give students the program for free.
The program was created in direct response to the overwhelming demand for quality truck drivers.
Kirk Kalinitchenko, founder, president and CEO of Highlight Motor
Group said: “We are a solutions provider in all that we do, so we
decided to tackle the driver shortage head-on. For young people without a
university education, being a professional truck driver provides an
above average wage. The demand for drivers is great and jobs are readily
available at Highlight Motor Group. It is a 2 stage evaluation process
for acceptance, one with the partner college and the other with our
human resources department. Upon acceptance the candidate will be making
a full time driver wage after successfully completing the 5 week
program. We’re excited about introducing young people to our industry as
professional class AZ drivers.” Source of article click here : Truck News
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Legal Marijuana: Just What Canada Needs!
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Apparently, the weed economy is way bigger than we ever
imagined. Experts and economists are trying to estimate how much the weed
market is worth.
Sellers such as pharmacists, drug dealers and even college
students make a lot of money every time they sell weed. And Canada has decided
to venture into the spot market.
Canada is likely to legalize weed this year. The country is
known as one of the largest medicinal producers of marijuana in the world with
an estimated worth of $ 14.1 million sales in 2017.
A Look at the Legal Marijuana Industry in Canada
If Canada legalizes recreational use of marijuana the
economy is set to grow to up to $22.6 billion.
The study further estimates that the weed sales will even surpass
alcohol sales and match up to wine sales.
The sales could be as large as large as $8.7 billion due to
the high increase in tourism that will be experienced.
However, the actual number of marijuana sales will depend on
how the government will regulate standards. Thus the country statisticians will
need to come up with four basic variables. They need to understand:-
·
How many people will be consuming the weed?
·
How many days the marijuana will be consumed.
·
How many grams of marijuana an individual can
consume in a day.
·
The price of weed
However,
these variables will not constitute the total GDP of the country because there
will also be weed which will be smuggled into the country.
In recent
study, 5000 Canadians were polled and it was discovered that 22% Canadians use
weed on an occasional basis. On the other hand, 7% use the herb on a daily
basis.
The
production and sale of marijuana should not be a problem. Some
businesses such as pharmaceuticals have already filed applications to
distribute weed for recreational purposes.
However, tracking recreational weed might be a bit trickier than
medicinal marijuana.
When it
comes to medical weed, pharmaceuticals have to fill reports, invoices, send
monthly reports, sales and inventories to the Health of Canada. It’s to ensure
that the government knows and can track all the sources of legal marijuana as
and when required.
Keeping Illegal Marijuana Sales in Check
When it
comes to smuggled weed, the cost of weed is still unclear but officials will
have to guess the cost of production. This will be in terms of the seeds,
fertilizers, labour and electricity used.
There has
been a lot of opposition when it comes to legalizing weed. A lot of citizens
are against it, but something should be but the whole process of legalizing
might be worthwhile. For instance, a state like Colorado which has a fifth of
the population compared to Canada benefited from it. In 2014 it collected $76
million worth of taxes. They were put to good use where most of them went into
education.
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