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October 2020
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Are you a professional driver with two or more years of tractor-trailer experience in North America? There’s room in Transam Carriers for drivers to use LTL and FTL routes across the USA and Canada. Come on board and enjoy our friendly and healthy working environment, solid pay, great benefits, and frequent home time! If you are interested to work at our company as a COMPANY DRIVER A-Z or OWNER OPERATOR A-Z, D-Z, please, contact us today.
James Taylor: 416-907-8101 x5 Toll-Free: 877-907-8101 Address: 205 Doney Crescent, Concord, ON L4K 1P6 Email: hr@transamcarriers.com
2 • OVER THE ROAD
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October 2020 @Transam_Carriers
WE ARE LOOKING FOR AZ SINGLE & TEAM HIGHWAY DRIVERS TO RUN CANADA AND USA Earn up to $0.75 per mile* Paid for ALL pick ups, drops, wait times & layovers and safety bonus 100% paid premium health benefits Direct deposit pay to employees bank account
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APPLY NOW! EMAIL US AT CAREERS@HIGHLIGHTMOTOR.COM OR CALL OUR TEAM! DYLAN Tel: 905-761-1400 x 4465 Cell: 647-881-8196
October 2020
VLADIMIR Tel: 905-761-1400 x 4522 Cell: 647-881-8203
SERGE Tel: 905-761-1400 x 4432 Cell: 416-990-9099
JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 391 CREDITSTONE ROAD, CONCORD, ON L4K 1N8
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4 • OVER THE ROAD
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Light Speed Logistics achieves Platinum Status in Industry Best Practices of Safety Management with Northbridge Insurance
LIGHT SPEED HAS YOU COVERED Steve Hunt O 905.696.0700 x7224 C 905.229.9011 E shunt@lslinc.com L5T 1S8
6015 Kestrel Road, Mississauga, ONTARIO October 2020
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JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 5
MAKING YOUR MILES COUNT Robert D. Scheper
$51 to $69 TL2 Tax Savings: Zip, Nadda! (Part One) In the spring of 2007 my book “Taxes, Taxes, Taxes” was published. It described the two very different tax reporting systems available to Canadian Independent Operators (Nontaxable benefits and TL2 simplified method). It explained why Operators should incorporate (use non-taxable benefits) and ABANDON the TL2 system. Incorporation is the first of several steps needed. CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) and the trucking industry just released a statement announcing the increase from $51.00 to $69.00 per day of meal allowance (for the TL2 guidelines). However, Operators who use the NTB system should understand this does not apply to them; it is an entirely different tax reporting system. As the judge in the pre-2006 class action lawsuit stated, “it’s like comparing apples to monkeys” (a quote from the transcript in my book). A 36-year comparison chart showing the 800+% after tax difference between the two systems is displayed on our website (makingyourmilescount.com/research/). The TL2 simplified method originated with the railroad employees and trucking was included back when Canada was preparing for NAFTA (early 1980’s). Prior to that time, the entire trucking industry used NTB. If you are interested, ask someone who drove back then. They got one paycheck for miles (taxable) and another for meals (non-taxable). The rules and amounts available for each system are NOT interchangeable. One of the most frustrating things about being the “expert” in the industry on this issue is seeing how Operators and accountants quote a rule from one system and imply its applicability to the other. It is like swapping injectors with spark plugs or putting diesel fuel into your Toyota Corolla… it will not work! 6 • OVER THE ROAD
Historically the TL2 was used for both Company Drivers and Operators successfully until October 2006. At that time, 25 trucks from Moncton NB were audited and CRA quoted IC73-21R9 which requires both the employer and employee to sign the TL2 (Jim Park of Highway Star first wrote about this). Almost immediately, accountants began demanding Operators keep meal receipts. However, within 2-4 years many accountants (on fear of losing clients) began using the TL2 again. Now, across Canada, you will get some accountants that still require receipts while others use the TL2. Depending on where you are in Canada (and sometimes when), auditors may train Operators how to use the TL2 while others will refuse its application (quoting the IC73-21R9). The TL2’s for an Independent Operator is a very controversial issue in Canada. Company Drivers using the new TL2 numbers will get additional tax savings. However, the $51 or $69 per day is not an actual deposit amount. Drivers should already know that if they drove 200 days in 2019, they did not get a check for $10,200 ($51 x 200). The $51 (now $68) is only ONE of the INPUT FIGURES in the personal income tax return. The net AFTER TAX figure of $51 was $13.60 per day (best province) and this is categorized as a “non-refundable tax credit” (not necessarily a cash-able check). If a driver did not contribute enough on their income tax remittances during the year, they will NOT get the whole credit (rare but does happen). It is a NON-REFUNDABLE credit. In 2020, the $69 will represent $18.40 per day or an increase of $4.80 (average of $1176 per year). Without a doubt, the 35% increase is respectable and well deserved. However, it has been overdue for nearly a decade. We must remember that the TL2 is dependent on the October 2020
government for all its raises. Whether it is the $51 to $69 raise or the gradual deductability increase given between 2007-2011 (50%-80%), it needs lobbying or some form of political pressure. The TL2 is also subject to political hacking. For instance, in 1992 the finance minister stated “...there are some industries that are not paying their fair share of taxes…” and promptly lowered the deductibility from 80% down to 50% (which was later politically reversed in 2007). So, the TL2 is subject to the winds of political emotions. Up one decade, down the next. It appears the TL2 simplified method requires continual political lobbying to keep its head above water (or at least close to the surface).
If you use NTB (like I recommended Operators do in my first book), the raise from $51 to $69 from CRA guidelines is irrelevant. It does not apply to you! You have your own rates, and (properly administered), you would have already received your semi-annual raise on both April 1st and now October 1st, 2020. Training you is up to your accountant. If they congratulate you on your allowance raise from $51 to $68 you are DEFINITELY NOT using NTB. I suggest you roll up your sleeves and do your research. You need to find someone who administers it properly and with a guarantee. $10,000 to $12,000 per year in tax savings is too much to ignore.
The non-taxable benefit system needs NO lobbying. It may need a qualified accountant to defend against CRA reassessments, but that is a very different requirement than political lobbying. If anyone uses NTB they should have a guarantee associated with the tax savings (from the firm preparing the return). Without a guarantee I would not recommend using the system, the liability is just too great.
Therefore, if you are fully utilizing what the Canadian tax system offers, the raise from $51.00 to $69.00 provides you with nothing, zip, nada…butt-kiss. It is irrelevant to you, a distraction. It is chump change savings compared to the mother lode in NTB. Next month I will go into more detail on the NTB system and why (unfortunately) you’re probably not using it. About the Author: Robert D. Scheper is a leading Accountant and Consultant to the Lease/Owner operator industry in Canada. His first book in the Making Your Miles Count series “taxes, taxes, taxes” was released in 2007. His firm exclusively serves Lease/Owner Operators across Canada. His second book “Choosing a Trucking company” is the most in-depth analysis of the operator industry available today. He has a Master’s degree (MBA) in financial management and has been serving the industry since he and his wife came off the road in 1993. His dedication, commitment and strong opinions can be read and heard in many articles and seminars.
The NTB SAVINGS is over $11,000 per year ABOVE the savings from the new 2020 TL2 rates (if your fortunate enough to have auditors in your area NOT quote the IC7321R9… if they do, the savings is even more). The NTB system uses completely different numbers, formulas, and restrictions. For instance, if a driver has access to a “...selfcontained living establishment...” (home) for the night, the employer’s deductible amount is reduced by 25%. There are no such rules for the TL2. The system is not that difficult to learn, though it takes a few months to become comfortable with it. The NTB system also comes with seven clear disadvantages, each of which should be understood before going through the lengthy process. Each disadvantage has a specific fix, but it requires knowledge and training to eliminate them.
October 2020
You can find him at www.making yourmilescount.com or 1-877-987-9787.
JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 7
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8 • OVER THE ROAD
October 2020
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WINDSOR October 2020
BRAMPTON KINGSTON CORNWALL
DORVAL QUEBEC•CITY JOBS FOR TRUCKERS 9
SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE Ray J. Haight
A Simple Idea with Big Impact One of the things I love about this industry is that if you keep your eyes open, you can learn something new every day. I was flattered to be invited to sit in on a large company’s weekly retention meetings. I have worked with this company for a couple of years and I am delighted with what they have accomplished. They have reduced their driver turnover during this time by 59%. They still have a way to go to where they want to be, but that is a significant improvement! While working with them, one of the efforts that was started was an expectation sheet. You have heard me talk about this before as this is part of the driver retention program that I represent. In a nutshell, carriers are asked to consider this simple paradigm; you hire Drivers and Owner Operators to fill seats and sustain your customers’ capacity to succeed. Hopefully, everyone can wrap their heads around that idea. If you understand that concept, then it shouldn’t be much of a stretch to reverse things and understand logically that both Drivers and Owner Operators will consider your company as a place to entrust with their labor, because they also wish to be successful. So, if we were to get to the root of what it takes to be successful for both parties, 10 • OVER THE ROAD
this would be a great starting point for both sides to work towards, and hopefully end up with success for all involved. If you could do that, would you be able to be successful in retaining more and more of your employees and Owner Operators? Would your company become a place where people wanted to come to work and stay working? If the above idea makes sense, then let me walk you through how it might work; you would have each of your dispatchers itemize the critical elements that are needed from each driver: the minimum number of miles, communication requirements, time off notice, whatever is specific to their operational responsibilities. This information is, of course, shared with the potential new hire. This same information is required from the driver. What is the minimum number of miles you need monthly to be successful, what kind of home time do you need, what amount of money do you need monthly to be successful etc.? Of course, you only hire the driver who is reasonable with their expectations and can meet your minimum expectations. If you hire someone with ridiculous expectations hoping they will fall into the program and love you anyway, you will have hired your turnover because they will leave for greener pastures, guaranteed. October 2020
We all know that doing these exercises and then filing the document away somewhere is a waste of time so here is what my client is doing with it. They created a scorecard for each of their dispatch boards. Those scorecards are reviewed monthly and they check all drivers who have met the company’s expectations – and their own. They send a quick note of appreciation, reminding the driver that they are on track. The drivers who have missed the company’s expectations or their own expectations are spoken to and a plan for success is agreed on to move forward. Here is the question they are asked; how do we get things on track so that we are back in the win/win column?
morning and tries to fail. People want to be successful. It is in our nature and if you believe that, what is your company doing to help people succeed? If the answer to that question is nothing, what makes anyone think they will reciprocate with helping to accomplish your company’s success? They won’t. Today’s labor force is all about the WIIFM (What’s In It for Me). The above exercise goes a long way towards answering their WIIFM. I get great satisfaction from helping carriers reduce their driver turnover; every driver that stays with their current carrier is one less that has to go home and tell their family that they don’t have a job, that there will be an interruption in cash coming in to pay the bills, that they failed and that they either quit or were fired. This industry disrupts families far too much and I believe we are too good to be this bad with our labor pool. We collectively need to start taking this situation much more personally. All this turnover is fixable; it is not intrinsic to this industry; that idea is BS. There is no need for it, and it can be fixed.
If done correctly, this effort is both proactive and a simple process to start to understand what is going on with your turnover, especially if you take it to the next level, which this carrier has. What do unrealized expectations have to do with turnover? Everything! This carrier has turnover numbers measured by each dispatch board; they match those turnover numbers to each board’s met and unmet expectations. You will not be surprised to learn that there is a correlation between that board’s unmet expectations and its turnover numbers. I love this idea because it is straightforward to design the forms and it is easy to implement and monitor. It has been my experience that most innovation is merely common sense revealed, and this is an excellent example of that in practice.
Take Good Care and Safe Trucking Ray J. Haight Ray Haight TCA Retention Coach ray@tcaingauge.com www.tcaingauge.com
If you are interested in exploring this idea and any other part of the driver retention project plan, please feel free to reach out to me at the address below. The bottom line is that no one goes to work in the October 2020
JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 11
12 • OVER THE ROAD
October 2020
THE BEST IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO
IT’S TIME TO MAKE YOUR MOVE! Driver planned home time | Full load dry van – No touch Freight Steady year-round miles | Group benefits and pension plan | Paid weekly Mostly warehouse and industrial area deliveries in US CTpat and FAST approved Carrier and Loads F E AT U R E D M I L L I O N M I L E D R I V E R
What I like the most about working at AYR Motor is getting lots of miles; working with friendly staff; and having well maintained equipment. I have been here for 9 and ½ years, and don’t intend to leave any time soon. I really enjoy the steady work, and that home time is easy to get. I have over 1 million accident free miles and I am proudly a member of the Million Mile Club. Gary Cameron, Truck #914
HIRING RECRUITING DEPARTMENT
October 2020
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WOODSTOCK Head Office DORVAL Yard
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1-800-668-0099 | ayr.recruiting@ayrmotor.com
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JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 13
Index AYR Motor Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Keystone Western . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Big Freight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Light Speed Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Carmen Transportation Group . . . . . . . . . . 8
Robert Scheper Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7
Chris Harris – Safety Dawg . . . . . . . . . . 18,19
Speaking from Experience . . . . . . . . . . 10,11
CNTL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
TRANSAM Carriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Genesis Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
TransWest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Highlight Motor Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Travelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
IFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Women in Trucking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,17
• • • • • • •
14 • OVER THE ROAD
Great Pay Package All Miles Paid Weekly Permits/Tolls/Heavy Tax Paid General Insurance Paid Fuel Cards & Border Cards Pick Up & Delivery $50 Flexible Fuel Surcharge
October 2020
Bring balance to your life! OWNER OPERATOR
OWNER OPERATOR
COMPANY DRIVER
Flat-Deck Revenue Division 82% Gross Revenue
Flat-deck Mileage Division Average pay $1.74 per mile
Specialized Van Division Average pay $.65 per mile Over-time paid Late model equipment
Thank-you Truckers, without you the world stops!
CONTACT RECRUITING P 1-800-665-0415 E recruiting@bigfreight.com
October 2020
JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 15
WOMEN IN TRUCKING Ellen Voie
What I Learned from my “Wearable” I never thought I could be friends with a piece of technology that is exceptionally nosey. I’m a pretty private person and the thought of sharing my physical data makes me uncomfortable. Sharing my sleeping patterns, my eating habits and how often my heart rate is elevated isn’t my idea of privacy. However, we recently partnered with Rolling Strong to do a wellness competition and I donned a Fitbit Versa for the challenge. I had participated in similar competitions in the past and discovered that I could get more points if I had a “wearable” instead of entering everything into the app myself. Knowing that my little Fitbit was going to tattle on me for a few weeks made me anxious. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted other people to be able to check on my progress. The Fitbit recorded everything; from my steps each day to my heartbeat to how many hours (and minutes) I slept each night. Every participant was assigned a coach to guide us through the process and I was fortunate to be paired with Claudia. We had talked about what I was eating and how much water I was drinking each day, as well as the type of exercise I was doing and the extent that it was burning calories. 16 • OVER THE ROAD
For those of you who know me, I’m a pretty healthy person. I walk four miles a day (when I’m not travelling) and I don’t eat red meat or things like butter. I love salads and I could eat peas for lunch every day. I can easily flip off a cupcake or piece of cake as I’m not into eating sweets (Okay, don’t give me any chips or pretzels, as I am into the salty stuff). I thought I could beat everyone entered in the competition and I set my sights on Lana, our Director of Programs. She has three little kids and runs around all the time and I knew this would be a challenge. (She hit 20,000 steps one day when they were moving from one house to another! NO FAIR!!!!) I was diligent, and I knew that Claudia was keeping track of my sleep, my steps, my carbs and my heart rate. I entered my healthy meals and my water intake (oh, did I forget to log those glasses of wine?). I kept thinking about the end of the competition and how I could go back to “normal”. At the end of the competition, Claudia asked me what I had learned. I’d like to share this with you, my readers. I learned October 2020
how professional drivers handle this challenge.
a lot about myself. I challenge you to get a “wearable” and get to know yourself a little better.
The key to winning the Rolling Strong competition is to elevate your heart rate. Since I sit at my desk most of the day, that’s a real challenge. I tried to hit my 10,000 steps a day, although the Fitbit wanted me to accumulate 30,000 steps a day (Really?).
First, since I usually travel over 125,000 miles each year and spend weeks attending conferences and trade shows, this has been a different experience for me. I don’t usually get to sleep in my own bed for more than a few days at a time, so this was a good time to participate in the Rolling Strong competition. I typically spend many nights in hotel rooms.
When the competition ended, I sighed in relief, but I also knew that I had changed my attitude toward fitness. Sleeping is good, lots of water is good and getting those steps in each day is good. I’ll keep that in mind, even though I won’t have Claudia checking on me until the next competition. I think I’ll start asking myself WWCD (What would Claudia Do?).
The pandemic kept me at home but allowed me to find a routine. I went to bed each night at a pretty consistent time and woke up without an alarm shaking me from my sleep to give a presentation. I learned that I needed a lot of sleep. No, really, a LOT of sleep. I’m not even sure if I should admit it, but I sleep for nine to eleven hours a night.
And just for the record, I beat Lana, but just barely. I came in 18th, and she was right behind me at 19th. We both won and now I need to get ready for bed after my glass of water. I need my ten hours of sleep!
When I was a baby, my mom would put me down after lunch and I’d sleep until the next morning. She complained to the doctor and he asked her what the problem was? So, I learned that during my whole life, I sleep a lot.
Ellen Voie President/CEO/Founder of Women In Trucking, Inc. ellen@womenintrucking.org www.womenintrucking.org
I also learned that I don’t drink enough water. I started marking all my water bottles with the ounces on them. My favorite bottle held 38 ounces. But this wasn’t enough for Claudia. No, she challenged me to drink over 80 ounces a day. Wait, you want me to walk four miles AND drink all that water? I can’t imagine October 2020
Mission: Women In Trucking was established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry.
JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 17
SAFETY DAWG Chris Harris
Trucking Trends and Changes COVID certainly has caused changes in both trucking and the whole world. I was thinking about the changes that are happening in trucking and transportation and I’ve been wondering how these changes affect Drivers and Owner Operators. I believe that autonomous vehicles will be one of the many changes coming at all of us! It is happening everywhere, and it may be the most interesting to you. Will you still have a job to go to in the future? Well, I believe that yes, for many years to come, all truck drivers will be working and working hard (as always). Some of the advances already in place will make your work and your workplace better. You may be surprised at how affordable some of these advances in trucking are. One of my clients ordered all of their trucks equipped with as many advanced safety features as are readily available. For example, with Volvo trucks, the package is called “Volvo Active Driver Assist”. It includes Forward Collision Warning, Data Camera and Lane Departure Warning. They also have the Stability Control. These safety features add about $7,000 to the
18 • OVER THE ROAD
vehicle’s price, which sounds like a lot to me, but it only adds about 3% to the cost of the vehicle. So, in my opinion, it is well worth the investment. The above items are at best, just the start of the autonomous trend. It is just the beginning of “driver-assisted driving.” When will the significant change come in autonomous driving? Several hi-tech companies are testing what I would call “autonomous driving.” And this is where truck driving is heading. You have heard of Tesla and their Class 8 truck. Tesla may be the furthest along this journey. They already have hundreds of thousands of cars on the road, gathering enormous amounts of information about streets and different driving situations so it is not a big stretch to see them adapting this to their Class 8 unit. What does that mean for you, a truck driver? I think that it means you will have a job for a very long time. The self-driving technology needs to finish its development and then complete testing. Once thoroughly tested and proven safe, it will start to roll out to the public. And even
October 2020
And no article about trucking trends would be complete if I didn’t at least mention insurance. Auto insurance in Canada had a lousy year in 2019. Your auto rates have been going up and trucking insurance rates have been skyrocketing. Trucking insurance is explicitly costly and if the company you drive for doesn’t have an excellent safety record, it cannot be easy to get insurance. When it comes to trucking insurance, I don’t think that this will change. I do believe that this is the new reality for the foreseeable future.
then, I believe that it will be required that licensed truck drivers be in the driver’s seat in case of a malfunction. After all, what technology built and designed by humans is without any flaws? Also, let us remember that transportation laws will have to be completely re-written. This will not happen easily and not quickly. Politicians do not like making people mad and some strong lobby groups do not like putting people out of work. So, I believe your job is safe.
What do you think will be the trucking trend in the near future? What will your truck be like in five years?
What other trends are happening to transportation? There is an alternative fuel movement. Will you still be pumping diesel fuel in the future? I don’t think you will. The two main alternatives that I believe are most promising are the hydrogen and electric motors. Right now, I think electric is in the lead, even for Class 8 trucks. However, Bill Gates disagrees with me as Mr. Gates does not believe that we can electrify tractor-trailers successfully.
Stay Safe! Chris Harris Top Dawg, Safety Dawg Inc. 905-973-7056 chris@safetydawg.com @safety_dawg (twitter)
The “last mile” delivery seems to be growing. The last mile refers to those who make the final delivery, especially when it comes to internet purchases. For example, your Amazon deliveries. Did you see the vehicle that last dropped off your Amazon purchase? My last packaged was delivered in a small van. I have also received deliveries from operators driving cars. Yup, “last mile” deliveries are growing as we all purchase more and more from internetconnected stores.
October 2020
JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 19
CNTL HAS OPENINGS FOR TRUCK OWNER OPERATORS IN
Calgary, Moncton, Montreal and Quebec City
If you are an Experienced, Safe, Owner Operator, now is the time to look at CNTL! CNTL is CN’s Trucking Subsidiary, the continuing growth of Intermodal freight means we always have the moves available that meet or exceed your revenue objectives. Keep more of your earnings with your fuel price capped at 35 cents per litre. Take advantage of our Tire, Bunk and Engine Heater programs, and Group Truck Insurance.
Ask about our Safety Bonus, and Safety Awards!
If you would like to talk about joining our team please contact us Email cntljobs@cn.ca Fax 1-866-803-2702 65 Devon Rd., Brampton Ontario L6T 5B6 20 • OVER THE ROAD
CNTL.ca
October 2020