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From the Editor’s desk... By John White
VOLUME 20, 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 Greg Evasiuk • Mel McConaghy Ed Murdoch • Colin Black • Cyn Tobin Bill Weatherstone • Lane Kranenburg PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Proudley • Alicia Cornish David Benjatschek wowtrucks.com HEAD OFFICE Ph: 604-580-2092 Toll Free / Fax: 1-800-331-8127 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.
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Alberta Big Rig Weekend was a great success with over 75 drivers showing off their trucks. The weather was a little crazy at times but it was like water off a duck’s or should I say, an Albertan’s back as apparently they have come to expect crazy changes in weather. In fact they actually seem to have a certain amount of pride in their voice when they say, “If you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes and it will change.” We would have beautiful sun shine and then 10 or 15 minutes of rain before going back to sun for a few hours and then it would repeat. Sunday was perfect as the sun came out and things heated up right through the day culminating in the trophy presentations. Between the Friday night’s lighted truck convoy, organized by Alberta Large Car, a 50/50 draw, and a generous anonymous donation, approximately $2300 was raised for Military Minds Inc. Military Minds is a non-profit organization that lends support to Veterans, Active Duty, and 1st responders suffering with PTSD. Their 2nd Annual Rolling Barrage, which is a show of brotherhood, strength, and unity, to conquer the stigma of PTSD, starts Aug 5th with a meet and greet in Halifax. Riders then leave Aug 6th stopping at various places across the country ending the ride in Victoria BC August 22nd. They will be at Blackjacks Aug 17th. You can join the ride anywhere along the route and ride for a few miles or a few hundred – it’s your choice. If you do not ride you can join them at any one of the 18 stops they will be making across the country. You can get more information as well as the dates and locations of the stops at http:// www.therollingbarrage.com The reason we support Military Minds is because everyone associated with this group are volunteers and all money raised is used to support the cause. Please come out and show your support for our military and 1st responders. This was our second Big Rig Weekend at Blackjacks Roadhouse and I was very impressed with the changes I saw. I have to say that if Blackjacks were located in the Lower Mainland they would have to put in traffic control because their lot would be packed day and night – a virtual McDonald’s of truck parking. A woman driver who was parked overnight said she was very impressed not only with the facilities but also for the fact that as she put it, “I have been driving for 20 years and never felt this safe in a truck park before.” When many privately owned truck stops are going the way of the dodo bird because of the massive overhead it is good to see Clarence is still supporting the industry as he has done for many years. You can read more about Blackjacks Roadhouse on page 48. On another note, don’t forget the Chrome for Kids Truck Show being held at Mission Raceway Park, Aug 17th, 18th and 19th. It will be a great show with all proceeds going to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
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LETTERS to the EDITOR
e Whit John gazine
a ker M Truc Proite
John Wh Magazine Pro-Trucker
Editor’s note: In May I answered an email that started out asking for a follow up to a letter explaining how the Western Provinces met to establish a universal pilot car safety program. After 4 years, and at a great cost to taxpayers, the Transportation Ministers, in each of their kingdoms, could not come to any sort of agreement. The writer then talked about poor piloting in the Cariboo which was fine and on topic but then he said, “In fact trucking in general in that part of the province is a disgrace.” Which I took as an indication that this person was not a driver. Now in my defense I often receive letters from 4-wheelers who just want to complain about those “Big trucks on the highway,” and I will call them out – which I did. Well in this case I blew it. It was not a 4-wheeler who wrote the letter but a driver, with many years’ experience, and so I would like to make a public apology to Darrin Martindale. The following is another letter from Darrin explaining his position. Pass the crow please…
AuGust 2018
To John White Reply to Cariboo Trucking. I’d like to clear some things up. I’ve been trucking for 29 years. 12 plus of those in heavy haul. I’ll call someone out in my industry for not being professional. I did email the former transportation minister on the state of trucking in the Cariboo. I’ve talked to the district manager recently. I did not say “all truck drivers in the Cariboo were bad” as you implied. There are some very upstanding truck drivers in the Cariboo that try to follow the rules as best as they can. These are some of my concerns when it comes to trucking, logging, and heavy haul, specifically in the Cariboo. I was driving logging truck in the Cariboo for the last two years. After two years of seeing near misses and rules constantly broken I decided to go back to heavy haul in the patch where I feel that it is a safer work environment. In my discussion with the district manager a couple of weeks ago I brought up my concerns of logging trucks pushing it to get the first load in the mill in the morning. Two trucks in less than 24 hours had wrecks in my little community of Lone Butte. The second spilling its load right where kids catch the bus. I saw it in the company I was working for. I believe, in the case of a lot of these accidents, the drivers were pushing it to bang the first load into the mill so their cycle time would be earlier and they could be done sooner. According to the CVSE there were
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6 logging truck crashes in the Cariboo the week of the two in Lone Butte. Parents in my community are getting very concerned about the heavy traffic along highway 24 not getting the attention it should. Now let’s touch on heavy haul in the Cariboo. Since moving to the Cariboo I have noticed that the area is significantly lacking in enforcement of the regulations dealing with heavy haul operations. I know the risks to the public in general when these loads are not moved according to the regulations set out covering these types of moves. I realize all areas of the trucking industry have bad actors. I’ve seen wide loads being transported at night with no lighting on the extremities. Loads in darkness over 3.8m transported with no trail pilot, even though it’s required. Debris falling off the decks. Improper positioning or flat out no pilot vehicle at all. Not nearly enough axles for the size of load. Poorly trained, or no training at all, persons doing the moving and escorting. A lot, if not most of this goes on outside what most people would consider normal hours. They know there is very little to no enforcement then. They feel that as long as they don’t move things during the “banker hours” the enforcement personnel in the area work, they can get away with it and all is okay. It’s really frustrating to see that opportunities for new businesses to start up and thrive in the area are lost if the current regulations are not enforced. Maybe then not every logger and construction outfit in the countryside
would have a lowbed and move their own stuff on the side. Maybe then more professional companies that take that end of the business and the regulations seriously would enter the market. I think a major contributing factor to all this is not having CVSE personnel that work hours that are more irregular in nature and basically not having enough officers in the area. The lack of an inspection station anywhere south of Quesnel is also a factor. Currently there is no place in the south of Quesnel to weigh a lowbed, other than dragging out the portables, so it never seems to be a common occurrence. I’d just like to see equal enforcement in all areas of the province. If it’s a violation in Chilliwack it should be a violation in Williams Lake. It shouldn’t matter where the carrier is from. Darrin Martindale Ben, Thank you for your article in the June issue. After reading, and taking some time to contemplate it, I believe this to be a workable template to achieve a goal we all desire. Some may have some issues with it going/ not going far enough, and to them I will remind them that the first goal is to get a framework in place. We can argue about the flesh later with on-going amendments to fine tune the lessons, to reflect the continuously changing laws and technologies our industry deals with, as well as anything
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else that will (inevitably) be forgotten and left out in the initial program. One additional, or perhaps separate, thing I would like to see is an endorsement to pull trailers, regardless of usage, for all road users. Just my thoughts and thank you to the folks at ProTrucker for the platform. Iain Richmond, Calgary, AB. Ben Proudley’s reply: Thanks for the letter Iain. Here in BC we do have requirements for endorsement to pull recreational trailers over 4600 kg. As well there is also a heavy trailer endorsement for big utility trailers as well as horse trailers. Provided they do not have air brakes. That becomes a whole new issue. For those of us who have a class 1 or 3 we are good. John, To be a Journeyman Carpenter in Alberta you need to apprentice for 4 years with a minimum 1560 Hours and 8 weeks technical training per year. So when you build a house, you know what you’re doing and it won’t fall down and kill someone. To drive a 140,000lb truck down the highway with Dangerous Goods (which require a whole hour extra at some Companies) like Fuel or Caustic Soda or Compressed Hydrogen which you could crash and hurt august 2018
a bunch of people, you need 120 Hours of training, none of that being on the job training. When I got my Class 1 I was able to challenge the test, which I did and promptly failed. (I had never driven a 15 speed before and it wasn’t pretty trust me) I took it again with my bosses truck, which I had been driving for a few months and passed. It was one of the proudest days of my life, I remember calling Eric Thiessen all excited that I finally had it and would join him and Jeremy Thiessen in the profession that has housed and fed us since 1980. I had been around trucks my whole life, went with Dad and my Brother to learn before I took the test. That was my apprenticeship, My first Truck driving job was working for a Corral Cleaning outfit locally, honing my skills before I went on the highway, that was also part of my apprenticeship. I agree with Iain Richmond and Kim Wylie that some sort of apprenticeship program is needed, you can’t learn this job at a computer, the classroom is out there on the highways. To learn it you must drive them. Cameron Editor’s note: It is time that our elected officials listened to the industry. After the elections they seem to forget who put them there and who they work for. If the transportation minister in your province is not working to make your work place safer then maybe it is time to put them back into the work force so that they can revisit what it is like to have to produce for their employers in order to keep their job.
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Hi John; I love your magazine , try to read it as much as I can, the articles are good , I enjoy the stories everyone has to tell, and the pictures they send. Electronic Logs, personally I think they are great, would never go back to paper logs now. So much easier than before . I like that you can put all the information in. Dash Cams? Hate them, they are supposed to help us, so far just getting everyone in trouble, If you happen to get to close too someone in front of you , you will hear a warning signal, if you don’t or can’t back off then it will be recorded for the past 8 seconds. Hard braking is another one that will be recorded as well. One of these usually results in a visit with the boss, asking what’s going on. I still remember when we used to drive all by ourselves with no cameras watching our every move, now all of a sudden after 35 plus years of driving, seems like I don’t know what I am doing behind the wheel anymore. That little camera was supposed to be for our benefit, sure in some cases it would be beneficial but so far it is just getting me in trouble. It will even record voices in the cab. There was one instance where a driver was heard using some quite colourful language after someone cutting him off. Personally I think it’s an invasion of privacy - but what do I know. You can’t even straighten out the corners now or you get a warning noise in the cab that sounds like
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Call Al 604-882-7623 a squirrel got let loose. Well it won’t be much longer now that I will hang up the keys and say so long to the highway. I’m sure glad I won’t have to deal with the new caliber of driver coming out now. I miss the good old days of trucking, where every driver would wave as you met and stop to help if you were on the side of the road. I was broke down on the Coquihalla highway for 8 hours one day. Hundreds of trucks went by and none of them stopped. To my surprise 2 four wheelers and a flag girl, who was working nearby, stopped to see if I needed help. Thanks for listening, yours truly, Just sign me, “Ready to give up and go fishing.”
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Driving Through my Memories
By Ed Murdoch
Ed has held a commercial drivers license for 65 years and has spent the better part of 50 years on the road. You can get Ed’s new book at www.drivingthroughmymemories.ca In the good ol’ days ... oh-oh here we go again … it was all about carrying a bit of binder twine, a length of fence wire, a few hand tools, and for the most part you could virtually drive and if need be, repair your truck along a dusty road to get to your destination. Each grocery store along the way had at least one grade of gasoline and in agricultural country usually diesel as well. It was stored in a tall pump which, when the glass bulb on top of it was full, the liquid would be released to drop by gravity into the tank on the vehicle. Flash forward to today where in order to repair your truck on the side of the road you would be required to take along a barrage of diagnostic machines worth 15 to 20 thousand dollars plus a service truck full of sophisticated tools to do everything but make popcorn. Or you can fork out a modest hourly rate of up to $140 an hour for service in a dealership. And then the ultimate insult - “Bring the unit in tomorrow at 11:00 & we’ll have a look at it.” I can remember back in the late ‘60s (Yes, the olden days) getting my truck repaired in a little garage somewhere in New
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NEW Extended Hours Mon-Fri 8 am- Midnight • Sat 8 am- 5pm Brunswick and the owner charged me $8/hr for his time & expertise. ($8 today gets you a coffee and a muffin) In those days one could pretty much build a part or jury rig it somehow to limp home but in today’s market the $.50¢ part might have to be flown from halfway around the world and take 3 weeks to get here. Perhaps when 3D printing machines become more popular and affordable their capability to build parts from scratch will relieve some of the pressure in that regard. The vehicles of the day were made up of just a few dozen critical parts. Today’s trucks are made up of thousands of parts of various sizes and functions, that for the most part must all be working perfectly or the truck will shut down. It is not cost effective nor practical to have every part immediately available at every dealership on the continent on the outside chance that that particular part might be in demand in the next few days especially when no one has needed that part for years - maybe never. It seems to me there is a bit of a lull in the promotion of innovative technology and engineering in the automotive sector just now. Perhaps it has something to do with the trade hostilities upsetting the pecking order in the sandbox. Or it’s just a reflection of the unstable and unpredictable direction that any initiative or progress is facing globally due to the unstable and unpredictable folk who pretend that they have an inkling as to what they are doing. It is not easy for the man or woman on the street to know what’s in their best interest as to how to proceed with their life given the mystery surrounding all the things that are important to our daily routine. From where I sit and observe there doesn’t appear to be a viable plan, no progressive commitment to any of the things we all hold dear ... or fear! Everything’s up in the air. In the world of trucks, automobiles, hybrids, electric and autonomous vehicles are high on the priority list for rapid development. Smart cities are up there too. Concerning traffic, smart cities will be designed to collect information from the new system technologies that come standard on the more sophisticated … and expensive … models of the new generation of vehicles that use modern technology and communication advancement to improve traffic flow.
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Automatically balancing lanes of traffic in rush hour and no more waiting at a red light with no cross traffic in sight! As these megalopolises grow, city works folk depend on technology to help adapting to the demands of the future. So huge amounts of data will be required for success to occur and you and I know the sources used to gather all this data. Personal gizmos and digital devices built into all new vehicles as standard equipment all communicating with each other will provide an enormous cyber sea of data floating around in the ether only to be captured by any enterprising communications entity that wishes to use whatever information that is targeted for his/her own purpose. We have been witness lately to some of the problems regarding the ethics of commerce intruding on the privacy of the individual with all the so-called “leaking” of sensitive personal information. The goal of municipalities of course is to improve the efficiency of their individual operations encompassing traffic congestion, toxic emissions and the general safety of their citizens. A huge amount of infrastructure will be required to enter the next generation of technological and engineering marvels that are predicted to change everything as to how we go about our daily lives, so it isn’t likely to happen overnight. The big problem is that we here in North America are about a half century behind in the needs to upgrade our current transportation infrastructure, let alone be looking at a new generation of networks and I
certainly will not still be here to witness everything that’s going down and that’s too bad. Meanwhile … back at the farm …Tesla Motors recently accepted reservations for 20 fully electric semis from FedEx Freight. UPS announced in December it was ordering 125 units while Pepsi-Cola and Budweiser bid on 100 and 40 units respectively. All told Tesla has orders for hundreds of units now which will begin production in 2019. The trucks will initially have a range of 500 miles and be able to take a 400 mi. charge in 30 minutes. Drive-train warranty could be good for one million miles and brake pads could last as long as the truck itself. Elon Musk CEO of Tesla says that diesel powered engines are 20% more costly per mile to operate than their electric counterparts which wins the argument for me. FedEx chief Mike Ducker said, “Our investment in these trucks is part of our commitment to improving road safety while also reducing our environmental impact.” Bring ‘em on I say. Harley-Davidson has also developed a 100% electric motorcycle which will soon be seen & not heard on the streets. I wonder if H-D will develop an electronic sound effect to go along with them? Would you get on that one for me please? Drive safely and since the hot dry weather is here, drink lots of water and add a little extra salt to your food if necessary. Gotta keep them electrolytes happy … 10-4!
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Communication By Greg Evasiuk Greg is a third generation trucker with over a million miles and 20 plus years in trucking. He now sells trucks for Nortrux. To say I’m writing this last minute would be putting it mildly! Those of you who were at Big Rig Weekend may have heard Tori say to me it’s due Tuesday… complete disclosure this is Tuesday. Normally I wouldn’t make excuses but this time I am. In the past 5 years I haven’t taken a real summer vacation. In the past if I went on holidays I would constantly be on the phone or looking in on emails to make sure I was caught up on what was going on while I was gone. This year things were gonna be different and I worked hard to get everything looked after before I left. I spent hours catching up on computer work and setting up the deals that would be going through while I was gone. All of the extra things I did plus getting the trucks and stuff ready for Big Rig Weekend left me falling asleep at the computer trying to get a start on this article. Now this isn’t a poor me I’m on vacation thing, this is a, ‘trying to practice what I preach thing.’ In the past year’s articles I know a good part of my mantra is to live in the moment, make no excuses and be honest with yourself and
everyone else so I best not head off to vacation and leave my head at work. Thankfully I don’t think of writing as work so procrastinating on this article is completely fine, right? (John and Tori probably have an answer) Procrastination is too strong a word for what I did, I prefer to think of it as time management. You see I had to manage to get all of my other projects done so I could focus on this rambling little piece you see here. One more justification before I get into the real meat of my article, I have been almost completely off the grid since Sunday night. We took off down the Forestry Trunk Road and have been just driving and camping the past two days with no cell service and no internet. Wait, as I read that back I realize it won’t get me any additional sympathy. I don’t deserve any either. Before you flip the page If you haven’t already know this; I envy those of you that get to drive every day. Just being out on the road takes me back to why I got into this business. Its why I ride a motorcycle. Its why I’m able to write this now when I couldn’t find the words last week. The road for me is cathartic and peaceful in a way nothing else is. For the last several weeks my phone has been my constant companion and the next fire to put out only a ring away but starting at about 4:30 this past Sunday that changed. I have a certain old orange Mack to thank for that. Following the show we fired up the two new trucks and drove back to the dealership, I have to admit stirring through the gears of the 18 speed of the new Anthem was nice. The
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real therapy came when I fired up the old B61 for the first time on my own. “A little throttle as you thumb the key,” yup just like Alfred showed me she fired up “pull the throttle out and set it to about 900” Standing back and admiring the little orange truck while she warmed up I was struck by the simplicity of the lines and the smooth idle. Now I’d love to say I rolled out of Blackjacks and up to speed without missing a shift but I can’t. Straight cut gears and two sticks for the first time in forever, well it wasn’t quite perfect! Once I was up to speed though the little Thermodyne settled into a nice cadence at 52 mph and it was just the two of us working
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together to move on down the road. Later on Monday as I was rowing the wheel back and forth on my Tacoma on one of the twistier sections of the FTR that feeling continued. A simple dance between man and machine to conquer terrain and distance. My 15 year old son is experiencing the same thing as we take turns driving, following this dirt track south. The past two days have been more of the same as we follow the most interesting and indirect route to the coast primarily on gravel. My dad and nephew follow and sometimes lead in dad’s own machine. The only break in the serenity is a welcome radio update about where we should turn or when one of Zach’s “new” songs finds its way into our classic rock/country playlist. While I sit here somewhere in the middle of the Kootenays far from a cell phone tower, I ponder whether it’s the situation or the drive. Idyllic as my situation is I know I’ve felt this way before and I was getting paid for it. Once it was cruising through the Ozarks on my first trip through Arkansas. Another time was flogging it out of the Groat Creek road in my winch tractor through a foot of fresh snow. I could fill a dozen pages with these types of experiences and I’m sure you could too. The point is being able to get out and seeing the country is something I took for granted. Moving on is the one thing that helps keep me grounded, as contrary as that may sound. Don’t let anything stand in the way of whatever that therapeutic thing is for you, I won’t anymore!
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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. I have to say that as a long haul driver I sure do have a great deal of difficulty meeting up with people. I have a great deal of friends and associates from one end of Canada to the next. Most have given up the expectation of a meeting as I pass through their towns. Some relentlessly try to hook up. Nothing wrong with either as so very often time is seldom to spare. One such acquaintance got me thinking as we have tried countless times to have a coffee. Few people actually understand just how endless the miles can be for those dedicated to the profession. Sure no two drivers run the same, some roll slower and take in the scenery more, while others just git er done. Just yesterday it was an 0400 morning. Feet hit the floor as the toothbrush fell into my mouth just as the coffee machine, as if it had eyes....started to gurgle and create the lifesaving nectar required. You laugh, but without it I am pretty certain some folks would be driving for cover. So with toothbrush in the yap, I pull on some fresh knickers and denims and stumble out of the truck and head off for the morning rituals.
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AuGust 2018
PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
For more than 50 years, Manitoulin Transport has been providing comprehensive transportation and logistics solutions for clients across North America. Our success lies in our innovation and safety, and our dedication to reliable, on-time delivery. So, if you know where you’re headed, we have the training and career development to help you get there.
MANITOULIN TRANSPORT IS LOOKING FOR FULL TIME CLASS 1 TEAM’S & SINGLES AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... Teams in Thunder Bay | Winnipeg - Sign on Bonus $5,000 with $0.80 p/mile LCV Class 1 Matco Movers in Yellowknife | Edmonton - Sign on Bonus $7,500 Class 1 City P&D in Regina | Winnipeg Sparwood is looking for Hwy drivers for their flat deck division
Job Description: The team’s will run five days a week. Some flexibility in availability will occasionally be required. Qualifications: Class 1 license • LCV Qualified • 2 years of experience • Reliable and dependable Ability to work well in a team • TDG, WHMIS and Forklift experience Must be able to provide a criminal record check, drivers abstract and 3 work related references. We Offer: $$Great Pay$$ • $5,000 Sign On Bonus Per Driver (varies on location) Competitive wages • Paid stops and waiting time • Benefits – including short term and long term disability • Profit sharing • Scholarship program • And more!
For more information, please contact: Rickey Pagan 833-374-8300 Email: rpagan@manitoulintransport.com | www.manitoulintransport.com AuGust 2018
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Most days, this is just typical routine stuff that most of you do as you get up each day. The only real difference is, we rarely have the same facilities two days in a row. So I climb back into my cab where the instant aroma of the now brewed coffee hits me. I pour myself a cup and the rest goes in the thermos. Bed made, coffee made and behind clothed I settle into the driver’s seat and proceed to get my paperwork in order while downing my go-go juice....playing online as well usually takes a few minutes. Once again I stumble out, on with the pretrip. After 15 minutes of thumping tires, checking fluids, brakes and a general once over we’re ready to roll. I was just pulling onto the highway when FRED buzzes by my head! Little bugger! I really thought he was hanging with Benjamin this summer. So after a few customary swats we settle into the routine of windows up and down as I try to entice Fred into this or that lovely town. It never works. He loves rumbling along with me. Ah the receiving location is in sight. We get to the guard shack, not arriving more than 15 minutes prior to my appointment, as dictated on my running orders....and guy says, almost always, in some illegible accent... “Bill’s?” I hand him my invoices with my cover sheet that has my name, PO# and appointment time on it, just so I can try to decipher his comments my way. So we play the “huh” and “what” game for a while, while slipping on a high visibility vest and steel toes. So into the warehouse yard we go searching for the receiving office... Ah there she is. So we come to a stop just to be told to park over other, ya that would be when someone moves. So chillin’ with fly, I wait. Even though I arrived on time. I am late to check in with the receiver. so after a 25 minute wait I get staged and go check in with the receiver. After 15 more minutes of standing in line the Receiver, without as little as simple eye contact they take my paperwork and after checking on the computer he looks at the clock, and still without looking me in the eye says “your late...rebook” so totally astonished as I explain I indeed was on time. Nope, no go...so a phone call is made to dispatch who instruct me to hang tight. So tight I hang, having already given over an hour of my time unpaid. Finally my dispatch
PAGE 16
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www.sunrisetransport.com has worked their magic and I am awarded a dock. Three hours and a hundred bucks worth of swamper fees later, I roll out of the gate. So to sum it up.... 4.5 hours of unpaid elapsed e-log time and a hundred bucks gone. I still have to now find a reload as the last one was given to someone else due to my delay. So while I wait...I sweep out my trailer and get rid of all the garbage left by my last drop. Two hours since leaving my drop I am sent off to reload. Yay screams fly!!! So I get loaded 15 minutes from where I unloaded, and get rolling down the highway nine hours after checking into my receiver. In the old days I would work a little harder in the days ahead to offset this short five hours of pay today. Gone is that too nowadays. Most long haulers are mile payed, not
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Falls are a leading cause of injury for truck drivers Reduce your risk 1 Always use 3 points of contact 2 Face the truck and climb slowly 3 Wear proper footwear
For more safety resources visit worksafebc.com/transportation AuGust 2018
AlbErtA biG riG wEEkEnd sPEciAl Edition
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
hourly and are trying to simply exist in a changing industry where the once admired profession has become a sore spot By Dave Madill for most. Dave Madill was Pro-Trucker Magazine’s So dear friends you see, we are not being rude... we’re Rig of the Month in June of 2001 and he simply trying make ends meet. Day after day, mile after has been entertaining us with his poetry ever since. Dave has published three books mile....head held high, fly and I roll on. Town after town and of poems that are available by special order from one dock to the next because...like many out here....we through Chapters Book Stores. do so with pride and dedication. So Thank You and a huge shout out to all the drivers keeping it real. To all those friends I Had a Bad Day waiting on us to stop by.... Know we’re trying. I was hauling grain from just outside Elmvale, Ontario, Fate Shows when Least Expected to the Midland Elevators with my B61 Mack and a 34 foot ***** Tandem belly dump and it had been a long day. I started loading the grain, that had been combined the day before, at WALKING ON THE GRASS The room was full of pregnant women with their husbands. 5am and had hauled three full loads before finally heading The instructor said, “Ladies, remember that exercise is home at about 10pm. I came through Elmvale and hit the 60mph section on good for you. Walking is especially beneficial. It strengthens highway 27 and wound the old lady up tight listening to the the pelvic muscles and will make delivery that much easier. radio, watching for deer, and just cruising. As I was coming Just pace yourself, make plenty of stops and try to stay on up to the 4th line I was thinking that after only two more a soft surface like grass.” “Gentlemen, remember -- you’re miles I could pull off on the 2nd and it was only 2 miles from in this together. It wouldn’t hurt you to go walking with her. there to the barn. In fact, that shared experience would be good for you both.” At the corner of the forth there was a small car lot on my The room suddenly became very quiet as the men absorbed side, just before the county road, and a Sunoco Service Station this information. After a few moments a man, name unknown, right after the county road. The area was well lighted but from at the back of the room, slowly raised his hand. the highway you could not see down the county road because “Yes?” said the Instructor. “I was just wondering if it of all the cedars on both sides but the last 50 yards was wide would be all right, if she carries a golf bag while we walk?” open and had good visibility. This level of sensitivity can’t be taught.
Reflections Thru My Windshield
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I was just passing the car lot when I saw the headlights on the county road and figured no problem as they had a STOP sign at the highway. My tractor had just came to the county road when I realised that the car was really hauling and did not look like it could stop. The only thing I could do at the time was to mash the throttle and hope I cleared the intersection. I didn’t. The car hit my trailer and threw my tractor into the left shoulder and my trailer into the left ditch with me hanging on for dear life while trying to steer to keep everything upright and to get stopped. I came to rest about 75 yards past the intersection with the front wheels on the highway and the tandems on the shoulder with my trailer in the yard of the house across from the service station. Looking back I could see what looked to be half a car right up against my trailer wheels and buried under my trailer. I jumped down from the truck and ran around to the passenger’s side just as the attendant for Sunoco came out the door. Taking in the situation I hollered at him to phone the police, an ambulance and a wrecker ASAP. He headed back inside just as another car came to a halt and the people from the house came running out. I headed down towards the car and as the creaks and bangs came to a halt I heard a sound that sent chills up my spine. From somewhere inside that wreck I could hear a baby crying. The others heard it also and we ran to the wreck and tried to find out where it was coming from. The car that had hit me was a Camaro and was under me up to the rear window
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and it was obvious that the driver was crushed but where was the baby. We fought to pull that car away and thirty minutes later as the local wrecker showed up we hooked up the car and pulled it from under my trailer and still the baby was crying. Once the car was pulled out we could get the roof ripped away and I spotted what looked to be a blue blanket on the passenger’s side floor of the rear seat. We hooked a chain around the roof and lifted until we could move the front passengers seat back forward and there on the floor under a blanket was a 8 month old baby boy without a mark on him. It took a while but we finally managed to get the driver out, who had died instantly, and I managed to make it home by noon the next day. The police investigation revealed that the young man had come home after a night of drinking and had got into a fight with his wife. He had grabbed the child, put him in the back seat and was headed for his parents place. He should have made a turn at the highway but they figured he had passed out coming down the road and had never seen me or the STOP sign. The child had slipped off the seat hit the back of the passenger’s seat and then had fell down into the foot well as the seat back was pushed backwards. Even though the child lived, to this day I can still sometimes hear him crying. ***** A man called home to his wife and said, “ Honey I have been asked to go fishing up in Canada with my boss & several of his Friends. We’ll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I’ve been wanting, so could you please pack enough clothes for a week and set out my rod and fishing box, we’re leaving from the office & I will swing by the house to pick my things up oh and please pack my new blue silk pyjamas. “ The wife thinks this sounds a bit fishy but being the good wife she is, did exactly what her husband asked. The following weekend he came home a little tired but otherwise looking good. The wife welcomed him home and asked if he caught many fish? He said, “Yes! Lots of Salmon, some Halibut, and a few Cod. But why didn’t you pack my new blue silk pyjamas like I asked you to Do?” The wife replied, “I did. They’re in your fishing box ...”
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Brake Safety Week
By Dale Howard This article is aimed at new drivers who may or may not have had sufficient instruction when doing your training or have forgotten exactly how it should be done. We have all seen the Facebook posts on inspection weeks and “Brake Safety” week is no exception, the caption is usually, ‘screw trucker week,’ or something equally as ridiculous. I prefer to call it “Can’t we get it together week” come on folks it’s only five days can’t we get our crap together for five days? Brake safety week kicks off September 16th thru the 22nd so let’s get prepared for those random inspections. Last year 1337 inspections were conducted in Canada with an out of service rate of 14%. A surprise brake safety day was done July 17th where 12.4 % were put out of service. Let’s walk through a good brake inspection: First find a good level spot, pavement is preferable, and chalk the wheels. Apply the Trailer brakes and release the tractor brakes. Mark the front brake push rod against the face of the brake chamber with soap stone or plastic tab if equipped. Ok now it’s time to put your coveralls on and get under the truck. Look for loose or damaged brake parts, oil leaking out of the brake drum may indicate a wheel seal leak. Mark the pushrod up against the face of the brake
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CANYON CABLE 1988 LTD. 930-6th Ave., Hope, BC 604-869-9036 Toll Free 1-800-588-8868 chambers on the Tractor. When you have all push rods marked go back to the cab and if you have a friend get them to step on the brake pedal and hold it to the floor. If you are by yourself cut a piece of ¾ inch dowel and wedge the brake pedal down. Then measure the push rod stroke from the face of the brake chamber to the line you made. It should be less than 2 inches. The push rod travel will be stamped on the face of the brake pot. Listen for air leaks as you go. Now back up to the cab to release the stick and apply the tractor brakes and release the trailer brakes. Safety first! Always have one set of brakes engaged at all times. Go back under and mark the pushrods on the Trailer and pull the Trailer spike handle down. You can use a tarp strap
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to hold it. I just hang my shaving kit off it. The stroke travel should also be under 2 inches. Again, listen for leaks and check all brake lights. Remove the red glad hand and the trailer brakes should apply and the red dash button should have popped out. This should be around 50 psi on the dash gauge. Then remove the blue glad hand and make sure no air is coming out. Reconnect lines and back up to the cab with the key on. The low air buzzer and light should be activated to release the trailer brakes. Standing outside the vehicle look down to the rear of the trailer and turn the ignition key to the on position. You should see the “ABS” light cycle on then off. This is the self-test feature and must happen or you are in violation. If the light stays on, clean and gently spread the prongs on the trailer plug. If it persists it needs to be repaired at trips end prior to the next dispatch as this is also a violation. If your truck is equipped with disc brakes there is nothing to measure but you can inspect for rotor damage and air leaks Now you are just about on your way ready for any road side inspection and brake safety week will be a breeze. I conduct this inspection every week during my pre trip inspection. I still bend down and look at brake and suspension components. I am fortunate I have an assigned trailer. When I did drop and hook the coveralls went on every time I got a new trailer and I did a full brake
inspection on the trailer. As a part of the daily inspection when I am ready to head out I build air to 120 psi and I release all my brakes and make a hard brake application holding the brakes to the floor for a couple of seconds. I release and repeat till my low air warning goes off then I hold the pedal to the floor and watch my air gauges. They should build at an idle and I hold them till they are both over a hundred psi. This can be done individually or together. This accomplishes three things, I check my low air warning, set my brakes up providing the auto slack adjusters are functioning properly and I hve checked for any major air leaks. If I had a major leak in a brake system I would not have built air. This is ONLY done when the brakes are cold. If you set them up when they are hot the drum expands and then, when the drum cools and contracts, you aren’t going anywhere and someone will have to come out and back them off. The plastic tags I use are available in most parts departments and another great product is, “Brake Safe,” that when installed, you can tell at a glance if you are in or out of compliance. Remember proper brake adjustment is for your safety and the safety of everyone else on the road. Safe travels and if you see the “Great Pumpkin “on the road don’t forget to wave with all your fingers!
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Pro-Trucker Magazine’s 16th Annual
Alberta BIG RIG Weekend Blackjacks Roadhouse in Nisku, Alberta
Partial Proceeds are being donated to: Military Minds - a non-profit group that lends support to Military Personnel, First Responders and Police suffering with PTSD
Platinum Sponsors:
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Presented by:
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Kris Newton 2013 Kenworth T800 1st Place: Owner Operator Truck Trailer Combo - Sponsored By: Trusted Dispatch 2nd Place: Owner Operator Best Lights - Truck Trailer - Sponsored By: Skiddd Wheel Indicator 1st Place: Owner Operator Best Paint - Sponsored By: Freightliner of Red Deer
The best Seat in the house!
Photo taken by Jan Boychuck from inside the cab, while enjoying the ourdoor theater at Alberta Big Rig Weekend.
John and Donna, It’s been a good while since we’ve done a Show and Shine with you. Entering the Boychuk Ventures Peterbilt was a quick decision we made. Just coming off a trip south we only had a couple of days to prepare. We had a lot of fun doing the weekend with you and the crew. Even with the showers and continuous wiping off rain and dust. You guys work so hard to give us a chance to see old friends and make new ones. With so much negatively in our industry now, events like the big rig shows brings life back into ourselves. We were so humbled by the awards we received and whenever we decide to retire we know that it’s all worth it. Big shout out to Clarence and staff at Blackjacks in Nisku! Thanks. With sincere regards. Tom and Jan Boychuk PAGE 26
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Best In Show
Non-Commercial
Trophy Sponsored By: N.P.P. Northern
Troy Schmidt 1957 Mack B61
1st Place: Peoples Choice Peoples Choice - Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator 1st Place: Non Working Show Truck - Sponsored By: First Truck Centre 1st Place: Non Working Best Interior - Sponsored By: Blackjacks Roadhouse 1st Place: Non Working Best Paint - Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator AuGust 2018
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Chad Strongman Cliff’s Towing • 2006 Peterbilt 388 2nd Place: Crossover Tow Truck - Sponsored By: Wajax Power Systems 2nd Place: Crossover Best Paint - Sponsored By: Nortrux
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AuGust 2018
Best In Show
PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Cross-Over
Trophy Sponsored By: Summit Trailer Ltd.
Glen Morrow SWAT Machine 1959 Chevrolet Spartan 80
1st Place: Crossover Tow Truck - Sponsored By: Nortrux 1st Place: Crossover Best Interior - Sponsored By: LeBeau Bros Logging 1st Place: Crossover Best Lights - Sponsored By: Glenn West Express 1st Place: Crossover Best Paint - Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine august 2018
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Dean Cornish 1980 Kenworth COE 2nd Place: Non Working Stock Antique - Sponsored By: Clifford R. Smith Trucking Co. Ltd. 2nd Place: Non Working Best Interior - Sponsored By: Glenn West Express
PAGE 30
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Best In Show
Owner Operator
Trophy Sponsored By: McLean & Shaw Insurance
Murray Pokolm 1995 Kenworth W900 1st Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2009 & Older Sponsored By: TransX Group 2nd Place: Owner Operator Best Paint Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator
august 2018
alberta big rig weekend special edition
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Todd Woitas, R/T Woitas Trucking - 2009 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Owner Operator Best Interior - Sponsored By: BD Diesel 1st Place: Owner Operator Best Lights - Sponsored By: Caneda Transport
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Best In Show Company Truck
Trophy Sponsored By: R Randa Transport
Tom & Jan Boychuk Boychuk Ventures 2017 Peterbilt 389
1st Place: Company Truck T/T Combo - Sponsored By: LeBeau Bros Logging 1st Place: Company Best Interior - Sponsored By: Blackjacks Roadhouse 1st Place: Company Best Paint - Sponsored By: Nortrux august 2018
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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINE
Jason Girden 2018 Kenworth W900L 1st Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2010 - New - Sponsored By: Westcan Bulk Transport 2nd Place: Owner Operator Best Lights - Sponsored By: Curtis Farms, Lenore, Manitoba
THE BROWN MUFFIN AWARD 2013 KENWORTH T800 • PETE RENWICK Hi I’m Ruby! I just got off work and only had time to have a shower. Not enough time to dress the way I wanted! I have 6 sisters, they are all looking for boyfreinds!! If you’d like thier number, email p.renwick@lcos.ca PAGE 34
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Dean Russell 1969 Peterbilt 359A 2nd Place: Owner Operator Antique Sponsored By: Blackjacks Roadhouse
Brett Scott, CMT Logistics 2015 Peterbilt 389 2nd Place: Company Best Lights Sponsored By: Rosenau Transport Ltd.
Braden Hildebrand, All Weather Windows 2007 Peterbilt 379 26 210 2nd Place: Non Working Show Truck Sponsored By: LeBeau Bros Logging august 2018
Tim Langenberge, Earl Paddock 2018 Kenworth W900 2nd Place: Company Truck Bob Tail Sponsored By: The Gear Center
Jeff Baker, Harpoon Energy 2015 Peterbilt 367 2nd Place: Crossover Specialty Truck Sponsored By: Rosenau Transport Ltd.
Hazen Barr 2014 International Prostar 2nd Place: Owner Op Bobtail - 2010 - New Sponsored By: K & P Drever Transport Ltd.
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Brent & Rose MacLennan, Hughson Trucking 2016 Western Star 4900SF 1st Place: Company Truck Bob Tail - Sponsored By: Nortrux 2nd Place: Company Best Interior - Sponsored By: Clifford R. Smith Trucking Co Ltd.
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Brian Frerichs, Integrity Posts 2015 Peterbilt 388 1st Place: Company Best Lights Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator
Werner Moellenbeck 1985 Mack Superliner 2nd Place: Non Working Best Lights Sponsored By: LeBeau Bros Logging
Jimmy Hildebrand 2009 Peterbilt 389 2nd Place: Owner Operator Truck Trailer Combo Sponsored By: Advance Engineered Products august 2018
Dale Gardiner 1970 Peterbilt 352 1st Place: Crossover Cab Over Sponsored By: Feather River Transport Ltd.
Joe Kowalczyk 1981 Kenworth LW9 1st Place: Owner Operator Antique Sponsored By: Alberta Motor Transport Association
Josef Walmann 2016 Peterbilt 389 1st Place: Owner Op Best Lights - Truck Trailer Sponsored By: Pro-Trucker Magazine
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Dean Cornish 1980 Kenworth W900A 1st Place: Non Working Stock Antique - Sponsored By: Glenn West Express 1st Place: Non Working Best Lights - Sponsored By: Boychuk Ventures Inc
Mike Boisvenue PA Langevine - 2016 Western Star 4900EX 2nd Place: Company Truck Truck Trailer Combo - Sponsored By: Great West Kenworth PAGE 38
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West Cole, Omega Towing Service 2014 Freightliner Flatdeck 2nd Place: Crossover Best Lights Sponsored By: Howes Lubricator
Platinum Sponsors:
AuGust 2018
Greg Johnson First Truck Centre 2016 Freightliner M2 1st Place: Crossover Specialty Truck Sponsored By: M. Pidherney Trucking
Gold Sponsors:
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Janet Laursen - 2007 Peterbilt 379 2nd Place: Owner Operator Bobtail - 2009 & Older - Sponsored By: Dawn Gordon Tractor Service 2nd Place: Owner Operator Best Interior - Sponsored By: Nortrux
PAGE 40
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AuGust 2018
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Best Fleet Award
Trophy Sponsored By: Kirk’s Tirecraft Lethbridge Devon Robertson - 2014 Kenworth T800 (Red) Kylee Laird - 2016 Kenworth W900 (White) Stephen Sandford - 2014 Peterbilt 389 (Green)
Best Fleet Trophy Sponsored By: Kirk’s Tirecraft
About Us: Sharp Oilfield Services (SOS) is an independently owned and operated transportation company located in Edmonton that began operating 2011. SOS is committed to providing prompt and reliable services while ensuring the safety of your goods. As a result of SOS achievements, the company is experiencing a dramatic increase in demand for our services therefore, we are searching for a few exceptional Class One Drivers. Does this sound like you? A Positive Attitude A Dedicated Team Player A Passion for Safety and Service Excellence Client-Focused and Highly Driven Self-Starter Solid Work Ethic with a Desire to Expand Your Knowledge and Skills Minimum 3 years’ Mountain experience with Tankers, Super B’s, Decks, Vans and Reefers. Do you possess the following Certificates? National Safety Code First Aid D&A Test Dangerous Goods
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If you answered yes to each of these key attributes, then you have what it takes to be a SOS Team Member. Submit your cover letter, resume, current driver’s abstract, and any relevant documents to hr@sharpoilfield.com, subject: PTM Highway We appreciate your interest in working with us; however, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
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Financial Services
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Thank YOU! MAJOR SPONSORS: Howes Lubricator, Nortrux, LeBeau Bros Logging, Glen West Express, and Blackjacks Roadhouse. Blackjacks has a great facility and Clarence and his family are working hard to give you all a safe and clean place to rest or reset and is doing a hell of a job, in our opinion! Trophy Sponsors & Trade booth displays - give these companies your business first and support those who support you. PRO-TRUCKER STAFF Myself, John, wife Donna, our son Shane, our daughter Tori, our son in Law, Ben. OUR VOLUNTEER FAMILY Heather Fraser, Ken Clarke, Cory Rathburn, Tiffany Rathburn, Dennis Manning, Andrew Wesa, Mike and his wife Andrea and their 2 daughters Brooke & Brittany, Brent & Rose MacLennan, Rick Gessner.
PHOTOGRAPHER Alicia Cornish – Diesel Photography Thanks for saving our feet this weekend Ken Clarke for arranging to have 2 Kubota’s here for us to use. Or as Raf likes to call them “Side by each”! Sponsored by KeyAg Kubota – Leduc and Red Deer A Few years ago we got a call from Todd from Alberta Large Car that he wanted to organize a Friday night lighted truck cruise – by donation with all proceeds going to a charity. Friday nights cruise we raised $364.60 to go to Military Minds Inc. which is a non-profit that gives support and guidance to military personnel and first responders who suffer from PTSD. Kylie Laird (rig of the month last year) of Silk n Iron donated 50% of her t-shirt sales $80 towards Military Minds and in addition donated the kids club goodie bags Kings Custom Polish provided $500 gift certificates to be use towards polishing to go with the 4 Best in Show trophy winners! RC Truck Guys (Shaun, Rob, Tim & Tracy) have donated two prizes to us this year 4 foot LED light bar and the highly coveted Brown Muffin Award
JUDGES Alberta Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers: Joey Zimmer, Cody Erickson, and Tanner Ziebart Platinum Sponsors:
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AND Thank you to YOU the professional drivers who come and show off your rides and make the industry look good!
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r ta lbe end y: A 8 b ek 201 ig We were aphy R ’s gr Big Photo hoto P el ck Tru , DieZ ia Al i c
To book your very own Photoshoot with Alicia contact: DieZel Photography muddmistress@gmail.com (250) 219 7626 Edmonton, Alberta
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With 20 + years of experience in Paint and Metal Polish ďŹ nishing, you will never leave our shop disappointed! Come in to see our full line of truck accessories!
KINGS CUSTOM POLISH AND DETAIL INC. 780.781.7910 1807 2 Street, Nisku Alberta AuGust 2018
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Blackjacks Roadhouse, Nisku Alberta. By Tyler Grant Next time you’re hauling a load in the Edmonton area and need somewhere to rest, give Blackjacks Roadhouse a try. It’s not just any old truck stop… they are the trucker’s home away from home. There are many reasons why Blackjacks Roadhouse is the top spot for truckers out on the road. They have a 24-hour restaurant that serves up home style cooking, ATMs, fully licensed bar, VLTs, and much more. But, the main reason is that running a truck stop is what owner, Clarence Shields, knows best. Shields began his career in the hospitality industry 45 years ago, and opened the Nisku Truck Stop 30 years ago. After a stint of a couple decades at the Niksu Truck Stop, Shields envisioned opening a facility with the rustic charm of reclaimed wood and antiques and home-style cooking in an operation catering to his trucker friends, both old and new. In 2009, Blackjacks Roadhouse became a reality on 12 acres of property located at the entrance of the Nisku Industrial Park. The location is the ideal place for a truck stop as the location is at the intersection of highway 2, highway 19, and highway 625, which is Alberta’s busiest traffic corridor. Since opening the doors of Blackjacks Roadhouse in 2009, Shields has continued to cater to the trucking
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industry by listening to his customers, and making improvements based on their feedback. Three expansions later, Blackjacks Roadhouse is now over 20,000 square feet, licensed to seat 850 people in the 24 hour restaurant and bar, contract parking, and has parking for over 160 units. But, it doesn’t stop there. The additions have several goodies targeting the trucking community. Blackjacks Roadhouse now sports 10 showers, a laundry facility, convenience store, weigh scale that can accommodate oversized loads up to 18’ wide, and 24/7 manned security in a well-lit parking lot with video surveillance coverage of the entire lot. Shields said he implemented these new features, so all the trucker friends of Blackjacks Roadhouse can rest easy knowing that nobody will be knocking on doors in the middle of the night, and their loads will always be safe. Although parking now costs you $10.00 for an overnight stay, the charge goes towards covering things such as labour costs and other expenses pertaining to continued maintenance of the new features and lot in general. To lessen the hit of this new charge, Shields has decided to reward drivers with $5 of Blackjacks Bucks to use in his establishment. Even with the incentive, some drivers are still getting accustomed to the changes, but many drivers welcome the improvements. In fact, most of the drivers who frequent Blackjacks Roadhouse have welcomed the charge that has accompanied
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the increase in services. This is particularly true of female drivers. Too often women have had to park in places they never felt safe. There is always the lingering thought they have to be on high alert to avoid situations of being harassed, or they have to grow eyes in the back of their head to be sure nobody is following them. At Blackjacks Roadhouse,
women can let their guard down to an extent knowing there is security watching out for them over night in the LED illuminated yard. And, if anything does happen, it will all be caught on camera. These factors, along with the topnotch services inside, make Blackjacks Roadhouse the stop of choice for the female drivers who frequent Blackjacks Roadhouse. The next time you are rolling through Edmonton on two, four, or 18 wheels, head to Blackjacks Roadhouse and experience the place for yourself. You will sleep in peace, wake up rested, have a home cooked meal, and experience the creature comforts of a home away from home. Then, you will be ready to continue down the highway to get your load to your destination on time. *****
What Happened The truckers on the highways, common folk like you and me, They are what keeps the nation running and what helps keep it free, You will never see a lawyer, out tying down a load, Never see a politician four weeks on the road, Why will they never listen to anything we say? What happened to democracy; has it been thrown away? Somehow there must be a way for us to have a voice, The time has come, my many friends, for us to make the choice. 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 2018
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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.
Historic Moments Trucks are involved in just about every part of our lives, construction and demolition, delivering the food to our supermarkets, the clothes on our backs, and the everpresent technology in our hands and houses. But most drivers will not have realised they were a part of a moment in life that will be remembered for a long time, I certainly didn’t when I was working for Lep Transport and clearing out factories that had closed down. It was just another job at the time, I got an address and turned up with an empty flatbed trailer to load whatever the machine removals squad were pulling out of the factory. The Singer sewing machine factory in Clydebank was an iconic landmark, alongside shipbuilding it’s what most people think of when the town’s name is mentioned. When it was built in 1880 or so, the Singer factory in Kilbowie road Clydebank was the biggest Singer factory in the world, it was built on 46 acres of farm land and had 3 miles of rail track within the factory. At its peak in the 1960’s there were 16,000 employees, but with a drop in orders it
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closed in 1980 after almost 100 years of production. It’s a name that, when it appears on TV history programs, makes me think at the end I helped clear that. Although, as a young trucker at the time I don’t remember thinking about all those people who’d lost their jobs. My mind was focused on the job in hand, can I back this forty foot trailer in where it needs to be, what do I need to secure this machine to the trailer, will it need to be tarped etc. That frame of mind was much the same when Lep got a slice of the work to empty the Rootes car plant in Linwood. As well other models, they made the Hillman Imp there, it was supposed to be Rootes answer to the Mini. It had changed hands a few times over the years with Chrysler and Peugeot taking over, but eventually it succumbed to closure a year after Singer in 1981. Unlike the Singer factory, I had delivered there while it was still producing cars, container loads of headlights came, I think from France, and were delivered by rail to the Gushet, a railhead in Glasgow. I think this was part of the reason the plant closed, parts were coming from all over the country, or indeed the world. Maybe another reason for closure was in the story George the mobile crane driver working for Lep told me. He’d worked in the car plant but left before it closed, he said some of the workers bought cars from the company, but they bought the base model of whatever car took their fancy. Then they brought them back in on the nightshift
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and put them back on the production line so their buddies could upgrade them to top spec models. I didn’t have the same emotional detachment from the employees of a big computer hard drive factory in the new town of East Kilbride. At the time I was driving a Ford Cargo 17 ton GVW, two axle rigid with a “massive” 150 bhp, and a 26 foot curtain side body. I was in and out the factory two or three times a day, five or six days a week, so I was on first name terms with a lot of the staff, mostly all young people as is the norm for these types of factories. There had been rumours of cut-backs and maybe closure circulating in the workforce, the managers heard these rumours and called a meeting of all the staff one Monday morning. There’s no need to worry, your jobs are all safe they told the assembled staff. I just happened to be there on the Friday afternoon of that same week when another meeting was called. The staff were then told, we’re very sorry, due to circumstances beyond our control the factory is now closed, please collect your personal belongings and clock out. Well, some of the young workforce were stunned, but most were angry, tempers flared as security men tried to usher the staff out. Sitting in my truck out in the yard I saw a couple of guys put office chairs into the back of their cars. Maybe in a vain attempt to take something from the factory in compensation.
It’s sad to walk around a factory like that, work stations abandoned mid-job, almost like the Marie Celeste. At the end there was just me, my Ford, and two men from the maintenance putting the factory back to the empty shell it had been originally.
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.
Doggone Opinionated I have a dog. My neighbor has a dog. In fact, the people across the street have dogs. My neighbor and I walk our dogs and clean up after our dogs. Our dogs bark occasionally. They run and jump and have fun. Much like the people and their dogs across the street. Not entirely the same but for the most part just like us. But there are more people and dogs across the street, a lot more. There are probably 50 to 1 more people and dogs on the other side of the street vs our side. It doesn’t affect me or my dogs directly that they do some things differently.
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We have a couple neighbors on our side of the street who in the past 3 years have become very opinionated about the day to day activities across the street. It’s creating some unwarranted toxicity for those across the street. The couple neighbors feel it’s their obligation to chime in, in a harsh way about those across the street. Spewing negative comments and discontent at liberty against them. Poisoning the good relationship we shared. It’s shameful behaviour isn’t it? Sound familiar? Some Canadians are doggone opinionated in respect to our American neighbors across the street.
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Delivering The Goods, Safely By Lane Kranenburg Lane is a former driver, fleet owner and former Executive Director of the AMTA Canadian Financial Crisis It is with concern that I read about the National debt which has grown to nearly one trillion dollars and that translates to each Canadian man woman and child owing more than twentyseven thousand dollars. This is the National debt and does not include Provincial and Municipal debts.
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I look at this with great concern, not for me as I am old and will die before reckoning but for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There seems to be no problem with this debt from a politician’s point of view as they continue to spend and increase this debt with continual borrowing. Our current Prime Minister stated that the budget will balance itself which goes to show you his level of financial intellect. Take just a billion dollars, which is one thousand million and trying to put that into perspective. One billion credit cards would weigh as much as seventy-eight brachiosaur and one billion pennies would cover fourteen square miles and in time if we took one billion seconds we would have to go back to 1959. By the way brachiosaur weighs seventy-five tons. Does this really mean anything, well certainly not to our Canadian leaders who have put us into one thousand billion in debt Nationally. Is it too late to do anything about this debt? No but our leaders must quit the ridiculous spending and wonton disregard for the need to be re-elected. I would wager that if a leader had the internal fortitude to revisit the past and realize the waste of money on programs that mean nothing to the general population but a lot to a few and look ahead. For instance, our immigration policy with reference to refugees, we should have housing and English learning programs in place prior to letting hundreds of thousands reach our shores and be disappointed having to stay in places that offer no future. I must be very careful when I talk about immigrants because I am an immigrant arriving in Canada in 1951 from the Netherlands with no English language skills and no money. However, my father arrived here with three children and soon learned the language and the social structure and adapted, we did not want all Canadians to wear wooden shoes and plant only tulips. The Provincial governments are not at all fiscally responsible either with huge budget overruns that show no signs of abating. Alberta for one is spending millions on social programs with no follow up on how these millions are being managed. Waste is evident to us as citizens, why does the politician not see this. Calgary is spending five million plus to study the feasibility of the 2026 Olympics with a committee consisting only of pro Olympic individuals. Think about five million dollars, the decision to hold these games has already been made by our Mayor and that five million would feed a lot of homeless. Guess what that decision that will be, but I digress our Calgary city council is spend happy and are constantly wasting our money on simply stupid things. Back to our financial situation, we must write, call, text, or e-mail, our government and let them know we are very concerned about it and ask for them to spend like the money is coming out of their pockets which by the way it is. Social and financial responsibility must be revisited, and major correction must be made if we do not want our grandchildren and great grandchildren to inherit this mess. Oh, to be young again and run for office and attempt to convince other leaders to look seriously at this mounting problem! PAGE 54
The Power Of Words
This is an example of how the correct wording of a sentence can make everyone change their view of the world. Two robbers entered a bank in a small town. One of them shouted: “Don’t move! The money belongs to the bank. Your lives belong to you.” Immediately all the people in the bank lay down on the floor quietly and without panic. 2. This is an example of how to behave professionally, and focus on the goal. One woman lay on the floor in a provocative manner. The robber approached her saying, “ Ma’am, this is a robbery not a rape. Please behave accordingly.” 3. This is an example of how life experience is more important than a degree. While running from the bank the younger robber (who had a college degree) said to the older robber (who had barely finished elementary school): “Hey, This is heavy. It’s going to take forever for us to count how much we stole.” The older man replied: “Don’t be stupid. It’s a lot of money so let’s wait for the news on TV to find out how much was taken from the bank.” 4. This is an example of taking advantage of an opportunity. After the robbery, the manager of the bank said to his accountant: “Let’s call the cops. We’ve got to tell them how much has been stolen.” “Wait”, said the accountant, “before we do that, let’s add in that money we took for ourselves over the past few months and just say that it was stolen as part of today’s robbery.” The following day it was reported in the news that the bank was robbed of $3 million. 5. This is an example of how knowledge can be more useful than power. The robbers were stunned because it didn’t seem that much, so they counted the money, but they found only $1 million. “We risked our lives for $1 million” they grumbled, “while the bank’s management must have robbed it of $2 million dollars without blinking? Maybe it’s better to learn how to work the system, instead of just being thieves.” Moral: Give a person a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a person a bank, and he can rob everyone. *****
Jill Know’s Jack...
One day, Jill’s husband came home from the office and found her sobbing convulsively. “I feel terrible,” she told him. “I was pressing your suit and I burned a big hole in the seat of your trousers.” “Forget it,” consoled her husband. “Remember that I bought an extra pair of trousers for that suit.” “Yes, and it’s lucky for you that you did,” said Jill, drying her eyes. “I used them to patch the hole.”
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