Pro-Trucker Driver's Choice - November December 2024 ( Find Your Trucking Jobs)
Our dedicated transportation division ensures each client’s portfolio encompasses tailor-made coverages; from private auto, cargo and pollution to D&O, bonding and warehousing. Our unique relationships with major transportation insurers, allows us to negotiate enhanced coverages at the most competitive rates available. Our in-house claims manager follows every claim along to a successful conclusion and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have any questions concerning a competitive quote on your transportation insurance, or would like to set up a fleet or prorate account, please contact our Commercial Division and speak with one of our transportation specialists.
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
BY JOHN WHITE
Peace on Earth…
In 1918, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Commonwealth countries and their allies recognized the end of First World War hostilities. Each year on this date, Canadians stop to remember those who fought, many of whom died, so that we could live in a free country. A country where we can voice our opinion without fear of repercussion and, by majority vote, choose those who will represent and lead us.
Growing up, I inherited my mother’s encyclopedia set that she used in college. They were printed in 1939. They refer to the First World War as the war to end all wars. They called it that because they felt that it could never happen again. Unfortunately, the end of hostilities around the world will only come when people find a way to respect their neighbour’s religions, customs, and lifestyle.
There was a time that I considered moving to another country, mainly for the adventure and chance to see the world. But having to learn the language and traditions of another culture was daunting, to say the least, and, quite frankly, knowing there is always prejudice towards new immigrants in any society, it was something I did not want to go through. That said, I greatly admire the people who have made that journey, taken the abuse and then been successful, contributing citizens of their new country.
Canada is made up of immigrants who, like my Irish great-grandmother, had to fight extreme prejudice from, surprisingly, the immigrants who came before her. Many immigrants came to Canada because of persecution based on anything from race, religion, nationality or political opinion, only to find they are now the new guys on the block and not readily accepted by those who, for some reason, feel superior because they or their relatives immigrated sooner.
We have all been guilty of some prejudice in our lifetime. More often than not, we are influenced by those around us. Many times, those were friends or relatives who we trusted. Often, prejudice comes out of fear of the unknown and listening to the stereotypical rumours put out by fearmongers. Then there are those who try to build themselves up and appear macho, superior, and all-knowing by putting others down.
When you look at young children before they are influenced by those around them, you see they approach everyone as equals. They do not care if someone is black, brown, yellow, red or green. Muslim, Sikh, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, or a million other roadblocks and excuses some adults put up. They are only concerned with how that individual treats them. We could learn a lot from our children if we just let go of those fears and take people for who they are, not what they are or where they come from.
Christmas and the New Year are quickly approaching. It is the time of year for reflection and well wishes for those around us. The movie Miss Congeniality mocked beauty pageants where every contestant wished for world peace in their speeches. With the world in turmoil today, we could all use a little peace.
From all of us here at Pro-Trucker/Drivers Choice wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
John White: john@ptmag.ca
PUBLISHER
Coast2Coast Business Pages Ltd.
ADVERTISING/MARKETING
Tony Arora: tony@coast2coastpages.com
John White: john@ptmag.ca
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bill Weatherstone • Colin Black
• Dave Madill • Glen Mallard • Myrna Chartrand • Scott Casey • John Maywood
• Dave Elniski • Frank Milne
• Kalyn Marie
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ben Proudley • Alicia Cornish
David Benjatschek wowtrucks.com
HEAD OFFICE #235 - 8138 128th St. Surrey BC V3W1R1 P: 604-724-8976 | F: 604-598-9264
tony@coast2coastpages.com I www.driverschoice.ca
The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher. The advertiser agrees to protect the publisher against legal action based upon libelous or inaccurate statements; the unauthorized use of materials or photographs; and/or any other errors or omissions in connection with advertisements placed in the Magazine. The publisher can and will refuse any advertising which in his opinion is misleading or in poor taste. The publisher does not endorse or make claim or guarantee the validity or accuracy of any advertisement herein contained. All materials submitted for publication are subject to editing at the publisher’s discretion. The act of mailing or e-mailing material shall be considered an expressed warranty by the contributor that the material is original and in no way an infringement on the rights of others.
Publications Mail Agreement #42378023. Return Undeliverable Canadian Address to: #235 - 8138 128th St. Surrey BC V3W1R1.
RIG OF THE MONTH by John White
At this years APNA Truck show I came across this beautiful 2005 Peterbilt 379X. I talked to the owner and was impressed by his enthusiasm for trucking and how his father and grandfather had such a huge impact on his decision to become a driver. This is his story:
My name is Tajinder Singh Rakhra, or Mintu, as I am known to my friends. I have two siblings, a brother and a sister. Trucking has been more than just a career for me; it has been a profound journey that began in my childhood in Moga, Punjab. Growing up, I was surrounded by the sights and sounds of bustling roads, where trucks were a common sight. The rhythmic rumble of diesel engines, the sight of colourful trucks adorned with intricate designs, and the sense of purpose carried by these vehicles
ignited a passion in me that has only grown over the years. My father and grandfather were truck drivers, and I vividly remember how they handled their vehicles with such skill and confidence. Their many stories of the open road fascinated me as a child and made me passionate about trucks.
After leaving school, I ran a truck part shop in Punjab for about eight years. We sold Tata Ashok, Leyland, and Mercedes parts. My family owns a trucking company in India
called “APC.” When I was there, we had about 30 trucks. My uncle still runs the company but has downsized to 15 trucks.
My father taught me how to drive a truck. He would take me on trips where we would deliver tea from Moga in Punjab to New Dheli, then reload from UP to Assam. We would then load up Koyla (coal) from Assam and bring it back to Punjab. Sometimes, I would go from Assam to Gujrit to load tea. We also brought scrap metal from
Tajinder Singh Rakhra
Gujarat. The whole triangle trip was 6300km, and it usually took us about 3-4 weeks to return home. He taught me about trucks and their parts on those trips, but I mainly learned by watching him drive. Watching him was a spectacle that captivated me. His dedication to his work, the long hours he spent on the road, and the respect he earned from others made a lasting impression on me. This early exposure to trucking instilled in me a desire to follow in his footsteps. It ignited a fire within that would shape my life.
In 2003, my life took a significant turn when I moved to Canada. The transition was both challenging and exciting. Coming to Canada meant new opportunities and the promise of a fresh start. During this time, I met the owner of Allcan Holdings, a trucking company based in Abbotsford, BC. He encouraged men to pursue a career in trucking. Becoming a truck driver has been my dream since I was 15-16 years old, and I realized this was my chance to turn that dream into a profession.
The day I decided to pursue my Class 1, I felt like I was stepping onto a path that had been laid out for me since childhood. A year later, in 2004, I went for my license, passing on my first try. It was the moment I had been waiting for. I was ready to embark on my journey as a truck driver, stepping into a world that had always fascinated and captivated me.
I bought a Freightliner Classic with an N14 engine and a trailer and began to work for Allcan Holdings. This truck became my companion as I navigated the roads of Canada and the United States. I pulled a flatbed trailer and travelled extensively across the lower 48 states. My favourite run was L.A. California to Toronto, Ontario. It was my favourite because I loved driving out there and seeing the beautiful view. The experience was exhilarating; each mile brought new challenges,
adventures, and beautiful memories. After working there, I worked for Regel Transport LTD, where I pulled a dry van trailer for Home Depot from California and pulled it to their warehouse in Burnaby, BC. I also hauled Costco trailers to Alberta.
There were many other goods like watermelons from Arizona to Alberta and wood from Chilliwack to Texas. I also had many oversized loads.
As I mentioned, my initial employer was Allcan Holdings, where I worked long haul for 8 years. After that, I started working locally with Greg G Tutt Transport from Chilliwack, BC. Greg was great and very patient while teaching me to back up a Super B trailer. I worked for Greg for a couple of years, then went to work for Fraser Valley Transport from Mission BC, hauling loads of shingles from Sumas, Washington, to the lower mainland. I drove the Freightliner for about six years, but it started to give me some trouble as time passed. In 2008, I decided to purchase a 1998 Peterbilt 379. This truck became a reliable partner as I worked in B.C. and Alberta, pulling a drive van.
While on the road, I encountered winter storms that tested my
skills and resilience. The snowcovered highways were daunting, but I managed well and learned to navigate the challenges that came my way. Each journey was a lesson in adaptability and determination.
After a few years, in 2015, I took a bold step and opened my own company, “Ride N Style Transport LTD.” I began pulling a local Super B trailer for prefab walls, finding joy in the freedom of being my own boss. The roar of the engine and the feel of the steering wheel in my hands became exhilarating experiences, affirming my love for the open road.
I now drive a 2005 Peterbilt 379X equipped with a C15 Cat engine and a 355 regular rear end. This truck is not just a vehicle; it is a powerful machine representing my hard work and dedication to my craft. My connection with my truck is profound; it embodies the many miles I have travelled and the countless experiences I have accumulated over the past years. Each time I climb into the cab, I am reminded of the legacy that my father and grandfather started and the tradition that I am proud to keep carrying on.
My brother, Gagandeep Singh Rakhra, also caught the trucking
bug. He watched my journey with great interest and began to share his insights on buying and selling trucks. His passion for the industry grew as he saw the joy it brought me and how I would always be so deeply invested in trucks. It was heartwarming to have someone in the family who understood the nuances of trucking and could provide valuable input on transactions. Our discussions about trucks often turned into lively debates, filled with enthusiasm and shared experiences. I cherished those moments of camaraderie, knowing
we were part of something bigger than ourselves.
Tragically, our journey together was cut short when my brother became a CVSE officer. On his first day, in 2019, he passed away. Losing him was devastating. The bond we shared over our love for trucking made his absence feel even more profound. He was not only my brother but also my confidant and fellow enthusiast in the trucking world. His death left a void that cannot be filled, but I carry his memory with me as I continue my journey on the road.
As I drive my truck on long hauls, I often reflect on the legacy of my father & grandfather and the values they instilled in me. It is a tradition I am proud to uphold, and it fills me
with joy to see my son, Aikam Rakhra, showing interest in the field. He often watches me drive with wide eyes, and I can see the admiration in his gaze. One day, he turned to me and said, “Dad, one day I will become a truck driver like you.” Those words struck a chord in my heart, encapsulating the essence of our family’s trucking legacy. It was a beautiful moment, and I felt overwhelming pride and hope for the future.
Aikam’s enthusiasm for trucking is contagious. He loves to accompany me on drives, eagerly absorbing everything he can about the trucks and their parts. He comes along with me from time to time when I go to work. He enjoys watching me drive and figures that he learns something new each time. His curiosity knows no bounds, and he asks countless questions about the mechanics and operations of the vehicles. I take the time to explain the intricacies of the trucks, sharing my knowledge and experiences with him from childhood to now. Watching him light up with excitement when he learns something new brings me immense joy and happiness. I often find myself reminiscing about my childhood dreams of becoming a truck driver, and now I see those dreams reflected in my son’s eyes.
The bond we share over trucking is truly special. It is more than just a profession; it is a connection that ties us together as a family. I can only hope to inspire Aikam as my father once inspired me. I want him to understand the importance of hard work, dedication, and the values that come with being a truck driver. It is not just about driving; it is about responsibility, reliability, trust and the pride that comes from being part of a vital industry. Each time we share a moment on the road, I see the potential for the next generation to carry forward our family’s legacy.
As I look back on my journey, I realize that trucking has become
ingrained in my bloodline. It is not merely a job but a way of life I have embraced wholeheartedly. Each mile I drive is a testament to my commitment to this profession and the legacy my father built. I am proud to be part of a family tradition that has spanned generations, and I am excited to see how Aikam will continue the truck legacy.
In conclusion, my journey in trucking has been a fulfilling and transformative experience. From the early days of watching my father and grandfather drive and now sharing the road with my son, it has been a beautiful cycle of inspiration and passion. The road has been filled with tough challenges, but each experience has shaped me into the driver I am today. As I look ahead, I am filled with hope for the future, knowing that the spirit of trucking lives on in my family. The legacy will continue, fueled by our shared love for the open road and the joy of driving. Every day I learn something new related to trucking. It may not be everyone’s passion, but I love and look up to it.
What's filtering the small stuff?
The Kleenoil Filtration System is a bypass oil filter that passes only a small portion of the total oil flow through a very dense filter cartridge at about 2 to 3 litres per minute. At this speed, it is possible to remove particles down to 1 micron and totally remove water.
FOR ENGINES AND HYDRAULICS
• Eliminates Water
• Removes Dirt and Contaminants
• Doesn't Remove Desirable Elements
• Helps With Drain Intervals
• Good For The Environment
Letters to the Editor
Pro-Trucker Driver’sChoiceMagazine
Hi John,
The problem with Class 1 driver training in BC is that MELT (mandatory entry-level training) isn’t working! The program will have been in place for three years this October. Are we starting to see an improvement in the quality and safety of new Professional Truck drivers on the road? Perhaps, but not at a level that I would expect for how much more involvement the program is compared to the training the majority of schools used to deliver.
The framework and processes within the MELT program in BC are excellent and meet the National Occupational Standard for entry-level professional drivers. The question then is, where is the gap between the program and the results it achieves?
I see a couple of issues:
1) Although the MELT program contains 26 different skills evaluations that the students must pass to complete the program, the evaluations don’t contain any marking criteria! The skills are marked at the level determined by the school to be “good enough.” I am sure if you look hard enough, you will find schools that complete the paperwork and never actually complete the skill with the student. Students who can fog a mirror pass the test based on that school’s measuring stick. Obviously, it’s not good enough!
2) ln BC, the MELT program belongs to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and is administered/ monitored by a branch of ICBC called Driver Training and Certification. I personally know a lot of the team at ICBC and DTC, and they are good people who care about driver training in this province. So why aren’t they doing something about the low standards some schools are using or the schools that are shortcutting the program? First, there is not enough staff to properly audit the schools, and second, the investigative team will only act on student complaints.
The driver training situation in BC really hasn’t changed with MELT. If you want to shortcut the process and don’t care about learning how to be a good, safe, entry-level driver, you can find a school that will do that for you. lf you are serious about a professional driving career and want to learn the industry and start on a solid footing with experience in the mountains and learning everything in the MELT program properly, there are schools for that.
There are currently 42 MELT-licensed driving schools in Surrey. Most of these schools didn’t exist before MELT. It would appear there could be some people taking advantage of the system? MOTI appears to be proud of having met the requirement
• $300 0 sign on b onus
• Increased mileage rate 10/2021
• Fuel Cap of 47 cent s p er litre
• Fuel p er formance pay program
• Dire c t dep osit, paid t wice monthly
• Fast cards and passp or t s preferre d
• No cost satellite communication s ystem
• Insurance/ license subsidy is upto 50 % , e qual monthly payment s, no interest
• Stable company in business since 1954 Join
• Late model tractor preferred
• Safet y b onus paid quar terly
• Scales/tolls/fa xes paid
• Group insurance
• Excellent home time and exible dispatch
• Paid pick ups and drops
• All miles paid/prac tical miles
Please call Dina or Kaolin at 1- 8 0 0- 66 3 -2339 or Send resumes to kaolinm@berryandsmith.com dinae@berryandsmith.com
Safe driving record • Mechanically sound tractor • Cross bo rde r ca pa bilit y • Cu s to m e r se r v ice focu s
to have a MELT program in BC and has moved on to other issues.
When will they be held accountable for adding the required standards and auditing procedures to allow MELT to succeed at its intended goal? If we are serious about proper training and safer highways, then MELT schools need to be accredited and have site audits every two years, which the schools themselves pay for. The system as it currently stands is a joke, with no teeth to enforce the current rules and not enough resources to do it either.
You might ask why students who attend schools that take shortcuts don’t complain to ICBC and trigger an investigation. This is because the students are happy that they got their driver’s license. They just want a job. There is a reason there are more truck crashes every year on our highways: we have too many drivers who aren’t adequately trained and don’t care.
For those who aren’t aware, the requirements for MELT in BC are for the course to be taught and skills to be passed using a tractor with a non-synchronized transmission. After completing MELT, you can take your ICBC road test. The ICBC road test can be taken with a manual or automated transmission, but you get an “automatic only” designation on your license if you use an automated one. So why, if you just completed your course and passed all your skills on a manual transmission, would you do your road test on an automated one? Perhaps because you did all your training on an automated transmission, which is against the guidelines? This happens daily in British Columbia, and nothing is being done about it.
This is extremely frustrating for a school that has been teaching to industry standards and has been accredited by various groups since 2003. Ultimately, the gatekeepers of the process are the trucking companies, as they have always been. If a carrier hires the graduate from your school, then I guess your standards are good enough, or the carrier’s is low enough, which is far too common. If you are serious about a professional driving career, do your research, talk to schools, talk to drivers and most importantly, talk to the carriers that pay well, operate safe equipment and ask which schools they will hire from.
Andy Roberts President MTI
(Mountain Transport Institute)
Castlegar, BC
Editor’s note: For those unfamiliar with Andy Roberts and MTI, he has been my go-to guy for over 20 years regarding driver training. Much of his course is based on the “Earning Your Wheels” program developed by the Federal Government and Industry Professionals (Andy among them) in the 1990s. It was an excellent program, far more involved than the MELT program. At the time, it was meant to be the minimum training standard for Canadian truck drivers. Unfortunately, the politicians of the day, Federal and Provincial, did not have the intestinal fortitude to implement the program. MTI has long-standing partnerships with many quality carriers in BC and Alberta. These companies hire their graduates right out of school. If you are going to invest in your education and safety, I suggest you consider talking to MTI.
Some Decisions are Life Changing
I’m sitting by the pool at a game lodge in South Africa, writing this article and watching nyalas, rhinos, and warthogs drinking from the watering hole. In the distance, there is a giraffe out for a stroll.
This is the perfect way to celebrate my 15 years of service with Portage Transport and my 43rd birthday. I didn’t specifically plan this trip for those reasons….heck….I didn’t plan this trip at all! Did I mention I make an excellent 3rd, 5th or 7th wheel on any trip?? I love having friends who plan trips and let me just tag along.
Let’s talk about driving in South Africa for a minute. All I can say is that you must learn right from the time you get your license that driving aggressively and confidently is mandatory. I would never survive here because I drive so cautiously. On top of the aggressiveness, they drive on the opposite side of the road as us. From what I’ve seen, the semi-trucks, mainly Scania and Man, appear to be governed at 80km/h. They often pull over to the shoulder to let cars pass as a courtesy when travelling on two-lane roads. Our guides drove us to our excursions, and I was always staring out the windows, watching the traffic flow. Passenger vehicles would pass when I personally would deem it unsafe. Still, there seemed to be an understanding between the traffic that if a car was passing, the oncoming traffic would move over to their shoulder to give way to the oncoming vehicle. I certainly am not a risk taker when driving, and I’d be stuck following the semi trucks here
all day because I’d never feel safe enough to pass. (LOL)
I know it may seem crazy…. BUUUTTT......I bet you’d never guess that I don’t know how to drive a 5-speed stick shift. I can shift 13 or 18 speed like no one’s business, but that 1st gear at fivespeed can be a bit tricky! I was able to practice some right-side driving in a standard pickup while on this vacation. I stalled 3 times trying to get mobile, but once I got going, I just stayed in 1st gear through the field I was practicing in. The shift pattern was the same as our vehicles at home, but you had to shift with your left hand instead. I have trouble with the five speeds because my footwork could use some fine-tuning. I have difficulty gently pressing the accelerator while letting off the clutch. In the semi-truck, you can put it in 1st gear, release the clutch and not use the accelerator at all, and you will still move forward.
It’s crazy to think back on the last 15 years with Portage Transport and all the trials and tribulations that I went through. I don’t have a single regret about switching my profession from a pharmaceutical company to trucking. I have learned, grown as a person, and developed strengths that I never knew I had. People ask me if I’m the same person that I was 15 years ago, and I can honestly say that, in many ways, I am, and in many ways, I’m not. I definitely feel like I’ve gained a lot of confidence in myself. I care less about what others think of me because I know
By Myrna Chartrand
Myrna was born and raised in Oak Point, Manitoba and was our April 2019 Rig of the Month driver.
at the end of the day, I’m genuine and authentic. As of this vacation, I also found out something new about myself. Apparently, I get seasick - it only took 9000 miles and a deep-sea fishing trip to find that out!
With driver retention being a hot topic, many people have asked why I’ve stayed with Portage Transport all these years when other people are searching for greener grass. The fact that they have given me cool trucks has definitely been a factor. I would give 100% to any job I do, but give me a truck that makes me feel good, and I’ll give 150%. I like working for a company that has its own shop staffed with qualified mechanics. I like that we have dedicated trucks, so I don’t have to share mine with anyone when I’m on my days off. I’ve settled into a comfort zone with dispatch where they know which areas I prefer to run, making it much easier for their life and mine. I’m kind of a creature of habit, so I don’t really care for too much change. I don’t want to start at the bottom again and get used to a new set of rules, policies, procedures, staff and equipment. I feel as though I have great working relationships with my co-workers. We keep it professional, but we can still chat about what we did on the weekend, our vacation
continued on next page...
plans, etc. The routes we have make things appealing for me as well. Over the years, they have also presented new or different pay incentives that other companies aren’t offering.
Fifteen years have flown by, and I still enjoy what I do for a living. Heck….it allows me to sit in South Africa for two weeks, having the most amazing experiences! I like knowing I’m contributing to society and helping put food onto people’s tables. I love the camaraderie with the friends I’ve made along the way. I enjoy sharing jokes with likeminded people or sitting around at a truck show telling stories. Seeing the sights that only some people see on TV or in magazines is also such a cool thing! When I started trucking, I didn’t know what to expect. A few people tried to deter me from
driving for a living, but I set out to experience it myself. I definitely feel that I’ve embraced every opportunity presented to me.
Looking back at photos from over the years and talking to drivers who met me when I was first starting is always fun. I can hear from them and see the evolution of how I’ve developed into the person I am today and how I present myself.
Cody Jinks sang, “Some said I’d never make it That I didn’t do things right So I showed them who I was And then I made it just to spite
I changed the game, stood in the rain I may be borderline insane Been messed around, I’ve been put down
But I keep coming back again I wear that hat, yeah I’m the punk that says I did it my own way
And at the end of the day I can say I changed the game”
Thankfully, I’ve had excellent guidance right from when I thought about entering this profession to when I started trucking and to the present day and beyond. I’m still learning every single day, but I like to think that I can put my own twist on things and go about my days in my own ways. I didn’t always want to stand out from the crowd, but now I like to embrace being different. These last 15 years have helped mould me into the person I am today, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next 15!
IChoices!
t’s getting to be that time for me to look at my next set of wheels. I am extremely fortunate to be on with a company that has no restrictions on what I run for a truck, so it’s a real struggle to decide what’s next… Yes, I realize this isn’t a real “hardship” but it does keep me awake at night trying to figure out the right choice. In some ways, I’m envious of the younger me that was just told what truck I’d be driving and then I had to be happy with it.
When I first got my license working for the family, they only let me run around town and out to the mill with our little city tractor. It was an S-line International tandem with a 190 HP DT466 and a 13-speed driven by whoever needed to do a delivery in town. I don’t know how many of you have been through Whitecourt, but the hill in town is a relatively short 5 or 6% grade. I had what I will now call the privilege of pulling fully loaded tandem and tridem loads of paper from the ANC mill with that truck. Maybe calling it a privilege is going too far, it was more like a benefit because having that little power meant you had to learn how to shift well or crawl up the hill at 4km/h in 1st gear.
I remember clearly the first truck I was given to drive on the highway (Don’t they say you never forget your first?) a 1986 GMC 5-star General. It was the oldest truck in the fleet, had over a million and a half kms on it and was spring ride but was a real step up from the little cornbinder. I just loved making it roll coal and listening to the Jakes on that old Cat, they didn’t do
much in the way of slowing the truck down but they sounded cool. All the company truck hand-medowns after that were non-descript Freightliners and Volvos, one stack, white wonders, uninspiring to a young guy who wanted to look cool.
When I got a year and a half into my career, I went logging for the winter, which was the place I first got to drive what I deemed were cooler trucks. It was also where I realized the importance of the parts underneath and how important it was to spec a truck for the job. The trucks Kiwi had were all nicely built Western Stars with the requisite Chrome and dual breathers needed for “the look,” but they also had heavy front ends, Chalmers suspension and 46k or 50k rears. That was the common log spec at the time, regardless of the make of the truck, the power under the hood or the number of stacks. There were a few trucks on the haul that were Highway spec Petes and KW’s with the sleepers removed. They were long, low, and so cool until the haul really started… Watching them break and fall over while some of the plain older trucks soldiered on started to change my thinking.
The significance of having the right components in a truck is far beyond the shiny bits on the outside. The old adage “Chrome don’t get you home” is true. If you have seen my current ride, you may think I’m being hypocritical and to a degree, I am. I have a 389 Pete with a 78” bunk, a fair amount of Chrome, some chicken lights and big stacks. My truck would do the same job,
By Greg Evasiuk
Greg is a 3rd generation trucker with over 1 million miles and 22 years in trucking.
just as reliably, if it had a small bunk, no chrome and was basic as long as you didn’t change what’s below the cab.
That’s the rub with building a truck: getting all the necessary parts for the job for a price you can live with. For me, the mandatory things are a comfortable seat, heavy rear ends, big power, a solid frame, good ground clearance and heavy air ride suspension. For others, it may be lightweight components, aerodynamics, and driver assist features. Beyond all that, it’s getting it in a package you like, something you can look at day in and day out and be proud to drive, for a price you can afford. That last point is something that I really didn’t understand or appreciate until I started buying my own.
Like I said before, I drove plenty of “plain trucks” and have a ton of fond memories of adventures driving them. I have also driven some shiny hot rods that have done the same. What is keeping me up at night is trying to strike a balance between the show stopper I want and the payment I need. Fortunately, I’m what I’d like to call agnostic regarding truck brands, so I can shop them all. But then again, that gives me lots of options… and speaking of options… here we go again!
Dave Madill
Sadly Dave Madill passed on May 1st of this year. He will always be fondly remembered and missed.
Freedoms Call
War clouds race cross our land, a beast is on the prowl,
Death rises up his ugly head, we hear his mighty howl; The nation’s youngest and it’s best answer to the bugles’ call,
To them will fall the fighting, and some of them will fall.
Parents of our nation; faster beat their hearts,
Sons and daughters march to war, families are torn apart.
As the battle rages, some of the best must fall
Families must pay the price to answer freedom’s call.
The Root of the Flight
Let me set the scene for two drivers who are both guilty of unprofessional behaviour.
Both truckers are ascending a 5% grade and are side by side for almost the entirety of a 900m long passing lane.
Driver A attempts to pass. This is unprofessional right off the top for trying to pass when his truck is only capable of 3 km faster than the truck he’s attempting to overtake in the distance provided.
On the right, Driver B could’ve been courteous and just lifted his foot off the throttle for literally a 3-second count and put his throttle foot back to the floor. That gives just enough time to allow Driver A time to pass, and he, Driver B, loses zero time overall in his trip.
But instead, they both allow testosterone, ineptitude, and low care for human life to lead their race to nowhere. Driver A now finds himself in the oncoming traffic lane, and a head-on collision is imminent.
Unfortunately, the trouble with this scenario is far deeper than just a couple of donkeys trying to pass one another.
This issue can be tracked all the way back to you, the consumer. Like it or not, the consumer is the root of the problem. Fear not though for your gentile heart, you’ve been guided to this end.
The Western World lives an
often vain existence and, in doing so, looks for instant gratification at almost every turn. A large percentage of that instant gratification attitude is recognized in the fact that we now live in a 24hr commodity-based delivery system. Everyone wants their order today. But they will understand if it takes two days or 24 hours.
Grocery stores, courier services, and all overnight delivery systems were created by corporations to soothe the consumer’s “needs.” The corporations want to earn record profits, so they charge you money and cut costs wherever they can. Shareholders (the consumer) want their money too. To compensate, the corporations cut more costs. Wages, benefits, and pensions all become less and less in an effort to keep more money and satisfy you, the consumer.
I wonder how satisfied you are each time you travel the highways and local streets and see truck crashes daily, even hourly. I wonder how satisfied you, the consumer, are when you know that driving on our current highways could leave you or your loved ones dead.
But hey, you have your instant gratification item within 24hrs. That 24-hour delivery system is a vessel that brings danger to you.
It has also made our society weak. For centuries, humans have
By
Scott Casey Scott, our Rig of The Month for May 2003 has written “Ghostkeepers” a book about his years as a gun toting truck driver while serving as a Canadian Peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia.
learned how to plant seeds, grow crops, raise animals, hunt for food, etc. In just two generations, almost everyone in the Western world has become dependent on the 24-hour delivery system.
Most people have no clue how to raise their own food. They can’t plant a garden or milk a cow. The recent pundemic showed the reality that hundreds of thousands can’t even cook for themselves.
So, it must be trucked. This, in turn creates a massive vacuum. And drivers need to be hired immediately to fill the seats and offset the massive volume of trucks required to transport “your” orders/ necessities.
Our youth today “generally” doesn’t want to work in labour jobs because they’re soft - if you gave me money I hadn’t earned, I wouldn’t work either - and they’ve been permitted to be soft. In fact, our society has almost insisted for the past 3 decades that they become soft and more so recently. Just ask to empty a litter box in a school near you.
In turn, foreign workers fill the trucks and fields, which are now run by foreign owners who bought farms
and businesses from older Canadians who often sell out of necessity. In many cases, they’d love to pass the business down to a daughter or son, but the kids aren’t interested in taking over because too much work is involved. So, the business is sold off.
Our laws and governments are created by a system we have allowed to be designed through our manufactured inability to not stand up for what’s right, through apathy, laziness, and utter contempt for the very system we’ve permitted to exist.
We are all culpable for the changes in our society.
The MELT program and the 105 km speed limiter are recent kneejerk symptoms of a system where accepting responsibility is traded for shirking responsibility by pandering increased government rules, regulations and programs which do nothing more than create even more danger for you, the consumer.
Take a moment and think about how far we haven’t come since that tragic moment at a Saskatchewan rural intersection when the lives of so many were lost or changed forever.
We have 40 times more Class 1 Driving Training Schools since that fateful evening in 2018. Yet the crash rates for commercial vehicles have been exponentially catastrophic in the same time frame.
I’ll leave you with this
parting question.
“Would you board your scheduled flight, learning that because of an increase in daily flight volume, the pilot of your airplane had gone through a reduced flight training school program to keep the costs down?”
Variation Law
If you change lines (supermarket or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Some Things Make it All Worth it
The trucking industry has changed completely since I first started driving. Back then, there was very little traffic and no communication, so if you came upon an accident, you were on your own, and the only way to get help was to stop any traffic and send them to call for help. You would not have any idea when the situation you were in would end. One such accident stuck in my mind. I was hauling mobile homes and camp shacks then and was on my way home to Saskatoon after delivering a mobile home to the Hope, BC, area. I was running empty through Banff Park early in the morning on the weekend when I saw a car lying on the passenger side down, with the lights still on. I pulled over and stopped to see if it needed help, or maybe it was already attended to, and the lights were left on. I had already taken second-level first-aid training, so I felt confident I could help. As I crossed the road on foot, I saw two girls sitting outside the vehicle at the bottom of a hill. The slope was steep and about 50 or 60 feet deep. I scrambled down to assess the situation. One girl, about 19 or 20 years old, was bleeding from her forehead. She was quiet when I talked to her and told me she couldn’t see. The second girl was going into shock but was also silent. She was about the same age but just stared into space. I checked inside the car through the front broken windshield and found a man in his mid-20s in extreme trauma. He had no pulse, and after a quick check of his condition, I realized he would never have a pulse again. I knew I needed more help if this would have a better ending. I scrambled up the bank, and as luck would have it, a park employee was on his way to work, and he stopped. I gave him what I knew, and I went to my truck and grabbed the first aid kit, then I
scrambled back down the bank.
I gave the girl who was bleeding all the gauze that I had. I checked her wound and discovered the chrome plate from the 60’s Ford radio had broken, and a large piece of the plate was stuck between her eyes. I calmly told her she had a bad cut that needed attention, so we would leave it as it was and cover the whole area with gauze. I told her not to move and to keep the wound covered. I assured her I would be right back after I checked her friends. I went over to the other girl. She was still sitting up and quiet. I talked to her but got no response. After a quick check, I had only one thing to do. I gave her a quick, open-handed slap on her face. She turned and looked at me and said, “Could I have a cigarette?” I smoked at the time, so I said, “Sure, have one of mine, but I don’t have a light.” She thanked me and asked how the driver was. I calmly told her that he would need to go in an ambulance (I didn’t lie).
By Glen Millard
Glen “The Duck” was born in Saskatchewan. He has driven trucks for 50 years, mostly long hauling. He’s now retired, that is until another adventure comes along.
done and seen. Then I was on my way.
I returned to the first girl and told her that I would carry her out. I was in my mid-20s, and she looked small. I took her in my arms and started up the bank. By the time I got to the road, I was exhausted. The park’s ambulance (they had their own) was just pulling up. I talked to the injured girl and told her that I could not go with her, but I would leave my name and address on a piece of paper and put it in her pocket. I went back down, and the girl was speaking as people from the park were checking her. She was still holding the unlit cigarette.
We got the people taken care of, and I filled out a paper with what I had
At Christmas that year, I got a letter from the girl that I carried saying that she had an operation on her head and her eyesight returned, and other than that, she just had scrapes and bruises. Her friend had a couple of broken bones, but bruises were all she had. The driver was dead. About a year later, I was at the Husky in Golden and just had dinner. I was on my way back to Saskatoon, empty, and I felt like having a nap. (no electric logs yet) I had just dozed off, and there was a knock on the door. In those days, I never locked the doors. I was dressed, leaned over the driver’s seat and opened the door. Two girls stood there, and one asked, “Are you Glen? It says on the door,” As I climbed out, I said, “Yes I am.” She jumped toward me, hugged me, and said thank you. She lifted her hair back and said, “See, they fixed my bad cut.” We all went to the café and visited for an hour and a half. (still no E logs) She told me she kept watching the Husky parking lot to see if she could find me from the paper I left in her pocket.
That gave me a really good feeling to know I could help someone when they needed it. That was not in my job description, but these things kept me going in my career. I have used First Aid many times over the years. First Aid training is like carrying a spare tire; it’s like a pain in the posterior if you don’t need it, but it sure comes in handy at work or home if you do.
Killer Roads
Afew weeks ago, my good lady and I decided to take a wee break. The weather was very pleasant, our diaries were clear, and there were no doctor’s or hospital appointments. She wanted to go somewhere close to home that didn’t involve a long drive. On the other hand, I love driving and suggested we take a trip down memory lane and go to where we had our honeymoon 51 years ago, Silver Sands Caravan Park.
“Oh no,” she said, “that’s up past Inverness, and we need to take the A9. They call that the killer road, don’t they?” I said. “That’s just media and newspapers trying to grab your attention when there’s an accident.” After I convinced her we wouldn’t end up as a statistic, we booked the break and set off. The trip up there was uneventful, although the A9 today isn’t the same road I knew as a young trucker running up there with a tanker full of whisky or a box van loaded with barrels behind me.
It was a pleasure to drive north back then. You went through all the small villages and up through the scenic glens. Public transport wasn’t very regular, so the locals in the villages you passed through would thumb a lift from passing trucks and cars. I wonder how they get on now that all the villages are bypassed.
We stopped for a break in Aviemore, a really bustling tourist town now. I tried to see if I could find the house where I used to stop
for the night. It was visible from the main road back then, but all I could see now was newly built housing. The older woman who ran it is probably long gone, but back in the days of no sleeper cabs, it was like having a sleepover at your grandma’s. The truck was parked a two-minute walk away from a warm three-course meal, all homemade, then up to bed with a hot water bottle, an ideal end to a working day in the Scottish winter. Sleeper cabs, you can keep them.
By Colin Black
Colin Black lives in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland and has been driving truck for over 40 years. His story shows us once again that the problems drivers face are universal.
The Coffee Law
In addition to me getting the comfort of the old woman’s hospitality, there were a couple of construction workers there who were building the new A9 road. I wonder what the old woman thought about the drop in traffic once the new road was finished and the trucks no longer came through the town
businesses are bypassed and go bust. In the old driver’s digs, you would’ve eaten dinner with two or three other drivers and then sat around shooting the breeze and swapping stories. Of course, they weren’t all as good as the old woman in Aviemore. I stayed at one a few miles north of Inverness where the room was so cold I had to get up through the night and put all my clothes back on, including boots and overalls. After a very basic breakfast in the morning, I paid the man and made a mental note never to return.
. Modern trucks are miles ahead of the old trucks I used to drive, and most are now all automatic transmission over here, but where is the camaraderie of the old days ?
If you
pull into a modern truck stop/service station to park up for the night, your warm meal is a choice of burger joints, fried chicken or some other takeaway food. Then, you can either sit at a table alone or take it back to your cab to eat. But that’s the drawback of improving the old roads: small
We stayed off the killer road on the way home and took the more scenic route down the west side of Loch Ness, where there were quite a few tourists. But once we cleared the hot spots like Urquhart castle, with the traffic backed up, we went out onto the road trying to get into an already full car park. Then Nessie World, yes there is a place called Nessie World, with tourists waiting in turn to get photographed sitting on a fibreglass monster. After we got clear of the busy part of the road, we just cruised along, enjoying the view and keeping one eye on the loch in case Nessie popped her head up.
As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
