Pro-Trucker Magazine August 2019 / Alberta Big Rig Weekend Special Edition

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Proudly

August 2019

17th Annual “

A Trucker's DREAM “ Special Edition

PM #40033055

big rig weekend

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 1

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

604-449-3339

PagE 2

www.bwinsurance.com | 1-866-866-9780

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

fRoM THe eDiToR’s DesK

BY JoHN WHiTe

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 07 OF 11

PUBLISHER/EDITOR John White john@ptmag.ca PRODUCTION/CIRCULATION Tori Proudley tori@ptmag.ca ADMINISTRATION Donna White donna@ptmag.ca ADVERTISING/MARKETING John White john@ptmag.ca Tori Proudley tori@ptmag.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dave Madill • Scott Casey • Cyn Tobin Greg Evasiuk • Dale Howard Ed Murdoch • Colin Black • David Rusk Bill Weatherstone • Lane Kranenburg PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Proudley • Alicia Cornish David Benjatschek wowtrucks.com HEAD OFFICE Phone: 604-580-2092 Published eleven times a year by Pro-Trucker Magazine Inc.,

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 Pro-Trucker 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 #40033055 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. 9693 129th Street.

SURREY, B.C. V3T 3G3 Email: tori@ptmag.ca august 2019

17th Annual Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 7-8.

Thursday, July 2nd checked the weather forecast for Nisku, Alberta and it wasn’t good.

Friday – cloudy, cold and 15-20mm rain Saturday – cloudy, cold and 20-25 mm rain.

Sunday – cloudy, cold and 10-15mm rain.

Great! Cold wet and windy!

But thankfully weathermen, dispatchers and politicians are the only 3 positions where you can be wrong 75% of the time and still keep your job. (I don’t know if I will get more complaints from dispatchers about being wrong or for lumping them in with politicians…)

As it turned out Friday was a great day with a bit of rain overnight.

Saturday was also great with no rain up until just before the Best Lights Competition which, as everyone knows, just makes the trucks sparkle that much more. (The view from on top of Gripco Tire’s elevated platform was amazing.)

Sunday was also a beautiful day right up until 10 minutes after the trophy presentation and then it seemed like the 15 to 20 mm we had been expecting all fell in the next hour... All in all the weather was perfect!

As usual, there is nothing like an Alberta party. There was a great turnout and Blackjacks was once again the perfect venue with far more amenities than at any other venue where we have held our 34 shows.

On another note: Listen up Canada - This is how it is supposed to work!

The FBI says Alonzo Blackman, a Texas Department of Public Safety employee in the commercial driver’s license division, took tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to issue more than 200 commercial fraudulent driver’s licenses. The employee admitted to accepting bribes to falsely certify people who didn’t take or hadn’t even shown up for the test. The employee was suspended by DPS and is now cooperating with authorities.

FBI special agent Monroe Giese testified at court hearings for two people charged in the case. The two defendants are both truckers.

Marino Maury Diaz-Leon, 52, of San Antonio and Fernando Guardado Vazquez, 40, of Austin, are legal U.S. residents of Cuban descent who offered bribes to the DPS employee, Giese testified.

If convicted, the pair face up to 20 years in federal prison without parole and deportation. According to the FBI, all 215 CDLs in question have been cancelled.

Canada’s version of justice when finding driving schools selling licenses?

To save people from embarrassment we will not name the defendants, companies and oh what-the-heck, forget it, we won’t charge you either…

Concerning the fraudulent Class1 licenses, it would take too much time and trouble to chase them down so we will just let it go. Sorry for the inconvenience – have a nice day - …please don’t sue us. r to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 3

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

make more for your miles Siemens Transportation Group Inc.

Ask about our rate increase!

New hiring Class 1 A Drivers for our Open Dispatch Fleet Top miles, great pay and upgraded equipment.

Contact us at 888-878-9585 or email driver.recruitment@hwtransport.com

PagE 4

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

L ETTERS to the EDITOR

e agazine Whit John Trucker M ProJohn White r Magazine Pro-Trucke

Good day John, I’d like to provide some insight into the LCV program in BC. I am currently the LCV trainer and deal with the LCV program at VanKam Freightways. The biggest problem with ICBC, in my opinion, is they have no clue how to deal with these things to be honest, and I cannot see them ever offering a course or training for them. The interesting thing is BC does not recognize the instructor training course from Alberta for some reason. I had to be flown to Regina to take my course at the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, which BC does recognize, to get certified as an instructor. And, even though I am a certified instructor, now I can ONLY instruct while I’m at VanKam. If I was to go anywhere else I would need to go back and get certified again under that company.

This program is somewhat new to BC and I can’t forsee them offering anything with respect to training. They most likely won’t have to either because most companies that are doing it will have in house trainers like myself so why would they have to? (No demand for it) The program has been operational in BC long enough now that, in my opinion, the rules and regs could use a bit of a revamp to make things a little easier and or simpler for everyone involved in it. Have a great day.

Terry Robinson Line haul Dispatcher Editor’s note: Thank you for your email Terry. That is good information. At the same time it raises a few other concerns such as why would ICBC not recognize the Alberta Training? The original posting on the BCTA website said, “LCV Driver’s Certificates issued in other jurisdictions – including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - are acceptable in BC.” What mental giant decided not to accept Alberta certification? It is all the more perplexing when you read on the Saskatchewan Trucking Association website concerning LCVs that says, “This course was funded by the Canadian Trucking Research Institute (CTRI) of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and developed by the Alberta and Saskatchewan Trucking Associations.”

But the biggest concern is still the fact that a small BC trucking company that operates solely out of BC not get training in their own province to run LCVs. On top of that your assertion that you would have to be certified under another company should you leave VanKam makes no sense august 2019

at all. It only compounds the problem. I understand that VanKam has probably footed the bill to have you certified but by that way of thinking truck drivers, who are trained by a company, should have to be recertified each time they change companies.

Dear John, In the July issue there was an article by Scott Casey about preparation and reading the weather and road conditions and to expect the unexpected. I agree totally with what he says.

This story that I’m about to tell is completely true as well.

In my car hauling days, I had a load from Edmonton to Terrace BC in late fall, early winter. Roads were frozen and the weather was erratic. I planned to get into Terrace between 8:00 PM and midnight, get a good sleep and unload in the morning. Everything was going well as it got dark early and I felt good.

The VHF radio came on and someone said there is freezing rain on some hill I had never heard of. I thought if I got into freezing rain I would stop right there at any wide spot. There was no rain or snow where I was so I kept going until Big Oliver hill. It began to have a really fine mist. I thought if I got to the top that’s as far as I’m going. As I climbed it got worse. No traffic so I was happy with that.

I wasn’t nervous, I was all locked up and new rubber so I felt content. I noticed about ¾ of the way to the top that my tach was gaining and my speedo was slowing. I sure could have used a nitro pill under my tongue about then. I eased it back and headed for the shoulder. On the right, there was a guard rail and a drop off of about 90 feet into the river. On the left side was a sheer rock wall - no ditch. As I struggled on at about 8 mph, I made it to the top, put it in neutral and eased the brakes on. It was slicker than whale snot on an iceberg. With the brakes on I started to slide over the top at ½ to 1mph. I thought quickly and froze for a second. Then I said to myself, “If I’m going to die, I’m going to do it my way.”

I found a gear that wasn’t reverse and away we went down.

I eased it to the left towards the wall and I shut off the lights to see if there was any action on the road anywhere up ahead. All was dark so I kept going toward the wall until I was completely on the shoulder on the wrong side of the road.

I knew the road took a real slow left turn at the bottom then flattened out but I didn’t know how fast I was going because I could not see through my eyelids. I slowly slid toward the guard rail as the corner straightened out. It was about then that my pine tree air freshener quit… I checked the mirror with the backup lights on and I could see mist flying. I was back in my proper lane going the proper way.

I’m not a religious person but if I was, I would be thanking someone or something. Instead, I just grinned to myself and thought, “If only my Mom could see me now!”

I stopped at a rest area on the right-hand side about 2-3 miles down the road on the flat. That was it for me that night.

Glen Millard, Chilliwack, BC.

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 5

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Hi Mr. White.

It is interesting to see that the current consensus seems to be that 121 hours give or take will make a truck driver. I believe the real Humboldt legacy might be, as some attribute to Winston Churchill “Never let a good crisis go to waste” We have the ELD lobby, the driver training lobby and probably more but I quit listening. Even with ELD’s, driver training and so on, you can bet as sure as the sun rises that somewhere in the future we will get another similar crash. What has been done to reduce the death and injury rate for the next one?

According to CBC the bus was equipped with seatbelts but they were not being used.

I also heard that the bus was running 10 over, but that sounds slow by my interactions with charter busses.

Do you think it should be time to look at speed limiters for passenger vehicles and mandatory bus seatbelts, or is it good enough to send a man to jail and jump up and down about things that will not prevent this from happening again. Probably reduce but not prevent.

I first ran that road in ’74, I believe and my wife and I ran down it for the last time in 2017, although I do not recall which of us was driving. We had been retired for a bit more than a year before the accident. We heard about it that same night it happened. She paraphrased an old quote from John Bradford “There but for the grace of God went us”. I agreed with her on that..

Mervyn Osborne, Barriere BC r

RefleCTioNs THRU MY WiNDsHielD

By Dave Madill Dave Madill was Pro-Trucker Magazine’s Rig of the Month in June of 2001 and he has been entertaining us with his poetry ever since. Dave has published three books of poems that are available by special order through Chapters Book Stores.

Cold Crime Friend of mine, (Bob), back in the old days had a very good job that paid pretty well and was only a four and a half day week, which gave him weekends off to play or fix his truck, but it had its drawbacks. He would show up Monday morning at the Beef Slaughterhouse load for five customers and then go into town to the hog plant and load for those same customers and then deliver. Tuesdays and Wednesdays were similar and his normal day ran from 7 am when he left the house until about 5 pm when he would return. Thursdays, however, was a little different, He would load as usual, but for eight customers and was never able to get them all off, so he would spend Thursday night parked at a motel and deliver his last drop early Friday morning before heading for home.

This went on for about a year or so and then one of his customers decided to retire and sold his butcher shop to two new guys. Deliveries went as usual for a while and then his Friday delivery started showing up short.

Join our winning team. is HIRING Owner Operators • Fuel Cap of 47 cents per litre • Fuel performance pay program • Late model tractor • Direct deposit, paid twice monthly • Fast cards and passports preferred • No cost satellite communication system • Insurance/license subsidy is upto 50%,

To run Canada & USA

• Scales/tolls/faxes paid

Please call

• Group insurance Dina or Mark at • Fuel cards supplied 1-800-663-2339 • $500 sign on bonus or fax resumes to 1-866-492 -7644 • Home most weekends dinae@berryandsmith.com • Paid pick ups and drops • All miles paid/practical miles equal monthly payments, no interest • Stable company in business over 60 years • Safety bonus paid quarterly Good driving record • Good condition tractor • Cross border capability • Customer service focus PagE 6

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Now Bob was meticulous in his count so something was going wrong and he finally figured out that he was being robbed while he was sleeping. The first thing to do was to buy a good padlock for his doors but two weeks later he found his lock lying on the ground and he was missing a hind quarter of beef which, of course, came out of his pocket. We talked it over and Bob thought that the second last customer, (new owners), could be the culprits but the problem was how to prove it and catch them red-handed.

I suggested to Bob that he bring his truck over to our shop on a Saturday and in a matter of an hour or so we had hooked up a pressure switch that, when turned on by the door opening, would flash a red light and ring a small beeper in the cab. Bob went on his way and that Thursday went as planned. The last consignment on the truck had some very good cuts of meat including a Grade AAA hind quarter of prime beef. Bob did his usual Thursday deliveries and noted that the suspects on the second drop took a little longer than necessary inside the truck while helping him unload. Bob never said a word, he just went on with his delivery and then went to where he usually parked for the night. But this night, instead of going to sleep as he usually did, Bob lay down across the seat and waited.

Around about 2 am Bob thought he heard something and then about a minute later our little alarm system went off. Bob hopped out of the truck quietly, baseball august 2019

bat in hand, and slipped down the side of the truck just in time to see two guys enter the back of the truck. Peeking around the side he saw they both went to the front of the truck, so very calmly he swung the door shut and dogged it down. His lock and a set of bolt cutters were lying on the ground and a little Red Dodge Express Truck was parked right behind him. Bob slipped his gloves on and threw the lock and the bolt cutters in the pickup and then walked over to the motel pay phone and phoned the OPP and told them what he had. He also notified them to take their time as he was turning his reefer on to minus ten just to make sure the crooks were on ice by the time the OPP got there.

OPP took about thirty minutes to get there and when they opened the doors the crooks were really glad to see them. They were taken to the Crowbar Hotel, their truck was impounded as evidence and Bob got to take a couple of hours nap and delivered in the morning with nothing missing.

These two guys had one of the most successful Butcher Shops in the area but as soon as word got out about what had happened they could not have given away meat at any cost. Not only did both of them end up doing six months in the slammer but they also lost their truck and their business all over a couple of hundred dollars. Crime does not pay and sometimes it can also be COLD when you are caught Red Handed. r

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 7

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Mile AfTeR Mile

By Cyn Tobin Cyn has been driving trucks for 34 years. She has hauled loads all across North America and specializes in expedited perishable freight.

Here we go...its midnight somewhere and I can’t sleep.

There’s almost no traffic on the roads and after years upon years of allowing my body to tell me when it is tired, I must now silence it. Four hours ago a timer told me I was not allowed to work anymore today. Despite my body and mind being good to go all on their own - it told me that I cannot work anymore this day. It said that I was tired. I had just completed a 14-hour workday and yes I was a bit tired, so without delay, I crawled into bed. My body got all horizontal but my mind was saying “yo body, it’s still early” so I force my mind to shut down. I start to relax, eyes closed I start to drift into sleep...

“BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP,” I jolt awake. As this is right beside my head...a sound so sharp and loud it will cut through a train engine rolling by. Designed with such a pitch it will cut through anything. After about 20 minutes of listening to this, it stops. I readjust my earplugs and close my eyes. Silence at last.

“Hey Maddi, it’s not straight.... lean it left” I wake to hear. A couple just backed in their camper on my other side.

It’s a Changing Landscape Are you up to speed on the current requirements to maintain or renew your Safety Fitness Certificate?

Is your company fully prepared to pass a National Safety Code, Occupational Health & Safety, Worker’s Compensation Board or a COR/SECOR audit? Is your company doing everything it can to mitigate WCB claims, and ensuring the best rates possible? Does your staff have the proper training and certification to meet industry standards?

For companies lacking a full time compliance expert on staff, we have the affordable solution!

It’s like having an on-staff professional, at a fraction of the cost.

Contact us today for a free consultation!

(587) 340-0014

www.cdncompliance.com info@cdncompliance.com PagE 8

For the next hour or so they proceeded to set up the camper.

3 slides on it and balance. All while their 2 dogs barked inside their camper. Ah, the joys of getting to sleep in a once upon a time truck stop. Now the dogs finally settled and so did I. It’s now been 3.75 since I stopped. Finally, sleep takes hold.

It wasn’t that long after I once again am jolted awake with BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, as the next fella lines up his back up. Man forget this...I am outta here. Can’t sleep – I am now wide awake. But I can’t go anywhere! Electric Satan (ELD) over there says I must remain where I am for another 4 hours - despite my now being fully awake.

I try and try to sleep.....But with my sleep disrupted and having eaten dinner and drank a bottle of water my body says.... get up. I get dressed and walk across the parking lot, in the rain, towards the truck stop washroom. Now starting to feel the lack of sleep I drag my ass to the washroom but wait - the truck stop and washrooms open at 6 am!!! I look at my watch...that’s 4 hours from now. I gotta go find a washroom but I can’t. Electric Satan there is holding me to my next 3.75 hours of being parked. So I hold.

You can’t sleep when your body is threatening to explode. So I grabbed my tablet and started playing. Soon another 3.75 hours passed by. And a multitude of events were going on around me. Trucks coming and downing.

Trailers being dropped and switched. Drivers yelling over their idling trucks. People doing noisy late-night repairs... like the tire guy.

I did my 15-minute pre-trip and moved up the road to an open washroom!!! Then picked up my coffee and headed down the highway with a full 12 hours and 50 minutes of drive time before me. 2 hours into the trip I run into construction. I can’t shut Satan off, or go to off duty, so it chews through my precious drive time. Finally, it’s our turn to move. A pilot car max’s out at 20 mph for the next 25 miles. Then no sooner are Satan and I are clear of construction than we come upon another slowdown. An accident scene. Another 15-minute delay. Then I get behind a couple of campers, travelling well below the speed limit, who miraculously can exceed the speed limit to stay in front of my truck all the way through a passing lane.

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Transport

Strong, Safe and Growing

ASK ABOUT OUR LEASE PROGRAM – BRAND NEW 2020 PETERBILT 579 TRACTORS. WE HAVE IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR OWNER OPERATORS AND COMPANY DRIVERS WITH MORE THAN 1 YEAR OF OPEN DECK EXPERIENCE. DeckX West Division: • Edmonton based Company City Driver • Western Canada (prefer US Capable) Company Drivers • Western Canada (prefer US Capable) OWNER OPERATORS • All DeckX west drivers should have some Super B experience

DeckX Linehaul Division: • Winnipeg based Company City Driver • Linehaul Can/USA Company Drivers – ALL LOCATIONS • Linehaul Can/USA OOP – ALL LOCATIONS

Let TransX help drive your success! august 2019

To apply, visit drivetransx.ca or call 1-877-787-2679 PagE 9

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

I lost a fair bit of time to get around these guys but made it just in time for another brake check. I pulled into the Government mandatory brake check for “commercial trucks” only to be dodging holidayers lined up on both sides. There were campers set up with their slides out, on jack’s and balanced. Barbecues were grilling away, kids were darting about on scooters - it was a wonderful campground scene. Only it was a brake check.

With nowhere to stop I pulled the air in the through lane.

I went through electric satan’s requirement and then jumped out to do my check. As I came around the back end of my wagon I was greeted by 1 rather irate women wanting to know why I stopped there. After I explained just what I was doing there and how these brake checks were a required part of my job, I was told I should, “do that at a garage”.

I asked why they were camping at a brake check. The one woman said, “The travel center was full.” Yes, I do believe it was full - of campers. The semi-trucks lined the street in front. But the once truck stop turned to travel center parking lot was full of everything but trucks. Well, I am exhausted now. Maybe the pullout up the road a ways will offer up a spot to nap. Maybe.

All too often I see people engaging in all sorts of activities in locations specifically designed(and in some places mandated by federal regulations) for commercial trucks. Nothing is done about the lower class vehicles and misguided tourists taking possession of these very limited

facilities for trucks. This needs to change.

Functioning on very little sleep the night before I am only 7 hours into my day but with all the delays, electronic Satan says I am going to be late. I will never make the 12-hour drive in the 13 hours I had to do it in. I have lost over 2 hours of driving time. So, tired, I find a shoulder pull out where I can take an hours nap. With my truck rocking and vehicles whizzing by my head, I close my eyes. An hour later I head back out. Still tired but a bit better.

More delays and the campers I worked so hard to get around are now back in front of me. The battle of leapfrog to get in front of them begins. Finally irritated at their 20 below the speed limits I settle in behind them for 300 miles of single-lane highway. Hours without rest stops or safe pull-outs. Semi-trucks sleeping on shoulders of a road and me now forced to do the campers low speed in an already governed truck.

The 4 wheelers whiz by me on the shoulders. They pass me on double solids...on blind bends...even other trucks will try to pass.... buses full of tourists pass me...with each one, I back off to allow their stupid dangerous asses to jump in front of me and hit their brakes...its non-stop Mile after Mile.

Knowing I won’t make my delivery I call dispatch who reschedule me for the following day. But I’m told I have also lost my reload and will have to wait for another one. I arrived at my delivery point 2 hours late. I’m dead tired and

THE BENEFITS OF DRIVING WITH XTL

• International tech on-site = little to no down time • Competitive mileage rates • Additional $100 bonus when working an additional day over the scheduled 5 days in your week

• Pin to Pin - no hand-bombing • Option of home daily or the next day • Paid weekly, Direct Deposit • Company paid MSP & Extended Benefits after 3 months

NOT LOCATED IN THE LOWER MAINLAND?

We will place a truck in the Prince George, Kamloops or Kelowna area for the right applicant.

Interested? Call 1-800-665-9318 ext 4742 Or Apply Via Email at XTLBC@XTL.COM PagE 10

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

SPECIAL SPECIAL PEOPLE PEOPLE CREATING CREATING EXCE EXCE

OCEAN TRAILER IS WESTERN

OCEAN TRAILER COME COME SEE SEE US US AT AT THE THE BOOTH BOOTH #P-38 #P-38IS & &WESTERN THE THE B B PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE SPECIAL PEOPLE C

OCEAN TRAILER IS IS WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER SP OCEAN TRAILER WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER

now will have to wait a day, without pay, to be unloaded SPECIAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIONA SPECIAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIO even though I had left my pick up point 3 hours early and OCEAN TRAILER IS IS WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER SPECIALIST. OCEAN TRAILER WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER SPECIALIST. OCEAN TRAILER IS WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER SPECIALIST. well-rested.

COME SEE US AT PEOPLE THECREATINGPLACES. BOOTH #P-38 SPECIAL EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. SPECIAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. CANADA’S SPECIALIST. It was OCEAN now timeTRAILER to go spendIS some more money andSPECIAL buy a TRAILER OCEAN TRAILER ISWESTERN WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER SPECIALIST. OCEAN TRAILER IS WESTERN CANADA’S TRAILER SPECIALIST. $12.00 shower. An $8.00 sandwich.PEOPLE A $3.00 bottle of water COME SEE USUS ATAT THE BOOTH #P-38 & BOOTH THE BOOTH COME SEE THE BOOTH #P-38 & THE BOOT SPECIAL CREATING EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. COME SEE US AT THE BOOTH #P-38 & THE #501 SPECIAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. SPECIAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. and apparently...a 2 dollar lottery ticket!!!

COME SEE USUS ATAT THE BOOTH #P-38 && THE BOOTH #501 So yes the Hours of Service, that governs our electronic COME SEE THE BOOTH #P-38 THE BOOTH #501 babysitter, needs to be worked on COME to allowSEE flexibility to US AT THE BOOTH #P-38 & THE BOOTH #501 NEUSTAR DEMO BOX NEUSTAR OCEAN TRAILER IS&& WESTERN TRAILER SPECIALIST. EESEE AT BOOTH #P-38 THE BOOTH #501 COME SEE DEMO US AT BOX THE SEEUS US ATTHE THE the unforeseen.

BOOTH #P-38 THE CANADA’S BOOTH #501 accommodate SPECIAL PEOPLE CREATING EXCEPTIONAL PLACES. Fate Shows when Least Expected *****

OCEAN TRA NEUSTAR DEM

NEUSTAR NEUSTAR NEUSTARDEMO DEMOB Help Along The Way NEUSTAR DEMO BOX NEUSTAR DEMO BOX NEUSTAR DEMO BOX NEUSTAR NEUSTAR DEMO DEMO BOX BOX COME SEE US AT THE

BOOTH #P-38 & THE

BOOTH #501

By Glen Millard I really enjoyed Ed Murdoch’s article about hitch-hiking in the July issue. I remember those hitch-hiking years. I only did it once myself but I picked up quite a few in the early days, especially when I was tired. I may have even picked up Ed. Today I’d like to tell you about some of the people that Wilson WilsonQuad QuadFlats Flats Titan TitanSuper SuperBBWalking WalkingFloor FloorChip ChipHauler Hauler Tridem TridemCombo ComboC shaped me and my attitude towards trucking as a career.

They are not in any particular order but each and every one of them had a hand in it.

There was Haig Fleming, owner of Fleming and McKay Titan Super B WalkingHe Floor Hauler Tridem Combo Chassis - Fontaine In Stock Construction from Saskatoon. had Chip unlimited patience Super FontaineAll AllAluminum AluminumFlat Flat Fontaine FontaineDoubl Doub SuperBBFlats FlatsCall CallFor ForGreat GreatPricing!

Pricing! with a young guy who wanted to be a truck driver. I was hauling base and asphalt from the plant to the spreader on Delta Nanaimo Prince Rupert Edmonton Calgary Winnipeg the road, about 5 miles one way. I drove a 1963 International (800) 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 (866) 397-5524 tandem 1800 gravel truck. I was about 17 years old and was WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM New NewAll AllSteel SteelTr T Titan B Walking Floor Chip Hauler Tridem Combo - In*IN Stock Chip ChipSuper Trailers Trailers Wilson Wilson Tridem TridemChassis Step StepDeck Deck *IN STOCK STOCKNOW* NOW* making about 40 cents per hour.Wilson Quad Flats One Friday on the last load of the day, I got too close to Wilson Quad Flats Titan Super B Walking Floor Chip Hauler the shoulder with a load and I got sucked into a small slough Quad Flats TitanTitan Super B Walking Floor ChipChip Hauler Tridem Combo Chassis - In S Wilson Quad Super B Walking Floor Hauler Tridem Combo Chassis at very slow speed. The truck wasWilson stuck but notFlats smashed or Delta Delta Nanaimo Nanaimo Drop Prince PrinceRupert Rupert Edmonton Edmonton Calgary Calgary Flat and stopped. He said Fontaine Double ! upset. Fontaine Haig cameAll

by Aluminum on his way home (800) (800)891-8858 891-8858 (877) (877)878-5979 878-5979 (250) (250) 627-1981 627-1981 (800) (800)610-1019 610-1019 (877) (877)720-71 720-71 Fontaine All Aluminum Flat Fontaine SuperSuper B Flats Call ForSuper Great Pricing!

Wilson Quad Flats Quad Flats Walking Floor Chip Hauler Tridem Combo Chassis - In Stock B Walking Floor ChipChip Hauler Tridem Combo Chassis -Double In -Stock Quad Flats Titan Super B Walking Floor Hauler Tridem Combo Chassis InDrop Stock ifWilson youWilson can shovel that asphalt offTitan beforeBitTitan cools, walk back 2 miles to camp, walk the Euclid Cat outHauler to the truck, pull WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM s Titan Floor Tridem Chassis ats TitanSuper SuperBBWalking FloorChip TridemCombo Chassis- -InInStock Stock it out, clean it up and haveWalking it ready toChip haulHauler on Monday.

YouCombo Fontaine All Aluminum Flat Super B Flats Call For Great Pricing! will still have a job. Then he left.

Fontaine All Aluminum Flat Flat Fontaine Double DropDrop Super B Flats Call For off.

Great Pricing!

Fontaine All Aluminum Fontaine Double Super Bthe Flats Call For Great Pricing!

I worked all weekend alone shovelling load Then New All Steel Tridem, Flats & Steps.

Chip Trailers Wilson Tridem StepDrop Deck *IN STOCK NOW* Fontaine All Aluminum Flat Fontaine Double Super B Flats Call For Great Pricing!

I walked back to camp and got the Euclid, came back and Fontaine All Aluminum Fontaine Double Drop Super B Flats CallCall For For Pricing!

Fontaine All Aluminum Fontaine Double Drop Super Flats Great Pricing! pulled theB truck outGreat onto the road. I took the dozer backFlatFlat and walked back to the truck where I checked the springs, Fontaine Fontaine l For FontaineAll AllAluminum AluminumFlat Flat FontaineDouble DoubleDrop Drop all ForGreat GreatPricing!

Pricing!

Quad Flats wheelsWilson and frame.

Everything seemed O.K.Nanaimo I drove Titan Supe Chip Trailers New All Wilson Steel Tridem, Flats & Steps.

Delta Rupert Edmonton Calgary WilsonWinnipeg Tridem Step Deck *IN STOCK NO Tridem Step Deck *IN STOCK NOW*the Prince (800) 891-8858 (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 (866) 397-5524 truck back to camp and hand washed the mud(877) off 878-5979 the cab, (250) 627-1981 New All Steel Tridem, Flats & Steps.

Chip Trailers Wilson Tridem Step Deck *IN STOCK NOW* All Steel Tridem, FlatsFl& Trailers All Steel Tridem, Trailers just to make Wilson Tridem StepStep Deck *IN STOCK NOW* frame and wheels. I stayed aloneChip allChip weekend Wilson Tridem Deck *IN STOCK NOW* NewNew WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM Delta (800) 891-8858 sure that the truck was ready to haul. Monday morning All Steel Tridem, Flats & Steps.

ChipChip Trailers All Steel Tridem, Flats & Steps.

Trailers Wilson Tridem Deck *IN STOCK NOW* Wilson Tridem Step Deck *IN STOCK NOW* NewNew Haig called me in and said “I did think you would do Step it. You Nanaimo (877) 878-5979 Delta Nanaimo Prince Rupert Edmonton didn’t quit. For that, I’ll keep you on. Don’t do it again, be New Tridem, Flats Delta Nanaimo Prince Rupert NOW* Edmonton Calgary Winnipeg Wilson *IN Prince Rupert (250) 627-1981 (800) 610-101 NewAll AllSteel Steel Tridem, Flats&&Steps.

Steps.

WilsonTridem TridemStep StepDeck Deck *INSTOCK STOCK NOW* (800) 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 careful of soft shoulders.

Oh, by the way, I’m giving you a (800) 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 (866) 397-5524 Delta Nanaimo Prince Rupert Edmonton Calgary Winn Delta Nanaimo Prince Rupert Edmonton Edmonton Calgary W 10 cent raise.”

(800) 610-1019 Fontaine A Super B Flats CallWinnipeg For Great Pricing! (877) 720-7171 Prince Edmonton Calgary 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 610-1019 (866) (800) 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 (800) (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 (8 WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM Then there Rupert was Don Harold, an (800) older driver with Imperial WWW.OCEANTRAILE Calgary (877) 720-7171 Delta Nanaimo Prince Rupert Calgary Delta in Nanaimo Prince Ruperttown Edmonton Edmonton Calgary (866)Winnipeg Winnipeg -5979 Roadways (250) 627-1981 (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 397-5524 Winnipeg.

I was spotting trailers around (800) 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 (866) 397-5524 (800) 891-8858 (877) 878-5979 (250) 627-1981 (800) 610-1019 (877) 720-7171 (866) 397-5524 Winnipeg (866) 397-5524 WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM and bringing the loaded trailers from the railroad to the WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM Nanaimo Prince Rupert Edmonton Calgary Winnipeg Nanaimo Prince Rupert Edmonton Calgary Winnipeg yard. We were told that if we wanted to practice around 58 (877) (800) (877) 858 (877)878-5979 878-5979 (250) (250)627-1981 627-1981 (800)610-1019 610-1019 (877)720-7171 720-7171 (866) (866)397-5524 397-5524 WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM the yard Don would teach backing up, backing to a dock

NE

NEUSTAR DEMO BOX Wilson Quad Flats

Titan Super B Walking Floor Chip Hauler

Tridem Combo Chassis - In Stock

Super B Flats Call For Great Pricing!

Fontaine All Aluminum Flat

Fontaine Double Drop

Chip Trailers

Wilson Tridem Step Deck *IN STOCK NOW*

New All Steel Tridem, Flats & Steps.

OCEANTRAILER.COM WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM WWW.OCEANTRAILER.COM

august 2019

Chip Trailers

PagE 11

Wilson Trid

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

and jackknifing the tractor 90 degrees so traffic could get by. The deal was that we had to pay for the fuel, (366 CID GMC gas job) and if any damage was done, we had to pay for the repair.

Both me and one other guy took the deal. The first weekend the other guy backed into another trailer’s side door and broke it. He quit. He said he wasn’t paying and he wasn’t staying. I stayed. Don was a master. He taught me how to back into a dock 90 degrees to the building and stop 6 inches from the plate. There are other tricks that others should know about handling a semi. Dan had patience with me. I practiced all winter and part of the summer. I didn’t quit and I wanted to drive just like Don. I could never forget Stan Spencer, the person that taught me more than anyone about trucking. He owned Spencer Group which employed 55 people. I must tell you a bit about Stan and I. Stan had an extremely vicious temper. He was meticulous and paid well but did not tolerate imperfection.

I stayed 3 ½ years and in that time he went through a huge number of TDI applications. He tried to fire me also but I didn’t fire. My grandfather fired me from his ranch when I was about 12 or 13 and I vowed that NO-ONE was ever going to fire me again. In Stan’s case, I was fired over something petty such as parking in the wrong spot in the yard.

Stan didn’t realize I don’t quit or get fired. In Calgary, in January the weather is not like Honolulu. I made

arrangements to park my pick up in the neighbours parking lot so I wouldn’t park at Stan’s. I put on my skidoo suit and walked into the yard but not into the office or shop. I went to the pallet pile and stacked it and removed the junk. I went around the fence and picked up garbage and cleaned the wash bay sump and checked wheel bolts on the trailers. I worked from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, 5 days a week. I stopped at noon and sat on a B-train deck and ate frozen sandwiches.

I didn’t keep time or go into the office. This went on for 5 weeks. I was wondering who was going to win.

On the first day of the sixth week, Stan came out and asked me what I was doing and who was paying me. I told him it wasn’t his concern, I needed a job and he needed people to work there. He said come on in. I made it clear that he knew that I wasn’t fired and it wouldn’t happen again. We went in and he wrote me a personal cheque for $2500, then the next payday I was paid another $2500 from the company. He said that will help. Can you dispatch? I told him no. Well, I’ll teach you. 4 months later he said he needed a shop foreman as he had found a dispatcher. I was shop foreman for about 4-5 months (he taught me). He then found a shop foreman and asked if I could be a trouble manager or as they say nowadays, a Safety Supervisor.

That’s how I survived and lasted longer than anyone that had ever worked for Stanley!! I learned the complete operations of a trucking company and there is no school that is able to teach that now, or for any price. r

WANTED: DOMESTIC TEAMS TRUCKS FOR BC TO ONTARIO LANE, A$1500 SIGN ON BONUS Call Dave Holyoke at 604-525-9418 for more information

As a long haul carrier, we work closely with you to balance your road time with your home time. Our objective is to keep our freight moving, minimize downtime and keep our driver teams safe and happy. To that end, we pay above average and promptly. We offer an industry competitive package with comprehensive benefits. We value you as an integral part of our team’s success and treat you exactly that way.

PagE 12

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 13

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

iDle TiMe

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.

Vaccinations When winter draws to a close here in Canada, which lately, seems to be around the third week of June, truck drivers begin cleaning up their iron. It’s a process of course because Mother Nature doesn’t want anyone to have the jump on having their chrome and aluminum polished well in advance of anyone else. Or so it would seem anyway.

So, drivers wash and wait.

But then the wait becomes too much to contain and guys like me scoop up a polishing rag and some liquid polish. Sneaking up to an unsuspecting friends truck and polish a very conspicuous spot on their fuel tank. Yes sir, right there, smack dab in the middle. It can’t be missed by anyone passing by. And of course they are generally quick to snicker and point.

This forces the recipient of the partially polished tank to break down and polish the entire piece. Which starts the chain reaction of polishing the whole truck. And, because that truck looks so good, it starts the subsequent polishing

of other trucks.

Next thing you know there are media releases that truckers are being requested to show up to locations around the country en masse. Congregating in large numbers spreads the fever associated with polishing. It quickly spreads to the families and everyone is affected.

As much as anti-vaxxers would like to think they get the credit for this, it truly lies with the first company who chrome plated some truck parts.

Luckily to this day, there is no known vaccine for this.

To our trucking family, eat right, get plenty of rest, eat vitamin C and please, shake hands and pass on the shiny stuff flu.

Enjoy the summer. I hope you had a fantastic time at Alberta Big Rig Weekend and will do the same at any other shows you attend this year. *****

Robbery In Progress

A thief entered a house mid-afternoon.

He tied up the woman and at knife-point asked the man to hand over the jewelry and money.

The man started sobbing and said, “You can take anything you want.

You can kill me also. But please untie the rope and free her.

Thief: “You must really love your wife!”

Man: “No, but hurry, she will be home shortly!”

FIC INLAND I C PA POWERTRAIN New & Rebuilt Transmissions & Differentials In Stock

CLUTCHES • TRANSMISSIONS • DIFFERENTIALS • DRIVETRAIN REPAIR & REBUILDING 604-882-0526 or 604-882-0523 • 9755-197B Street in Langley, B.C. PagE 14

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Saying Goodbye to “THE LEGEND”

RON DOXEY

Sadly, Ron’s friends here at Old Skool Trucking, would like to send our condolences to his wife and best friend Tammy, his family and his many many friends. Ron was truly a man among men and le� all of us here be�er than before we met him. He was an “Icon” in the trucking industry for over “50” years and always trucked first class and always put on “The Shine”.

So my friend, keep your foot hard on the pedal and never mind them brakes, cause you’ve got one last run to make!!! Go rest high on that mountain, your work on earth is done.

Love and Respect Brother from all of us here at, Old Skool Trucking Ltd.

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 15

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Pro-Trucker Magazine’s 17th Annual

Alberta BIG RIG Weekend Blackjacks Roadhouse in Nisku, Alberta

PagE 16

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

About Military Minds Inc. Our Mission: To increase acceptance and services for soldiers, veterans and first responders living with PTSD by debunking stigma and working to enhance available resources.

Military Minds Inc. is the largest and leading international organization raising awareness of the stigma of, and providing peer support for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

We are a connected active membership with a virtual presence of 135,000 person community.

We’re an organization for and run by , soldiers, veterans and first responders. A boots on the ground , grass roots initiative founded in 2011

by Canadian Armed Forces serving member Cpl. Chris Dupee (now retired).

Most of our founding members either suffer from or help those with PTSD, we know that this is at the end of a mental health continuum.

PTSD is the end state of an Operational Stress Injury (OSI). PTSD can be latent, as such we help those in the mental health corridor between and OSI and PTSD. While PTSD members will need more intense attention we want a larger footprint in mental health for soldiers, veterans, first responders and their families.

As part of their needs some members need mental health services, some need to just talk, others need a job, while others need an education. Some need family counsel, financial help, help with paperwork claims to legal issues, substance abuse or finding a place to live. It is a confusing landscape for those even without an OSI. So many choices and offerings, determining the best path, where to start, who to call, DND versus VAC versus Provincial, Private and NGO help.

In Canada, our international growth template, there isn’t a single entity whose sole purpose is connecting those afflicted with mental august 2019

health issues to programs and services they and their families need. We connect people with existing services and programs that fulfill their needs, including the programs created by our members and in-house professionals. We provide support to those living with PTSD and encourage those in silence to come forward, when they do we endeavour to put them in touch with resources in their country and area.

Military Minds Inc. is an unique organization, we want to be the largest trusted hub that connects soldiers, veterans and first responders.

We have prioritized from the input of our members focus groups and we continue to find out the best paths for our members. Helping them get to where they need to go based on their individual needs. Our goal is to investigate and item bank the local and national avenues of help and then give them our trusted stamp of partnership, so we can move our members towards them.

All funds raised from our sales and fundraising go directly into a trust account and are accessed only to assist with member’s needs.

Our President, Cpl. Scott Casey (ret.) and our Board of Directors of international Veterans all volunteer their time.

For more information about Military Minds Inc. you can contact us at militarymindsinc@ gmail.com or connect with us through www.militarymindsinc.com

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 17

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Roland Lancaster 1977 Kenworth W900A 2nd Place: Non Working Show Truck Trophy Sponsored By: Blackjacks Roadhouse 2nd Place: Non Working Best Lights Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine

Friday Night Big Rig Weekend Ritual PagE 18

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Best In Show

Owner Operator

And The Winner Of The Perpetual Don Glen Trophy Trophy Sponsored By: McLean & Shaw Insurance

Jason Koch, Liquids in Motion - 2010 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2010 to New Trophy Sponsored By: Westcan Bulk Transport

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 19

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Rob Willox On the Ball Rigging 2012 Kenworth T800 2nd Place: Company Truck Bob Tail Sponsored By: The Gear Center 2nd Place: Company Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Rosenau Transport Ltd.

PagE 20

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Best In Show Cross-Over

Trophy Sponsored By: Summit Trailer Ltd.

Devon Poole, DRM Recovery 2016 Peterbilt 368

1st Place: Crossover Tow Truck Trophy Sponsored By: Kirk’s Tirecraft Lethbridge august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 21

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Chad Strongman, Cliff’s Towing - 2006 Peterbilt 378 2nd Place: Crossover Tow Truck Sponsored By: Y- Lee Trucking Ltd. 1st Place: Crossover Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine

PagE 22

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Best In Show

Non-Commercial

Trophy Sponsored By: N.P.P. Northern Provincial Pipelines

Harvey Derewynka - 1988 Kenworth K100 1st Place: Non Working Show Truck Trophy Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator 1st Place: Non Working Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 23

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Jason Girden, Stingray Express - 2018 Kenworth W900L 2nd Place: Owner Operator Truck Trailer Combo Trophy Sponsored By: Rafail Proius 2nd Place: Owner Operator Best Lights - Truck Trailer Trophy Sponsored By: Skiddd Wheel Indicator

PagE 24

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Best In Show Company Truck

Trophy Sponsored By: BD Diesel Performance

Austin Domaschuk, Half Diamond - 2018 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Company Truck Truck Trailer Combo Trophy Sponsored By: Alberta Motor Transport Association 1st Place: Company Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 25

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Rob Velic, Jack Cooper - 2001 Freightliner Classic 1st Place: Crossover Specialty Truck - Trophy Sponsored By: M. Pidherney Trucking Brown Muffin Award - Trophy Sponsored by: Pro-Trucker Magazine

The Brown Muffin Award.

The Brown Muffin Award was named after 3rd generation driver Clayton Mosnic, who always came to the show in his immaculately polished Brown Freightliner, hence the Brown Muffin name. Clayton called one day to say he had a load of crushed cars and a dirty truck but didn’t want to miss the show and intended on coming as he was. This got the wheels turning for Ben Proudley who, at the trophy presentation, presented him with the first Brown Muffin Award. The Brown Muffin Award consisted of a galvanized garbage can (from Heritage Park) containing a number of cleaning products. (rumour has it that he still has the garbage can) You could tell the award was a great hit by the number of hoots and hollers from the other drivers who all had suggestions on how he could improve his display. In actual fact, the award itself is more than just a yearly prank as it encompasses the basic goal of the show and that is to bring everyone together for what is often referred to, by us and drivers alike, as the largest family reunion in Canada. Truck shows should not be about trophies. In fact, I have had conversations with drivers who are hesitant to go to a show because they do not think they can win. My advice to them has always been not to go if all they want from a show is a trophy. Truck shows are not about trophies they are about seeing old friends and making new ones in a very close knit community that seldom has the chance to visit. A chance to meet face to face and finally say hello to that driver you have been passing on the highway for years.

We hope everyone can make it to the next Family Reunion!

PagE 26

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Myrna Chartrand, Portage Trasnport - 2017 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Company Truck Bob Tail Trophy Sponsored By: Boychuk Ventures Inc

Dean Tracey, Portage Transport - 1987 Kenworth 1st Place: Crossover Cab Over Trophy Sponsored By: Feather River Transport Ltd.

Dean Cornish -1980 Kenworth Cabover 1st Place: Non Working Stock Antique Trophy Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator

Todd Woitas, White Crayon - 2009 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Owner Operator Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine

Vik Shankar, V&S Trucking - 2009 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2009 & Older Trophy Sponsored By: Gripco Tire

Richard Hughes, R. Hughes Trucking 2003 Kenworth W900L 1st Place: Owner Op Best Lights - Truck Trailer Trophy Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine

august 2019

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 27

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

PAGE 28

Find our magazine archives at www.Pro-truckermagazine.Com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Ben Kowalczyk - 1981 Kenworth W900 1st Place: Owner Operator Antique Trophy Sponsored By: Advance Engineered Products

Brian Hainsworth - 2007 Kenworth W900B 2nd Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2009 & Older Trophy Sponsored By: Carousel Group

Peter Neufeld, Low Rider Bulklines - 2019 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Owner Operator Truck Trailer Combo Trophy Sponsored By: Caneda Transport

Myles Lowen, NA Services - 2012 Kenworth W900B 2nd Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2010 - New Trophy Sponsored By: K & P Drever Transport Ltd.

Danny McCarron - 1976 Kenworth W900A 2nd Place: Non Working Stock Antique Trophy Sponsored By: Clifford R. Smith Trucking Co. Ltd.

Jeff Mayo, V&S Trucking - 2014 Peterbilt 389LH 2nd Place: Owner Operator Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Curtis Farms, Lenore, MB

august 2019

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 29

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Gripco Tire Sales Clint Remple - 1-780-851-5615 4710 76 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta

Summit Trailer Ltd. Chris Patrick – 587-881-1239 21010 - 108 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta PAGE 30

Find our magazine archives at www.Pro-truckermagazine.Com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Gerald Prankie, Spectra Trucking - 1981 Peterbilt 352H 2nd Place: Crossover Cab Over Trophy Sponsored By: New West Truck Centres

Steven Vince, Guys Freightways - 2020 Peterbilt 389 2nd Place: Company Truck Truck Trailer Combo Trophy Sponsored By: Great West Kenworth

West Cole, Red Crayon - 2014 Freightliner – Flat Deck 2nd Place: Crossover Best Lights Trophy Sponsored By: Rosenau Transport Ltd.

Patrick Robinson - 1981 Kenworth W900 2nd Place: Owner Operator Antique Trophy Sponsored By: Clifford R. Smith Trucking Co Ltd.

august 2019

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 31

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Thank You...

MAJOR SPONSORS: Howes Lubricator: Howes Lubricator has been a Major Sponsor since 2004. (15 Years!!) Howes Lubrica-tor is the most trusted name in diesel and oil additives. Look to them first - they support you.

Blackjacks Roadhouse: A 24/7 facility with great food, showers, weigh scales and 24-hour security for you and your truck. Clarence, his daughter Krista and their wonderful staff work hard to give you a safe and clean place to rest or reset.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Alicia Cornish – Diesel Photography – a great talent who took the pictures you see here.

KEY-AG: for donating, through Ken Clark, the Kubota side by side that saved miles of shoe leather for the crew.

ALBERTA LARGE CARS: Lighted Truck Cruise: A few years ago Todd Woitas, from Alberta Large Car, suggested a TRADE BOOTH DISPLAYS AND Friday night lighted truck TROPHY SPONSORS: These companies deserve your support - all they ask in cruise to raise money for return is to be given the chance to quote when you are our charity. This year his Friday night cruise raised $400 for Military Minds - a non-profit that gives support and looking for products or services. guidance to military personnel and first responders who suffer from PTSD. THE PRO-TRUCKER STAFF: John and Donna, daughter Tori, son-in-law, Ben and their AUCTION: done by professional Auctioneer, twins, Mackenzie and Mason.

Appraiser and owner of Carousel Group, Don Streeper.

OUR VOLUNTEER FAMILY: Heather Fraser, Ken Clarke, Tiffany Rathburn, Rob Velic, DONATED AUCTION ITEMS: Tim from Prairie RC, Brent & Rose MacLennan, Ellie 1. ALC - 4 shirt, 4 hats, 3 bottles of Spectrum Metal Polish Thunder, Barb Quinton, Amanda Brunette, Ruger Dyer, and three Redemption T-shirts.

2. RC Truck Guys (Shaun, Rob, Tim & Tracy) - 4 foot LED Nate Ashford, Sam Ashford, Kim Geib. light bar 3. Diesel Photography – Truck Photo Shoot JUDGES: This year we did something different, instead of having 4. Summit Trailer - Speed Design LED High/Low Beam set the DOT do our judging, we had unaffiliated locals judge and a Gift Box with a Sweat Shirt, Knife, Flask, Insulated the show. They were: Della Hanna, Cory Niessen and Mark Water bottle and a Hat 5. Carousel Group – 1 Truck Appraisal Quinton. They did a great job!

6. Ken Clarke - 4 pairs of gloves 7. Gripco Tire – 2 drive tires including mounting and balancing.

Over $1800 was raised at the auction for Military Minds.

50/50 DRAW: A 50/50 draw was held to raise money for Military Minds. The winner was Delbert Cornish who generously donated his winnings, approximately $345, to Military Minds.

PagE 32

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

ROSE MACLENNAN AND ELLIE THUNDER – WAXING: This was a fund-raising event that we can confidently say has never been held before at a truck show, and/or probably anywhere else in the world for that matter.

To raise money for charity, 2 drivers, Randy Evans and Shawn Wilson volunteered to have their upper bodies waxed using women’s waxing strips. Everyone in the crowd cringed and then applauded each time a strip was painfully removed from their bodies. They charged $2 per strip and raised over $600 for charity.

RC SHOW N SHINE: Shaun Legaarden approached us with the idea to have a show n shine for RC’s. There were 2 categories with 1st and 2nd place trophies in each - Drivers Choice and Peoples Choice.

But our biggest thank you goes out to you, the professional drivers, for what you do and how you do it. Too often you receive the brunt of the bad press but we know, that statistically, you are the safest and most dependable people on the road. Once again this year we received the biggest compliment you can get when we were told by the staff at Blackjacks that the participants of our show are the most courteous and problem-free people they see each year. Thank you from all of us.

august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 33

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

PAGE 34

Find our magazine archives at www.Pro-truckermagazine.Com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

august 2019

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 35

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

TYRes ACRoss THe PoND 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.

Old Industry I was glad to see in the news the other day that two Scottish, and one Welsh steelworks are to be saved from closure. When I was a young trucker there were steelworks everywhere, in Scotland, England and Wales. When I worked for a small four truck firm called, J&J Transport, with my wife’s Uncle Mitch, they rented a couple of flatbed coil carriers so they didn’t miss out on the abundance of local rolled steel going south. With the flatbed trailers, all the bases were covered, coils going south and any general freight for a backload. The coils of strip steel were a great load, usually, two coils made up your gross weight, and as they were low there was no messing about with tarps, just a skin on top and off you go.

We also had regular work from a local firm, delivering the wire rope they made to coal mines and docks, not as straight forward as loading the coils, but it was all good experience. Any time we delivered in south Wales, a handy backload were the big bell-shaped moulds going to Ravenscraig Steelworks. Each one weighed in at about 15 tons, but the agent paid for 20tons,

S K I DDD

Hiring Qualified O/Ops & Drivers Drivers 70-80 CENTS PER MILE!

Super B & tridem step 2 yrs exp & acceptable abstract Western Canada & USA Some dedicated runs

Call Al 604-882-7623 the only drawback was the narrow roads to get to the Welsh steelworks up in the valleys. Just as well the roads were quiet back then, because the big moulds were wide, ten or eleven feet across. That meant 12 or 18 inches sticking out on either side of the trailer on the way back down those narrow roads.

But the delivery point made up for that, Ravenscraig was right on my doorstep so it couldn’t get much better.

Unfortunately, Ravenscraig is almost all flattened now, as is, Martin Black the wire rope works. Nice new private housing seems to be the default choice when large heavy industry shuts down and the sites are cleared. The plans for Ravenscraig are to build a mini town, a new sports centre and college are already built, along with a pub and the start of the new housing.

It must be a real slap in the face for all the ex-Steel men

WHEEL ROTATION INDICATOR

SKIDDD IS NORTH AMERICA’S #1 SKIDDD TIRE PREVENTION

Two tires, service call, loss revenue & miles = $1000’s One set of 4 skiddd wheel indicators = Under $30 bucks!

PREVENTING SKIDDDED TIRES FOR OVER 15 YEARS Skiddd Wheel Indicator is the best there is, best there was and best there ever will be!

For nearest dealer near you check www.skiddd.com or call Tim at (204)735-3029 PagE 36

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Miles of Smiles

By Myrna Chartrand Myrna was born and raised in Oak Point, Manitoba and was our February 2019 Rig of the Month driver.

to see the steelwork for the new road bridge across the river Forth come in from China. How cheaply is that being produced that the Chinese can afford to ship it over here and still make a profit?

So what does our future trucking industry have to look forward to with all these closures? In my lifetime I’ve seen the heavy side of industry devastated, coal mines, docks and steelworks are now almost non-existent. The roads over here are full of overnight parcel trucks delivering next day, internet ordered goods and supermarket trucks. Will truckers become little more than steering wheel attendants as they ferry groceries and white goods up and down the highways in their automatic trucks.

The skills of gear changing, loading and securing their trailers lost, as they shuttle trailers between giant supermarket hubs, where all they’re required to do is open the trailer doors and back up to a dock.

In my young days, the wait to get unloaded at a busy dockside could sometimes stretch to most of the day, but at least there was usually a canteen to get a cheap warm meal while you waited. Nothing like the two days or so I’ve read about in the social media that Canadian truckers sometimes have to wait, but if it’s the only game in town you might not have a lot of choices.

Not to worry, the trucks will all be driverless soon, so we can all retire to a new house built on the site of a steelworks or dockside we used to haul from. r august 2019

One of the most common concerns and I mean only one because there are many that we truck drivers face these days, is how to live a healthy lifestyle. We read about it on social media and in truck stop papers and magazines. We can have all the resources in the world handed to us on how to live this healthy lifestyle but it’s executing it that’s the hard part.

It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and determination.

I for one, give it an honest effort for several weeks then always fall off the wagon. Either work or personal stress gets to me and I’m an emotional eater so all my efforts go out the window. I’ve been fighting a constant battle my whole life and even more so for the 10 years that I’ve been driving. First, it started out I gained 10 pounds, then it was 10 pounds the next year, then 10 pounds the year after that.

Next thing you know I’ve gained 100 pounds in 10 years and then I sit there and think, “How did I let this happen?”

I’ve been trying to lose weight off and on and I lose and gain back that same 20 pounds and never get anywhere.

There is so much in social media these days about body positivity and embracing our curves and being happy in our skin. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m generally happy with myself but there’s always room for improvement.

It’s not the size of my body I’m so concerned with as it is being borderline diabetic and having borderline high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I even tried to donate blood about 6 months ago and I couldn’t even do that. Talk about the ultimate rejection. I’m thinking, “I’m trying to give you my blood for free and you still don’t want it!” It turns out my hemoglobin level was too low to donate. The gentleman who tested my blood said it could be low due to lack of sleep, dehydration or poor eating habits.

“Wow…..I hardly think trucking contributes to any of these,” said no truck driver ever!!! With so much of my time spent sitting I know I need to get up and get moving more often. So I decided to go out and buy a Fitbit to track my steps and exercise and I have to say the first week using it was absolutely hilarious. I thought the Fitbit was either going to be super motivating and/or drive me crazy!!! I’m constantly looking at it to see what’s going on. First thing in the morning I check it and I’ve burned 200 calories already.

I’m thinking, “Woohoo!! Just for breathing, I’ve burned 200 calories.” This is like a little reward for playing this game we call “Life.”

Secondly, I check to see my progress throughout the day. This one particular instance I was off work for 9 days

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 37

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

while I was moving to a new place. I had packed up all my work clothes along with my other belongings and the day I was set to hit the road I grabbed a bag and carried on to work. Before I went to bed that night I’m sitting there thinking, “Hmmm...I’m pretty sure I never packed any bras, underwear or socks in this bag.” I check and sure enough, no “intimates” so off to Wal-Mart I go in the morning to try on a selection.

I wish I had checked how many calories I had burned prior to trying them on versus how many were burned afterwards. This being very important because it took me about 5 minutes of struggling to try to get a sports bra on only to get it on half way then panic how I’m going to get it off because clearly, it doesn’t fit. The struggle is real folks!!!

I’m now red in the face, breathing heavily and check my pulse and it’s in the cardio range. I say kudos to me at this point for probably burning a possible 500 calories because keep in mind, I burned 200 just for breathing.

It turns out after all that the only goal I reached that week was exceeding my 6 to 8 hours of sleep. I also try to do some workout videos at night. I set up my portable DVD player either behind the trailer or sometimes on the step of my truck. One of my favourites is Sweating to the Oldies with Richard Simmons with the hopes that one day I too can wear silky short shorts. While I’m doing this I often get people clapping or once a guy took a pee behind his trailer not realizing I was behind mine. I don’t know who was more startled when he realized I was there! Since everyone these days uses their phones for taking videos of everything around them, I’m almost too scared to type “truck stop Sweating to the Oldies” and see what comes up.

Although with a description like that, I’m not sure I want to know. I often think of the day I may be fit and all the adventures I could take.

A really great inspirational movie is “Wild” with Reese Witherspoon. If you have seen it you know it’s about a girl who packs up her things and goes hiking 1000 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail with just her and a loaded down backpack. I have to say watching it did sort of give me a spark to think maybe I should add something like this to my bucket list. It can be good for the body and the soul.

One day I’m parked at a Flying J in Georgia that is situated on a very steep incline. I decided that day I was going to go do laundry then take a shower. So I load up my laundry bag, my shower bag and my purse and set out to hike this incline. Now I struggled but as I did it, I thought, “Look at me go...practically Reese Witherspoon!” And then I laughed and laughed some more thinking I hope I inspired at least one person today as Reese Witherspoon did to me!

What I think we all need to keep in mind is that Rome wasn’t built in a day so we aren’t just going to get healthy and fit overnight. We can take baby steps and start by just drinking more water then move up to more exercise then making healthier food choices. I know, I know….easier said than done because I’m living proof! r PagE 38

TRUCK BODY TRUCK BODY LIFTYOUR YOUR BUSINESS LIFT BUSINESS TOAA NEW NEW LEVEL! TO LEVEL!

CALL US TODAY! (604) 607-1113 24/7 SERVICE TRUCK AVAILABLE! info@premiertruckbody.com www.premiertruckbody.com CALLsUS TODAY! 607-1113 PsYCHe CARs AND(604) lessoNs leARNeD

24/7 SERVICE TRUCK AVAILABLE!

By David Rusk

David started his career in 1989 with info@premiertruckbody.com Trans-X. He has run team, hauled www.premiertruckbody.com reefers, general freight, logs and (604) chips. 607-1113 CALL US TODAY! He currently hauls B Train tankers both on and off road out of Fort Mac.

24/7 SERVICE TRUCK AVAILABLE!

I Lied info@premiertruckbody.com “Are you tired?”

I sat onwww.premiertruckbody.com the edge of the bunk and tried to comprehend what my co-driver had just asked me.

Tired? (Insert expletive) right, I’m tired! (Several very bad words to finish up). Did I say that out loud? I glanced at Jerry, no I didn’t. Good. I looked out the windshield and immediately knew where we were - the Zopkios brake check. The Coquihalla summit at 0300 am can be beautiful or a complete horror show, this night the crystal clarity was something to behold. One of those nights, when the shadows are sharp-edged and deep as an Earth-sized slice of moonshine found its final destination. I stretched to look out the passenger door window, back behind the truck because I knew the twisted bare granite of Yak mountain would be towering above us, silver white and reaching for the black of space. A clear night high in the mountains can be so unearthly that it all looks fake, an impossible vision from a dream.

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

“Are you tired?” Jerry asked again.

You met my mentor Jerry Johnson in my last piece here in Pro-Trucker. We quickly meshed and it wasn’t many miles before we both knew our fit was perfect and credit to him for recognizing my raw abilities as a rookie and placing trust in me as we roamed BC’s roads and became tight friends. After all, trying to sleep in a moving truck with someone you don’t trust behind the wheel is a terrible experience. Adding in a twisty mountain road or the moose filled black of a northern Ontario night will mash your mind into a goo of sleepless worry.

Mutual respect and request gave me the fortune of a select few co-drivers but I have been forced into running with unknown people. One guy, I won’t dignify him by using the title driver, was a danger and I still curse myself for allowing him to risk my life. Two dingers between Toronto and Vancity in a row with virtually no sleep(!) and on the way back to the Beach for the second time I laid there wondering why we were stopped. I peaked out through the curtain and saw the Liquor store Agency in Wawa and a crack pipe in the cup holder! I slept good that night in a stationary truck because I was running single for the rest of that trip.

Besides the obvious things like personalities and hygiene, other very important understandings must be worked out between the drivers of a team truck. Trust in the person’s abilities and intelligence and trust in knowing how they will react to panic. Will they check the equipment(?), do they

Truck And Marine Heater

even know what to look for? There are so many and everyone is overarched by the trust in your partner’s self-awareness and whether they are truthful to themselves.

Back to the Coquihalla summit, Jerry’s question and more importantly, my answer.

“Are you tired?” I looked at him and saw a driver who was done, with unfocused and red-rimmed eyes, slumped forward on the wheel and a slack face desperate for sleep. Early on Jerry and I established trust and the knowing that can be born out of that and we put a system in place to let us rest easy.

I knew that he had been safe driving us through the last 9 hours of mountains, safe until he wasn’t. I knew he had seen the warning signs and looked inside of himself and being truthful, decided it was time to stop. I slept easy because I trusted him. I smiled at my friend because a real driver and a real friend should know when his honesty is appreciated.

“Hey, you got us to the smasher, good job man.” I spoke soft, in recognition.

Then Jerry smiled at me and watched closely as I sat in the jump seat and slowly woke up. He was formulating his own answer. “ How’d you sleep Dave, are you ok?”

I glanced in the visor mirror and…wholly hell, I looked like a zombie. I flipped that mirror back up with a flick because no one needs to see that first thing in the morning!

Jerry knew I heard him ask and he waited patiently because he was in on it, he knew that I sat there and examined myself and he trusted that I would give him the correct answer. The

604-888-1883

THE MOST EFFICIENT HEATER One Litre Diesel For Every Eight Hours!

TXM-AD25

TXM-AD25 delivers: - Adjustable Temperatures in Trucks & Marine cabs - Fuel Efficiency, operating 8 hours with 1-litre fuel - Compact Design - Remote control covers upto a 300-meter radius - Eliminates engine idling - User friendly

Model: TXM-AD25 Authenticate: CE; ROHS; FCC Fuel Type: Diesel fuel Rate Voltage: 24V/12V Rated Power: 2.5KW/8500BTU Work Temperature: -40°C~+20°C Weight: 2.6 KGS Size: 31cm X 12.2cm X 11.5cm Warranty: 2 years Remote Technology: Optional

www.truxmar.com august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 39

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

wrong answer to this crucial question will be devastating, setting up a cycle of sleepless bunk periods as the off duty driver lies awake knowing his partner is overtired and the two drivers will spiral down into a pit of anger and mistrust.

Are you tired?

We ran hard back then and after a while, you reach a point where recovery stops, even when you manage some sleep and this night, we were both there.

I thought about the situation. God, I was so tired. We were only 3 hours from our destination and I knew the road well. I was asleep through Kamloops but I knew Jerry had

stopped at the scale and crawled under the truck to adjust the brakes. Tight, just like we did every trip. I knew he had barely touched them just like how he taught me. “8 psi or less and we’re good”, was one of his mantra’s. I knew the Jakes would hold this load down the steep grade to the Great Bear snow shed without touching the brakes and after that, the grade lessened and we would roll on through the twists and turns to Hope. I knew I could make it the last 2 hours of flat and boring four-lane into Vancouver. I also knew I was very tired and I knew it would be ok.

“Are you tired?”

I lied. r

David Rusk – Driver, Biker, Writer, Inspiration…

OCTOBER 6, 1966 ~ JULY 21, 2019 (AGE 52) It is with great sadness that I tell you we have just lost a member of the Pro-Trucker Family. Our associate writer, David Rusk, a truck driver and well known motorcycle enthusiast was killed in a motorcycle accident. David’s beloved wife Lisa wrote, “…it is with a broken heart I send this tragic message. My David was killed on his motorcycle July 21st.

David talked about how excited he was to write for you, writing about his love of driving truck was a nice

change from motorcycles and he had lots of stories and knowledge yet to pen.

I thank you and the magazine for giving David that, he was so amazingly gifted with his words....

David was a quiet, gentle, loving and generous man, he was my world, my everything.”

Written In Memory of David Rusk

The Logbook

By Dave Madill His Logbooks on the table, his keys are in the drawer, His truck is parked out on the lot, He won’t need them anymore.

He left us just the other day on a trip we all must take, To stand before the final court who’s judgement he must take, He will not stand and bow his head, He’ll hold his head up high, He will face the final Judge and look him in the eye.

He will not make excuses, He’s not that kind of man.

Through trials and tribulations he always made a stand.

He took his bike out riding on that last summer day, Then he met his maker as he traveled on his way.

Some day we may join him as he rides across the sky Riding through the ages as the clouds go drifting by.

His logbooks on the table, his keys are in the drawer, The rider has gone home and won’t need them anymore.

Rest Peacefully David.

PAGE 40

Find our magazine archives at www.Pro-truckermagazine.Com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

HIRING CLASS 1 DRIVER’S FOR SECURE, LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT! We Offer...

You Offer...

• excellent benefits • extended medical • RRSP plan • four day work week + more!

• a clean abstract • collision free driving record for 2 years • a min. of 2 of the past 5 years driving tractor-trailer • a strong safety orientation • great customer service skills • attention to detail • an outstanding attitude!

Preference is given to applicants with experience in the food industry environment.

If you feel you have what it takes to join our team we invite you to APPLY ONLINE: Jobs.martinbrower.com or email your resume to: proberts@mbcan.com We thank all applicants for their interest however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Martin-Brower is an equal opportunity employer. august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 41

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

THe Diesel GYPsY

By Bill Weatherstone Bill is a true pioneer of the trucking industry. This is an excerpt from his book, “The Life and Times of William John Weatherstone” TEMPER – TEMPER HAVE YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THOSE DAYS? Back in the 1980s, I was contracted out to TEXACO CANADA. During this particular incident I was hauling an “A” Train to Seven Islands, on Quebec’s north shore and at times would run through the bush country up and into Labrador City, Labrador.

I was living in Barrie, Ontario at the time and would commute down to Toronto to go to work. It was about 1 1/2 to 2-hour run, depending on the time of day. It was nothing really as on each trip I would be gone for 4 or 5 days.

I would arrive at work around 11:00 pm and then I would take the grease tanker over to Bronte, Ontario (20 miles away) and pick up a load of Bunker oil. I would then bring it back to the package goods plant, unload on one side of the plant, and then move the tanker around to the other side of the building.

The bunker was used in the manufacture of grease for the Iron Ore Company of Canada. With no storage for this product, it was formulated and pumped directly back into the tanker trailer, and then delivered directly to the customer. The whole

T r uc k Wes t C ollisi on ICBC Repairs • Sandblasting Full Truck Collision Services Frame Straightening Custom Painting Painting

Head Office Langley 604-888-8788 9737-197B Street

Abbotsford 604-854-8779 #8-31059 Peardonville Road

EMAIL: truckwest@shaw.ca WEBSITE: truckwestcollision.com PagE 42

Open 6:00 am to 7:30 pm Mon to Fri 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays

CANYON CABLE 1988 LTD. 930-6th Ave., Hope, BC 604-869-9036 Toll Free 1-800-588-8868 manufacturing process would take 12 to 18 hours.

On this particular trip, I was late getting loaded, and coming back it was a horrendous morning rush hour, and I had the makings of a good migraine coming on. It was the beginning of a bad temper day.

The unloading pipes were positioned under the warehouse dock. I would back in, hook up the hoses, and pump the load off with the trailers own engine and pump. I had been complaining to the company for some months now about the trailer’s 3-inch hoses that were getting old and rotten, and I wanted new ones.

As usual big corporation management was not willing to put out the money to replace them. I guess that the powers that be have to justify their own pay cheque by not spending.

In this case, the production kettles that I was to unload in were still in use, and I had to wait another hour before they would be empty. The slow-burning fuse to my temper was now lit. Next, the boys upstairs in production had to go on their 15-minute break, which in big oil company time means 1/2 hr minimum. The temper fuse was now being fanned, raising the temperature a little more. Then I found that the fittings to the product receiving pipes were not properly cleaned and the caps were frozen on. An open torch flame would have cured the problem in just a few minutes but unfortunately, I was in a no flame zone.

A hammer and chisel were now the only tools I could use while crawling under the dock on the tar infested ground.

After 20 minutes of hammering, swearing and hitting my fingers with the hammer, my fuse was really starting to gather speed. In the meantime, the laboratory supervisor came out onto the dock wearing his business suit and a crispy clean white lab coat. He stood around, not saying anything, just watching what I was doing for a few minutes and then turned around and left.

It was now time to pump the load off. I fired up the engine, put her in gear and started pumping but some idiot upstairs in the production room failed to open one of the kettle receiving valves. The back pressure on the old hoses forced a blowout sending hot black bunker oil spraying all over the place. (Notea teaspoon of oil on the ground spreads and looks like a gallon) I hit the kill switch and shut everything down, but not before the warehouse dock, the trailer a 20-foot circle as well as yours truly was sprayed with black bunker oil.

I was just getting over the shock of the incident when the management genius in the white coat came out again. He stood on the dock, looking down at me asked, “Are you having a problem? Did something go wrong?”

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

HEAVY DUTY REPAIR Every day that your truck is in the shop is a day that you aren’t on the road, making

money. Adrenaline Diesel knows and understands the importance of getting repairs done quickly, correctly and affordably.

ENGINE REBUILDING Engine rebuilding is an affordable way to keep your rig on the road without having to invest in an entirely new truck or a brand new engine. Whether you are in need of a differential rebuild, a transmission rebuild, or a full engine rebuild, we can help. Our team of heavy duty technicians is experienced in all aspects of diesel engine rebuilding for heavy trucks and equipment getting your rig back on the road on time and on budget.

DIESEL TURBOS & INJECTORS

FULL TILT MANIFOLDS

ENGINE PERFORMANCE Adrenaline Diesel offers a wide range of engine performance products, services

and custom tuning to unlock your heavy truck or equipment’s true potential.

AFTERMARKET PARTS Adrenaline Diesel provides a wide range of different aftermarket parts. Whether you are looking to replace an old part or are looking for an upgrade, we are here to help! We carry some of the industry’s top names when it comes to aftermarket and performance parts including Full Tilt, ARP, and BD Diesel.

WEBSITE GALLERY Have a look at some of the types of projects that we have worked on, from engine rebuilds for day-to-day working trucks to full-blown customized engines with repainted blocks, custom valve covers, chrome, and the list goes on. You love your rig and need to keep it working for you. We have helped these customers with the same goals.

CALL TODAY (780) 907-1965 13019 - 151 ST. NW, EDMONTON VISIT US AT www.adrenalinediesel.ca august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 43

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

I just stood there for a moment, dripping in oil and then went totally ballistic. Reaching down to a ½ filled 5-gallon pail of oil, I picked it up and threw it at him. He screamed and took off for the office while I climbed up onto the dock - right after him.

He was lucky because I slipped in the oil and he got away. I got up and headed for the dispatch office where I went crashing through the door. One of the office girls dove under her desk.

I guess she thought that a tornado had struck. I paused for a second and told my manager where they could insert their job.

Continuing out the other door and into the parking lot, I got in my car and roared around the block to the truck. After loading all my possessions into the car, I headed for home.

There are two things that can cool me down after a temper fit; one is to take my handguns out to the range and shoot off a dozen or so 357 magnum rounds. It seems to have a soothing effect. The other is to go for a long highway drive which also seems to work. In this case, it was a 2-hour drive getting home.

I explained to my wife why I was 4 days early getting home and I then showered and went to bed. In the meantime, the fleet manager phoned and wanted my wife to get me up and talk to me. She told them that if they wanted to get me up, to come up and do it themselves because she wasn’t about to.

Otherwise, she told them, she would have me call them in a couple of days. They never bothered coming up.

Eventually, I went in to see them, and they were all kissykissy. They took me around to the truck and showed me that it was all cleaned up and fitted out with about $10,000 worth of new premium high-pressure petroleum hoses and all new fittings throughout. I took the rest of the week off and eventually went back on the same run. r

Diamond Insurance Agencies Ltd.

Phone: 403.278.1129 • Fax: 403.278.8307 Email: marilynt@diamondinsurance.ca www.diamondinsurance.ca

MARILYN TAYLOR IS OUR COMMERCIAL TRUCKING SPECIALIST! Marilyn has over 30 years experience in providing insurance for Owner Operators & fleet transport companies operating in Canada & the U.S.A.

Tax included

PagE 44

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

Tax included

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

august 2019

To advertise email john at john@ptmag

PAGE 45

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

AssoCiATe eDiToR GReG eVAsiUK Greg is a third generation trucker with over a million miles and 20 plus years in trucking. He was also our Rig of The Month for Febrauary 2018 Family

On the heels of the AB Big Rig Weekend and a long road trip I can only think of one thing; family. For some people this means blood relatives but the past three weeks have proved to me otherwise. I guess reaffirmed would be a better phrase because I have always believed family is much more than blood.

From time to time we all lament where the trucking industry is at (tough place to make a living) and where it’s going (consensus seems to be hell in a handbasket!) but from what I see around me we can change that. I wholeheartedly believe that because of what I see in drivers that show up year after year to the show and that’s a family. I see a group of people from all different walks of the industry who come together because of a passion for trucks. Much like all family functions, there are a few new faces every year and the odd person who can’t make it because of work. There’s always some goodhearted ribbing and friendly rivalry but generally, everyone is just supportive of each other. Sometimes there’s a drunk uncle who has tough time shuttin’ er down but everyone loves him all the same!

The point is every one of the people who attend or support our show are shining examples of what the industry needs more of. Every time I sit down to write an article for Rig of the Month I think how do we make more people like this? How do we add to the family? Currently, we seem to be adding to our clan with a series of shotgun weddings and bad arranged marriages!

Big companies are recruiting from places that give them what they believe is the “cheapest” driver by enticing them with better than minimum wages and then trying to turn them into truck drivers. Others are coming to us by flopping out of other industries and using trucking as a fallback. It’s akin to settling, we are better than that.

While I know it’s a lofty goal, I aim to see a time when kids are saying I want to go into trucking. We need to have a clear path that gives our young people a way into the business out of high school, one that helps them build their skills through on the job education and helps them find their place in the industry. There needs to be more accreditation beyond this MELT program and it needs to start earlier.

In my blood family trucking is THE family business. As some of you know my education of the road started well before I could drive with working the dock and the shop. When I acquired my license I was graduated to driving 3 and 5-ton body-jobs learning the ins and outs of local work while I finished high school. After getting my class one I was on to regional trips with tandems and tridems for a while until my uncle was confident I could pull a b-train. My family watched over me and helped me gain experience while I worked, today there’s very few types of loads I’m not qualified to pull.

PagE 46

The bottom-feeding companies, the ones who help drivers to buy their licenses only to pimp them out for pennies on the dollar, are on their way out. In some ways we can see them as having done us a favour, they have brought to light some of the inadequacies of training. It also shows that having an arbitrary age 21 or 25 for insurance does not change our accident rate.

Not being able to afford to insure a driver at 18 just ensures that he/she will find another career.

The insurance piece hits close to home in that I have an almost 17-year-old who loves driving. He’s like me and I wanted to give him the opportunity to learn the business now.

He has been driving in one form or another since he was 2 and I have ridden with him on an over 6000 km road trip lately. He is a very conscientious and alert driver, enough that I would rather be his passenger than most adults. So I have access to some hotshot work and thought I learned that way he can too. Three phone calls later I was left to tell him he’d have to find another job. The insurance rate to add him to my policy for commercial will more than double my rate! When he’s 18 it will go down by about 600 bucks but that’s a drop in the bucket.

The net effect of this is a kid that was gung-ho to help out and to learn how to work in my business will now go into something that he has no passion for. He’ll work in other jobs and find a trade or business that will work for him and we will lose him from our trucking family. I’m doing my level best to keep that from happening but not every young person has someone to help. I’m currently working with my friend’s son to help his 22-year-old get into trucking without the huge upfront cost of MELT training and driving school. He too was excited to get into trucking and wants to be an OTR driver but the longer it takes to find that company that will help him, the less enthusiastic he is.

Over the next few months, I’ll be working with industry and government contacts of mine to try push getting a designation for professional drivers. I’ll be talking to whoever will listen about breaking down the barriers of entry and shoring up holes in the training programs. Help me by continuing to shine the light on all that’s good in trucking. Draw attention to fellow drivers that go the extra mile, keep those trucks shining and well maintained, just be the generous hard-working souls that you already are! I’m not gonna break into a chorus of we are family but well we are. (Damn it! Just saying the words got that song stuck in my head!) If you want to share stories or videos or anything you feel helps us promote trucking email me jobsitegreg@gmail.com .

To play off a certain campaign slogan south of the border let’s “make trucking great again.” r

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

Reflections Thru Thru My My Windshield Windshield Reflections

Behind The Scenes They are the ones that sort the paper Fill out endless forms The last to go home at night The first here in the morn The ones that set up the tents Keep everything in line No matter what the weather Be it rain or be it shine They always keep on smiling Though their backs and feet are sore Then as things wind down They tally up the score

Polish all the trophies So everything just gleams They keep things running smoothly Or that’s the way it seems Then after everyone has left They have to tear it down They will still be working As you head back to town They are the ones behind the scenes That make this whole thing go Without them there is nothing They are the ones that make the show

Dave Madill was Pro-Trucker Magazine’s Rig of the Month in June of 2001 and he has been entertaining us with his poetry ever since. Dave has published three books of poems that are available by special order through Chapters Book Stores or amazon.com august 2019

to advErtisE Email john at john@Ptmag

PagE 47

PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE

BOLD NEW LOOK Same reliable product you know.

Same superior performance you trust.

LOOK FOR OUR NEW COLORED LABELS COMING SOON. See all of the exciting changes happening now at Howes.

Visit howeslube.com today!

TESTED. TRU STED. GUAR ANTEE

D IE S E L T R E A T

DIES EL ANTI -GEL FUEL LUBR ICAT OR

AITES

R E S

T

EMPÊ CHE LES DÉPÔ TS ÉLIM INE L’EA U

1.9 L / 64 fl.

PagE 48

TREATS/TR

36 3 60 00 0 L I T

DIES EL ANTI GEL LUBR IFICA TEUR DE CARB URAN

PREV ENTS DEPO SITS REMO VES WAT ER

TESTED. TRUSTED. GUAR ANTEED. SINCE 1920.

TM

D. SINCE 19 20.

*Current Packaging

oz.

HOWESLUBE.COM 1-800-GETHOWES (438-4693)

Find our magazinE archivEs at www.Pro-truckErmagazinE.com

august 2019