Dave brings to you 36 years of valuable experience in transportation, management, business and compliance. Dave has driven in every condition across North America and overseas as military, police, company driver to owner operator to now Publisher Editor of Canadian Trucking Magazine. I hope the front cover this month grabbed your attention! If you did not have a chance to git out to MATS this year The Western Star’s Department of Serious Trucks were out doing what they do best, handing out posters and displaying the awesome WS Trucks.
MATS 40 Anniversary Trucking Show, the worlds largest, took up 1,200,000 square feet, had 1039 exhibiting Companies, 76,169 total attendees from 50 states and 81 countries and of course 214 Media Correspondents. What a trucking show folks and if you missed it, do not miss the shows coming your way. The Dryden Truck Show An Early Bird Show & Shine
registration party is set for May 28, 2011 with over $1,000 in cash and prizes along with an awesome lineup of live entertainment. In June the Stirling Truck Show. In July the Fergus Truck Show. BC Big Rig Week-end in Chilliwack in July. Alberta Big Rig Week-end in Red Deer in August. In this months magazine and on our web site you will find links and information to these great shows. Plan your trips now and if you are camping or grabbing a room, now is the time to book. Also as you are looking through this Edition and others and see a product or advertiser you would like to contact. Make sure you mention you saw thier Ad in your favorite magazine CTM. I had a readers tell me they landed an excellent job they saw posted in my magazine and never mentioned where they saw it. My friends from HERD will give you a gift pack when you buy a bar and mention the CTM Ad.
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Another great entertainment some miss is our Digital Web Edition that has more pages with content, entertainment, NASCAR and great information. You can access this on our web page plus past Editions of CTM, or for you face book users we have a page with over 2100 fans. If you are on face book please go to our page and hit LIKE. You will then be first to see valuable tips and breaking news as well as links to our Web Editions. My favorite part of the magazine is getting out there and talking one on one with the readers at all the truck stops, travel centers and most of all the Truck shows. Those shows sneak up on us quicker than expected and then are gone for another year. I have to also ask you to please participate in the truck convoys coming our way.
We have Convoy for a Cure and the Truck Convoy for the Special Olympics rapidly approaching and need your trucks and support in them. Truckers make a difference! It really doesn’t matter if you are an owner operator or company driver. Check these causes out on my web page, talk to your dispatch and please make an effort to be there. I hear time and time again that our industry isn’t what it use to be. But if you come out to these truck shows and convoys, I can promise you, it will grab you and give you that family feeling of being apart of a big trucking family. If you are reading this and not a trucker or in the transportation industry, come out for the fun and excitement. It makes a great family day. Hope to see loads of you out on this delivery. Happy Trails,,,,,,,, Dave
To GPS or not to GPS
By Dave MacKENZIE I started commercial driving in 1973. Yep 1973 some 38 years ago I had to find addresses and make deliveries. I did not have my trusted co-driver by my side to say turn this way Daddy! I used a map,and learned quickly to spend the money on a good one and new one each year. Back then I used a Rand McNally Map as they never failed me and I guess after 150 years of mapping who else would I trust. Bit of trivia here, how many of my fellow drivers out there know the year was 1856, the location: Chicago, economic capital of the American middle-west and burgeoning railroad hub. William Rand (d. 1904), late of Boston, opened a print shop where “every description of printing, on the most advantageous terms” could be had. Soon he was joined by immigrant Irishman Andrew McNally (d. 1905) at the then-affluent sum of $9 a week, and together they set about to serve the printing needs of the business community of Chicago. 150 years later, Rand McNally is the most renowned and recognized name in American
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map publishing and offers travel products from traditional maps and atlases to computer navigation and truck driving management software After 38 years on the road, it is really hard for me not to know how to get to a drop anymore, at least to the city or town where the drop is. I would bet this is the same as you. When these GPS units first came out, I saw a lot of newbes with them stuck to thier dash and pealing trailer tops on bridges in Chicago or ending up in dead ends with no place to turn.My comment was get a map, make it a Rand McNally and learn how to read it. Driver if you are going to Chicago, get the low bridges map located at any truck stop around the windy city. But just last year even my eyes opened to GPS. Now the rest of this is going to sound like an info commercial because finally my Friends at Rand McNally has put out thier own GPS. One that won’t put you in a lake or end up in a brick wall, The horror stories are out there my friend and are true. But this is made for Truckers, tested by truckers, and tested by me, on the road. Driven by upgraded technology and feedback from long-haul truck drivers, Rand McNally has launched two new truck-specific GPS units: the 5-inch IntelliRoute® TND™ 510, and the large, high-definition 7-inch IntelliRoute® TND™ 710. The new units incorporate user-requested enhancements, the ability to incorporate realtime traffic, and a newly designed, thinner hardware unit. These units are not cheap, but that is because they work. You can buy a $80 unit, but don’t use it for trucking. If you want to see one up close watch for me at your fav stop.
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2011 - 2012 AMTA Road Knights Team
(from left to right) Darwin Clark, Trimac Transportation (Edmonton); Rob Wells, Bison Transport (Calgary); Craig Gavel, Bison Transport (Edmonton) Dennis Hokanson,Trimac Transportation (Edmonton) (CALGARY, AB: April 13, 2011) The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Road Knights Team will be introduced to the membership on Saturday, April 30 in conjunction with the association’s Annual General Meeting & Conference (Apr 29 – 30, Rimrock Hotel, Banff, AB). AMTA assembled the West’s first team of road safety ambassadors called the AMTA Road Knights Team in February. Since that time the four member team has undergone public speaking and media training, and been outfitted in clothing sporting the official team logo. The next stage is for the members to meet with association delegates at the upcoming conference before embarking on visits to community organizations. The team members were selected because of their collision-
free driving record, commitment to safety and enthusiasm for the industry in which they have made their career. AMTA Road Knights are professional transport drivers with flawless driving records who meet with community groups to share their knowledge about how to safely share the road with trucks. Their mission is to make our roadways safer by encouraging all road users to be partners in safety. The team also works to increase awareness of trucking's economic importance and to promote the industry as a viable career choice. Over the next two years, the AMTA Road Knights will appear at driving schools, business clubs, high schools, social clubs and other public venues.
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www.albertamissingpersons.ca John Lyle ARMSTRONG 47 Years old at time of disappearance Height: 173 cm; 5’8” Weight: 73 kg; 161 lbs Hair Colour: Red-Grey Eye Colour: Green Date Last Seen: March 21, 2009 Place Last Seen: Calgary, Alberta File# 09098801 Calgary Police Service (403-266-1234) Information: ARMSTRONG left his home and said he was going for a long walk.
Rene Lynn GUNNING 19 Years old at time of disappearance Height: 157 cm; 5’2” Weight: 50 kg; 111 lbs Hair Colour: Black Eye Colour: Brown Date Last Seen: February 18, 2005 Place Last Seen: Edmonton, Alberta File# 2003-6950 RCMP Project KARE (1-877-412-5273) Information: GUNNING was last known to be leaving West Edmonton Mall in hope of hitchhiking back to British Columbia.
Kevin Glen PURDY 31 Years old at time of disappearance Height: 183 cm; 6’0” Weight: 75 kg; 166 lbs Hair Colour: Brown Eye Colour: Brown Date Last Seen: August 22, 1999 Place Last Seen: Red Deer, Alberta File# 99-20693 RCMP Red Deer City Detachment (403-343-5575) Information: PURDY was last seen leaving his home in Red Deer. His vehicle was later located north of Red Deer.
Amber Alyssa TUCCARO 20 Years old at time of disappearance Height: 155 cm; 5’1” Weight: 65 kg; 143 lbs Hair Colour: Black Eye Colour: Brown Date Last Seen: August 18, 2010 Place Last Seen: Nisku, Alberta File#20101010799 RCMP Leduc Detachment (780-980-7200) Information: Amber TUCCARO was last seen at the Nisku Place Hotel. She has not been in contact with anyone since that date.
Any information in regards to any missing person you are asked to please call the investigating agency at the numbers provided or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Sandy Long - Truck Stop Walking Safety Once again we hear that a trucker has been hit and killed while walking in a truck stop; this time it was a double tragedy as two truckers were killed four days apart at the Pilot Travel Center at exit 4 on Interstate 81 near White Pine, TN. While these types of accidents are not a daily occurrence, they do happen with some regularity mostly at night. What is going on in the truck stops that truckers are killed while walking across the lot? A combination of factors is most likely at fault, dark parking lots, wearing too dark of clothing by the pedestrian, both driver and pedestrian not paying attention, and last but not least; speeding through the truck stops by truck drivers. Sit in any truck stop and pay some attention and you will see all of these factors at work at any time. Truck stops, or as they prefer these days to be called, Travel Centers, are all feeling the hit of the economy and one way some are saving money is to cut down on the outside parking area lighting. Truckers tend to wear darker clothing; dark blue jeans or other pants, darker T-shirts and in winter dark jackets and hats. The darker clothing makes sense to those who drive truck; a trucker’s clothing is a grease and road grime magnet. A trucker walking across the lot will blend into any shadows due to their clothing choices and will be totally non visible in many cases out of direct light. Distractions are normal; having to rush to the bathroom, hungry, tired, stressed or pushed on time for a delivery/pickup are some that affects both drivers and walkers. A trucker coming into the truck stop is also thinking about getting into
the fuel island or getting that parking spot along with the former distractions. Finally; it makes no sense, but there are times when a truck stop parking lot looks like a NASCAR track with trucks doing warm up laps. A truck whipping into a driveway or driving around the parking lot at 25-35 miles per hour equals a speeding torpedo and can do the same damage to walkers or even to other trucks. Tsk, Tsk. To save your life in any parking lot if you are going to be walking: Wear something light colored, put reflective tape on your jacket or hat or carry a small flash light that can be seen while you walk. Watch for other trucks backing up and never assume that they see you…wait out of the way or walk around them the other way. Give the truck the right of way unless the driver motions you to go ahead and then look before you clear their protection for any other trucks moving. Before walking in front of any truck that is idling, look up if the driver is in the seat and make eye contact with them. Wait to do any texting until you are inside or back in your truck. Do not get out of your truck if someone is getting ready to either back in or pull out of the space on your driver side and always use the three point entry or exit strategy. To avoid hitting someone who is walking: Slow that big rig down Mr. or Ms Truck Driver! Is that two seconds you save getting to that parking spot, into that fuel island or hitting the road worth anyone’s life? If it is, then you should have left sooner or not stopped as often and need to rethink your priorities. As you enter the truck stop take a quick
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The Western Star 6900. The 4900. The 4800. And the all-new Western Star 4700. Four models with almost limitless possibilities, designed and engineered for years of service. But The Department of Serious Trucks is more than that. It’s every person here, from our Department of Factory Customization to the Department of No Excuses, working to build you the trucks you need, exactly the way you want them. And we don’t do anything half way. We build the trucks that work and keep working, because anything less is a waste of time. We believe that each truck should be purpose-built for you and what you do. That there is no place for rattles and squeaks and flaws. That doing things the cheap way only costs more in the long run. It’s all part of what it takes to build a serious truck. We’ve been doing it for over forty years. And with an all-new truck, new interiors and more to come, we’re just getting started.
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look around for anyone who might be walking near your path of travel. If you are going to back up from the fuel islands or into a parking spot, make sure that there is no one behind you; get out and look works in the truck stop too. We truckers face enough dangers from everyone else on the roads and in the truck stops without having to worry about our brother and sister drivers running us over. All drivers need to take responsibility for each other’s safety while walking or driving in a truck stop or warehouse parking lot. Finally, we all have to have some respect for each other and show that respect by being courteous to each other especially when our lives are at risk when we are in the supposedly
safe haven of a truck stop. Working together on this, we can avoid having to read of another report of a trucker hitting and killing another trucker in a truck stop; that would make my day, wouldn’t it yours? Ya’ll be safe out there! Sandy Long is a long time truck driver who is also very active within the trucking industry. She was a long time writer for layover.com, is a life member of OOIDA, member of the WIT and owner of two websites: Trailer Truckin’ Tech, a yahoo group dedicated to the education of new and prospective truck drivers and www.satinandsteelsisterhood.com for women truck drivers.
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for accessing motor carrier safety data in the Safety Measurement System (SMS). Preliminary reports show carriers are improving their overall safety performance. If a Motor carrier has received an unsatisfactory safety rating pursuant to 49 CFR Part 385 or is ordered to stop operations they will be no longer authorized to operate on U.S.A. national roadways.
By: Dawn Truell, President, Cross Border Services
CSA 2010 – Facts On December 13, 2010, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially launched their CSA 2010 enforcement program; this program is designed to analyze safety violations from roadside inspections and crashes measuring commercial motor carrier’s safety performances. The FMCSA is working diligently with partners to reduce CMV crashes, injuries and fatalities. Warning letters are being sent out to Motor Carriers whose safety performance data indicates they are not complying with applicable FMCSA safety regulations. These warning letters identify Behaviour Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories that are assigned an “alert” and outlines possible consequences of continued safety problems. The warning letter provides instructions
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Safety ratings are available at: http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov licensing and insurance status at: http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov. What this means for Canadian Carriers is that in order to continue conducting shipments into and out of the U.S.A. we must comply with the FMCSA regulations. Carriers do not inherit any of a newly hired driver’s past violations. Only those inspections that a driver receives while driving under a carrier’s authority can be applied to a carrier’s Safety Measurement System record. All inspections and crashes that a commercial motor vehicle driver receives while under the authority of a carrier will remain part of the carrier’s SMS data for two years, even if the carrier terminates the driver.
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Tickets or warnings that CMV drivers receive while operating their personal vehicles do not count in the SMS.
While research data indicate that a driver’s body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for identifying drivers that may have sleep apnea, neither FMCSA nor the CSA program currently has any rules that restrict who can be a commercial motor vehicle driver based on BMI or weight or neck size.
Cross Border Services deals with all of these government compliancy programs and regulations, for Information please contact Information on any cross border issues contact
www.crossborderservices.org crossborderservices@cogeco.net
905-973-9136
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