Pro-Trucker Magazine July 2017

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JULY 2017

ALBERTA BIG RIG WEEKEND SHOW ‘N SHINE & TRADE SHOW July 14th to 16th Blackjacks Roadhouse Nisku, Alberta Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

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From the Editor’s desk... by John White

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 06 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 Ben Proudley • Mel McConaghy Ed Murdoch • Colin Black Bill Weatherstone • Lane Kranenburg PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Proudley • Brad Demelo 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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After explaining in our last issue how trucks are judged at our Show and Shines there have been many enquiries on how to determine what category a truck will compete in at the Alberta Big Rig Weekend (July 14-16 at Blackjacks Roadhouse in Nisku.

First there are 2 primary classifications, Working and Non-Working Trucks. (Working Truck log books may be Primary classifications are then broken down John White requested) into categories which, in the case of Working Trucks, are broken down even further into sub-categories.

Each truck must enter one sub-category and they can enter as many optional categories as they like or none at all.

Non-Working Trucks have two sub-categories - Antique or Show Truck. a. Antique - a stock truck that is 1992 or older with very minor modifications. b. Show Truck - a customized truck with aftermarket chrome, lights, wheels, etc.

Optional Categories: Best Interior; Best Lights; Best Paint.

Working Trucks have 3 main categories - Company Truck, Owner/Operator, Cross Over. Each of these are then divided into sub-categories.

1. Company Truck – owner owns 6 or more trucks.

Sub-Categories: Bob Tail; Truck/Trailer Optional Categories: (can enter up to 4) Best Fleet (3 or more trucks); Best Interior; Best Lights Bob Tail; Best Lights Truck/Trailer; Best Paint.

2. Owner Operator – owner owns up to 5 trucks.

Sub-Categories: Antique Classic (1992 and older); Bobtail 2010 & newer; Bobtail 1993 – 2009; Truck/Trailer Optional Categories: Best Interior; Best Lights Bob Tail; Best Lights Truck/ Trailer; Best Paint 3. Cross Over – Can be a Company or Owner Operator truck.

Sub-Categories: Cab Over; Tow Truck; Specialty Truck (the tractor, not just the trailer, must have additional specialized equipment attached such as Gravel, Logging, Crane, Pumper Trucks, etc.)

Optional Categories: Best Interior; Best Lights; Best Paint.

The most important thing to remember is that this is a trucker’s family weekend. You don’t have to win a trophy to be a winner at our shows. Every truck has a story and stock working trucks are what many of the people come out to see. Many come to swap lies with the people who drive the trucks they recognize and wave to on the road every day. And don’t forget your dancin’ shoes as we have a great Eagles Tribute band playing Saturday night before and then after the Best Lights competition. And don’t forget the Friday night lighted cruise to support Military Minds - by donation.

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LETTERS to the EDITOR

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that didn’t mind taking some time to help a young driver along. He said that he learned a lot from him. I’m sure Louie will be in contact with you.

e Whit e John agazin

ker M Truc Prote

John Whi r Magazine Pro-Trucke

Hello Mr. White, My Grandfather drove logging trucks and this might be a bit of an odd request, but I hope I don’t inconvenience you. I’m sending a message because of an article I read on your Pro-Trucker magazine site from April 2013. It was written by Louie Henley and mentions my grandfather Roy Goddard by name. I never got to meet my grandfather and don’t have many records about him, so I was wondering if you might be able to give me Louie’s email address if that is possible? I would be really interested in asking him about my grandfather and any stories he remembers about working for him driving trucks.

Thank you so much, Andrea Ogden Editor’s note: I spoke with Louie and he said he would be very happy to talk to you about your grandfather. He said that he was quite young when he worked with him but says he was a great guy who was an excellent driver

Hi John, I am the owner of a small fleet in Edmonton. As you may or may not know, recently with the down turn in the industry out here, there is a lot of equipment moving in and out of auction sites. In Alberta, Brokers are not regulated and anyone who has a computer can become one. It was recently brought to my attention that a Load Broker was setting up at auctions and advertising back haul rates! This needs to be regulated as it is destroying our industry! I have big $$ invested into my business and it’s almost impossible to compete with all these Load Brokers that are not regulated and are slashing the trucking rates when they have nothing to lose because their investment is so little. We, the owners of the trucks and equipment, are the ones who have to supply the insurance and repairs for the equipment we own and operate. Load brokers need nothing but a table supplied to them at the auctions they are attending. There are also on-line shipping companies from the U.S. working throughout Canada and they are not regulated either. How can this all happen to the trucking Industry in Canada?

We’ve seen what happens when we get Governments and other sources involved with Uber in the ride share taxi

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industry. Is there something we can do to put a stop to concerned about that comment, I couldn’t resist asking essentially the same thing that is destroying our trucking her, “Do you think I’ll live to be 80?”

She asked, “Do you smoke tobacco, or drink beer, industry? wine or hard liquor?”

Thanks for reading, “No,” I replied. “and I don’t do drugs, either.”

Artie Then she asked, “Do you eat rib-eye steaks and barbecued ribs?”

Editor’s note: You are right Artie, back hauls slowly “Not much,” I said. “My old doctor told me that too erode the rates that shippers are willing to pay. Every back haul a driver takes is taking a full paying job away much red meat isn’t healthy.”

“Do you spend a lot of time in the sun, like playing from someone else. I know many drivers who refuse to take a back haul. In the end this practice just lowers golf, boating, sailing, hiking, or bicycling?”

“No, I don’t,” I said. the overall rates for everyone as shippers get used to She asked, “Do you gamble, drive fast cars, or have a guys doing it for nothing. It takes one load to lower rates in a shippers eyes and years to get them back up. lot of sex?”

“No,” I sadly replied.

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done in a free She looked at me and said, “Then why do you even market, even if the government did give a damn. Times are tough in Alberta and some drivers are desperate give a damn?”

I am of course concerned about this medical information but they also have to realize that they are only hurting falling into the wrong hands and having my license pulled themselves in the long run. so just sign me: a “Seriously concerned driver.”

John, A few years ago you printed some articles on health Editor’s note: Great letter, ‘seriously concerned driver,’ issues for truckers so I thought I would tell you about my it made my day but I have a feeling that you are neither situation. The doctor that I have been seeing for many serious nor concerned and that I am probably going to years has retired and so I recently had to find a new one. be hearing more from you in the future. I am ‘seriously After two visits and exhaustive lab tests, she said I was concerned’ that you are more concerned with pulling my doing fairly well for my age.(I am past seventy). A little leg than having your license pulled.

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THE DIESEL GYPSY

By Bill Weatherstone This is an excerpt from Bill’s book, “The Life and Times of William John Weatherstone.”

Bulk Carriers – The Beginning In the first part of 1957, I hired on with Bulk Carriers at Sarnia, Ontario. The highway asphalt season was coming on and they needed drivers for the new Trans-Canada Highway building boom. I had never hauled a tanker

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before, but they were willing to teach me the ropes so I was game.

We settled in and then I and three other drivers were shuttled around town, showing us the location of the Husky Oil asphalt plant, as well as the loading procedures. After treating us to lunch, we received a warning that we should now be ready for a hectic season. This was on Friday. We were given Saturday to do as we wish, but told we must be ready to roll on Sunday evening. In Ontario at that time, you could not run on Sunday. You had to shut down Saturday before midnight, and could not leave until 10:00 pm on Sunday night. It did not matter where you were at the time, you had to shut down.

The roads were all tore up, and under construction,

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with other new ones opening up for the first time. Our territory was as Far East as Cochrane, Ontario. It was 500 miles of very rotten construction and bush road, the worst, between Hearst and Long Lac. To the West we went out as far as 250 miles to Kenora, Ontario, near the Manitoba border. Then there was the new Lake Superior route. The old road went south along the lake shoreline, and used to end about 60 miles South of Nipigon, down at Schreiber. This road just recently opened up to White Lake Narrows, where the road now ended. Other construction was working its way north from Sault Ste. Marie, to meet up with the new highway. The section southbound was in the process of being blasted and dug through solid granite. You could see the flashes from the blasting in the night sky through most of the summer.

Sunday night came along and my first load was down to White Lake Narrows. The first 60 miles to Nipigon, was all under construction, and barely passable. You could hardly get going at all. It was so rough I thought that my back would break in half. (No such thing as air seats back then.) There was a Husky Oil truck stop at Nipigon that was open 24 hours a day and it had a bunkhouse that cost 50 cents a night. No one had the luxury of sleeper cabs so if you were going to be stuck on the road over the Sunday shut down time you automatically headed for the first Husky to grab a bunk. After that, you headed for the local bootlegger, so as not to be dry on

your layover. There was not much else to do on Sunday, except to party, or if you wanted to, you could go out in the bush and do a little fishing, or chase after the Moose.

On the other hand, a Moose could chase after you.

It was about 1:00 am, when I pulled out of the Husky Truck Stop, heading south to the Narrows. The road at this point was old and narrow with twists and turns like a pretzel. I was getting into some good-sized hills and the farther I went, the higher and steeper they came. Fully loaded, I was grossing just less than 80,000 lbs. I only had a 205 Mack engine and a 5 X 3 (15-speed) tri-plex transmission. The grade was so bad by then that I was down to skipping the auxiliary transmission and using the main only. (You could not split the two sticks fast enough). I got down so slow that you could get out and walk faster. At one point, I pulled out the throttle all the way, and let it go on its own. I opened the door and stood out on the fuel tank, hanging onto the steering wheel, just to get away from the heat coming up through the floor. (Stupid, I know, but that was ½ a century ago.) Only one more gear to drop down to and then I would be out of luck. I crawled along for what seemed to be forever.

I hit a pothole and the steering seemed to float freely. I was starting to get a little nervous. Where the heck is the top of this hill? Finally I broke over the top and then had to stop and let the engine cool down. I could tell right then that it was going to be a long trip. I found that the shutters

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would not open soon enough to let air flow through and cool the radiator so I found a chunk of wood, and jammed it between the slats, to keep them open. After that, I carried the stick with me and stuck it into the shutters just before heading into the hills.

I made my way down past Terrace Bay where they had dumped fresh sand on the new roadbed before the grader had it smoothed out. It was looking good but figuring that it could still be soft, I put it to the floor. I made it ¾ of the way through this section, and then she sunk down to the hubs and the truck bogged down to a stop. All alone and early in the morning, all you could do was flake out and wait for the bulldozers to drag me out in the morning.

This happened numerous times during that summer.

I finally made it down to the plant and got the load off. Running back empty, I was really making good time when sailing into a turn in a treed section, this Moose ran out in front of me. It was getting dark again and starting to rain a bit and all I saw was two big eyes looking at me.

I cranked the wheel towards the shoulder of the road and just clipped him on the snout, leaving snot marks all over my left front fender. He just stood there like a dummy, then turned and trotted off into the bush as if nothing happened. I finally got the knot out of my stomach, and checked to see if I had messed myself. Fortunately, I did not. The tractor had a single axle drive with a dead trailing axle and I found myself stuck again on the soft

The

shoulder. It was another hour or so before a truck came along and dragged me out.

After that episode I thought that I had better bring along some survival gear. I started by picking up a 20 foot long 3/8 steel chain, an axe, a fishing pole and a couple cans of beans. I also had to get a 20-ton hydraulic jack with a couple sockets and a T bar, so I could change my own flats. There was no service or phones available in the bush and before the summer was over, we all ended up carrying three spare wheels. Those old bias tires just could not take the rock abuse. I changed as many as the three tires in one trip and I got very good at it before long.

I finally finished my first trip. I pulled into the yard, expecting to go to my room and flake out for a few hours but while topping up my fuel tanks, dispatch came over and said to hurry up. Apparently Cochran was running low on product and I was instructed to get there as fast as I could. Well now so much for my expected nap, and log books? What are they? The Americans invented them but did not bother to share them with us. So, off I went again. *****

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Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

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In 1867, our home became a nation. Canada was a lot different back then and the last 150 years have seen many changes with our family of provinces and territories growing with those years. Like any family, we’ve experienced some of the greatest moments, those that are tragically painful, and those which make us beam with pride, feel intense emotion and embrace our silent patriotism.

Some of the moments which make me reflect with an overwhelming sense of pride are the images of the CanadArm extending from the Space Station, Glenn Anderson scoring the winning goal against the Soviets, and watching the television as Terry Fox ran his Marathon of Hope.

Of course we cannot grow as a nation family without some growing pains and disagreements within and the ability to look back and reflect so that we may change for the future. The FLQ crisis and Oka, when our nation’s military was called in to stop our brothers and sisters from bickering. Rioting in the streets over our national pastime, truly

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Yes, we’ve stretched our legs and travelled the world with nothing but a small rectangular patch made of two red ensigns and a maple leaf on our backpacks to signify who we are, and been met with open arms because of it. We built the Avro Arrow, won the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace to other nations in peril and took Vimy Ridge when everyone else had failed. Truly amazing moments in our short 150 years.

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The cheque that reads, “Payable to Canada, Up to and including my life.” You’ve seen them before, they’re the ones who run headlong into danger while you are running away from it. Our serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, and First Responders. Many of them live in silence with a wound you cannot see. These men and women who appear to fear nothing on the earth actually fear judgement for a pain they hold within. A pain of having seen too much so that you don’t have too.

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.com Enjoy Back issues of Pro-Trucker Magazine anywhere you are from the comfort of your smart phone!

Enjoy our Rig of The Month Archives on the go!

Stay up-to-date with Pro-Trucker news and events on our Facebook page & group! Cool truck pictures, jokes, contests and live chat with Pro-Trucker Magazine’s contributing writers! www.facebook.com/groups/7374383222/ and www.facebook.com/ProTruckerMagazine july 2017

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ing Canadian brothers and sisters. Our nation Canada, our mother, is the most amazing in the world, and to be here as a part of it makes me realize that I’m a very fortunate son.

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.

Who’s Watching Why is it when you do something stupid there’s always someone watching? Like the time I was delivering Dell computers to a solicitor’s office in the middle of Edinburgh. The office was up a steep flight of stairs, albeit thickly carpeted stairs, which were directly behind a big heavy front door, so I had to get in and let the door close before I could get up the stairs. I had managed to get a parking space for the truck quite near the place, which is no mean feat in central Edinburgh. With the size of the delivery I assumed they were renewing all the computers in the office, as there were quite a few boxes.

With two boxes to complete each system it was going to take some time to get this delivery done, so with each trip I tried to carry in as many boxes as I could. The

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monitors back then were bulky 14-inch mini TV’s, no flat screens in the early days, so with a monitor in each hand and a main CPU box under my arm I started up the stairs. As I got near the top of the stairs I could feel the handhold in the cardboard box of one of the monitors tearing, there were only two steps to go, would it hold.

No, was the short answer, it rolled back down the stair and hit the back of the front door, in fairness, the guy who’d ordered the systems and saw the whole thing, said he would keep it and see if it worked, but, “I’ll need to sign your delivery note one box damaged.”

Another time I was delivering a large crate to a factory in Irvine, Ayrshire, it was about six-foot-tall by four foot across and about three foot deep. I was driving a 10 ton box van at the time and just pushed the crate in with the fork lift against a spring-loaded pole locked in across the van. With the assumption of the young and inexperienced, I thought, that’ll keep it from falling forward when I brake, where else can it go? Can you imagine my face when I opened the back doors at the delivery point, with all staff who’d been waiting for this crate to get there gathered around, it had fallen backwards and was lying flat on the floor. Luckily it wasn’t too heavy and the storeman gave me a hand to lift it back up. Another trucking lesson learned, make sure everything is well secured - in every direction.

I think we’ve all done things like that, maybe all the rest of your straps, ropes, retaining poles, etc. are used up,

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so you take a chance. But sometimes you do something stupid and get away with it, whether it’s luck or skill or an angel on your shoulder, who knows. One day I got another one of those loads nobody wanted, an empty 40 foot box van up to Arbroath to pick up a load of full whisky barrels. Heavy snow was the reason not every driver wanted to go north, but hey, if you don’t try you never know if you’ll get there. The boss told me to stick to the coast roads where it might be a bit better for driving, but what does he know sitting in his nice warm office. It just so happened I had recently discovered a very nice wee road called the Small Glen, at least it certainly it had been earlier when I went through in my car. Mind you it also hadn’t been snowing when I passed through.

As soon as I turned onto the road I knew it had been a mistake, the snow was even thicker here than on the coast roads and for some reason, now while sitting at the wheel of the truck, it didn’t seem quite so picturesque either.

But there was nowhere to turn a truck on that winding narrow back road, so it was just hope for the best and keep going. Thankfully I didn’t meet anybody as stupid as me coming the other way so I got through and parked up near the bonded warehouse for the pickup first thing in the morning. I got a room at a bed and breakfast place that was only a 10 minute walk away. It was a cold bleak place and I had to get into bed for heat, but some you win and some you lose. That was trucking in the early days.

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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.

It’s not hard to get wrapped up in everyday life.

Whether it’s out here on the road, or in any other place you may be. We move along doing our thing. Each one of us doing our thing. What’s best for us. We have all gotten so good at it that we seldom think about who is noticing us. Every day, mile after mile I do my thing, and really about the only 3 times I ever truly pay heed to who may be watching is, first, when there’s a chance I may be working this week for free, because the all-seeing speed cameras have no mercy. Second, when in areas there may be children...... not necessarily school zones....but anywhere I might get that age old arm pump request... after all who dare refuse the arm pump if only for the glorifying look of WOW on a child’s face? Not I. That look of sheer joy from any child is enough to sometimes push us on. Then my third reason..... for me. I see myself as someone who can always do better. Always learning from my own “oopsies”. So I am always watching..... but I guess that kinda brings me back full circle to the beginning. I, in doing what I do best.... never noticed I was being watched. Yeah I love taking pictures and reveling in the many adventures this industry has afforded me...not all great, some funny and most....just life on the road. Apparently the folks over here at Pro-Trucker were watching. I am both honoured and grateful in accepting their offer to share some of those adventures with you. So, A Huge THANK YOU Pro-Trucker Staff and Crew..... I look forward to this opportunity.

She’s Ready

*****

A State Trooper pulled an 87-year-old woman over for speeding and noticed that attached to her driver’s license was a conceal weapon permit. Taken aback, he asked, “Do you have a gun in your possession?”

She replied in her crackly voice, “Indeed, I do. I have a 45 automatic in the glove box.” The trooper asked if she had any other weapons. She replied, “I have a 9 mm Glock in the center console.” The shocked trooper asked, “Is that all the weapons you have?” The little old lady held up her purse and replied, “I also keep a 38 special in my purse.”

The astonished trooper asked, “What are you afraid of?”

And the little old lady smiled and said, “Not a damn thing.”

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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 Please allow me to distract you with a few distracting statistics. This month is one of the busiest of the year on North American highways. Many vehicles are carrying entire families. It is imperative that one drive with extraordinary caution … well all the time … but particularly during this season.

Distracted driving remains one of the largest contributing factors to vehicle collisions and fatalities and at the same time is absolutely the easiest to avoid. On average 78 people lose their lives every year just in BC because of it and without a doubt every one of those folk would have denied that their behaviour would lead to their demise. Think about it … can you remember a time when you denied the possibility while using your mobile device?

According to ICBC, 27% of all vehicle fatalities are caused by distracted driving and it isn’t always the individual who was responsible for the incident who

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Almost 95% of BC drivers, who were asked the question, said that texting is risky … 82% said extremely risky but also 40% admitted to doing it. In BC the penalty for any activity involving a hand held communications device … even just plugging it in while stopped at a red light … is a $368 fine plus 4 demerits amounting to $563 total for a first offense. A 5th offense will cost

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one $5,600 and after 10 times caught one might have to remortgage one’s dwelling because now it’s up to $18,200. In 2014 a man in Vancouver had amassed 26 distracted driving violations in 4 years. Today he’d be lucky to be able to keep his remortgaged home. Is it really worth the risk for not pulling over in a safe spot to converse or even waiting until one reaches the next stop in one’s itinerary? Surely I’m not the only driver that remembers searching for a telephone booth while on route especially on the bald, frozen prairies in midwinter … what’s a “telephone booth”, daddy? Indeed!

Pursuing activities unrelated to the operation of one’s vehicle while in motion is potentially as dicey as driving while impaired by alcohol. In fact it is a type of impairment and it is much more common than drunk driving.

Here are some sobering facts on the topic, as published by the Insurance Bureau of Canada: 1. One is 23 times more likely to be involved in a collision while texting and driving and 5 times more likely if one is just talking on a cell-phone (hand-held or handsfree makes no difference) while driving.

2. You may be breaking the law. All provinces in Canada, plus Yukon and Northwest Territories now have bans in place on using cell-phones or hand-held electronic devices while driving. Depending on the legislation, penalties can include hefty fines and, in many cases, demerit points. In BC a first offense will cost you

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$563. In Ontario your hard-earned bank account will be depleted by up to $1,000. Is it really worth it?

3. A distracted driver may fail to see up to 50% of the available information in the driving environment.

You may look but not actually “see” what is happening similar to “motion induced blindness” a topic we touched on a while back. If your curiosity would like a refresher just Google: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion-induced_blindness 4. A study showed that nearly 80% of collisions and 65% of near-collisions involved some form of driver inattention up to three seconds prior to the event.

I am often asked, “What about having a conversation with a passenger in one’s vehicle, isn’t that distracted driving?” My response is an unequivocal, “Yes! It can be very distracting especially if the conversation becomes a heated argument.” However there is one big difference.

A passenger in one’s vehicle adds an extra pair of eyes to the awareness and safety of the road environment and will on occasion notice a situation that the driver has overlooked. The person on the other end of a mobile device conversation is not involved in the process whatsoever and might just become a liability. Just don’t do it folks, the unexpected gives no warning and may occur at any moment and the risks are just not worth it.

Changing gears … in the summer months when I was much younger and physically active I would often put my bathing suit on in the morning and leave it on all day and keep an eye out for a swimming hole where one could park a semi. I had my favourites of course, mostly along Highways 11 or 17 around Lake Superior and other lake country. Some of those pleasure stops have been closed over the years and with super highways replacing the old skinny roads I’m sure it isn’t all that easy to find such oases today. If you do indeed find such a place keep this in mind: water is life-giving but it can also take away a life in a flash.

Globally there are 2.28 people that drown every minute of every day. While letting that sink in, children account for more than 50% of victims, a third of whom do so in or around their homes. Most victims are males perhaps because more of them work in or near water and take more risks. The most vulnerable ages are 0 to 5 years, 20 to 25 years and those over 60. Please don’t be one of them and do everything to ensure no one in your sphere of influence does either. There will be those that will of course ignore the risks and inevitably there will be families who will grieve the loss of a loved one because of poor judgment. I charge everyone reading this item to heed the warnings and be safe.

Summer is family time and The Birddawg wishes that every one of you and your loved ones to enjoy it to the fullest by following the best rules of safety and common sense in all activities. Motor with care and enjoy … 10-4!

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Rig of the Month

By John White Our July 2017 Rig of the Month driver is Aaron Lewis.

He is originally from Merthyr Tydfil, a small mining town in south Wales, UK. He has been in Canada since

January of 2013 and now lives in Surrey BC. Growing up in a small town was as how you can imagine, everyone knew everyone and we looked out for

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each other. We would finish school at 3 pm, go home, get changed and go to the soccer field and play soccer till the street lights came on. As long as there was one adult in the park we were good to go. No one worried about being snatched and it included kids aged from 6 to 16.

My Mum was a house wife raising me and my younger sister Elyshia and my Dad was, and still is, a truck driver. While we were growing up Dad drove Europe and the middle east. He would be away from home for 6 to 8 weeks then be home for a few days. I recently asked him about those trips and he said that he went through a narrow corridor from Bulgaria and then through Turkey.

With a smile he says he has lots of funny stories from those days that they are way too illegal to print.

From the age of 6 months old my nursery had trucks on the shelves and posters of trucks on the walls. I started going for day trips with my Dad from the age of one so, like many drivers before me, I guess you could say it’s in the blood. Then just when I thought it couldn’t get any better he introduced me to truck shows and that was it, I knew right away that I wanted to drive for a living and have a truck to take to shows.

My Dad worked for a small company called Merthyr Waste Paper delivering paper and pulp throughout the UK. He had a head turning Scania 143, with a 500 HP school holiday I was on the road with him. His job was to V8. It looked incredible with the high roof and it sounded drive and mine was to put the landing gear up/down and even better. Every chance I got we cleaned it and every the buckles on the curtain trailer.

April and Aaron

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I remember going with him on my first trip to Europe. It was in a new and fully airbrushed Ford Transcontinental.

We were away for about a week and that’s when I learned that just because you can drink a bottle of juice in 5 minutes, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be stopping at every pullout for a pee. The empty bottle would be recycled as a pee bottle and I swear to this day he would wait till I started and then pull out to pass a bus.

In about the middle of that trip while parked in Belgium waiting for a train to come in with our load, we climbed in the back of the empty trailer, made a soccer ball out of paper and cling wrap and played for hours. My Dad is my biggest hero and mentor and who I owe for the man I am today.

I attended 2 high schools in our little town, spending most of my child hood as the victim of bullying. It went on for about 10 years, I wasn’t a fighter and was always told by my Mum to walk away. Merthyr Tydfil was the kind of town where people live forever but it was dying. There was no future for young people there as the unemployment rate was very high after the coal mines closed.

I wanted a fresh start and a new life and I knew I could not get it there so on Sept 10, 2001, a day before the twin tower attacks, I left school and joined the British army.

At the young age of 16 I enlisted as a Plant Operator Mechanic (heavy equip operator) in the Royal Engineers.

I was stationed at Camberly, England at first where I was

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For the next 4 years I travelled the world to Kosovo, Iraq, Kenya and Belize to name just a few. It was a mix of war zones, peace keeping and live exercises and I loved every second of it. By the time I left the military in 2007, I had caught the heavy haul bug and I knew it was the path I

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wanted to follow. I needed variety and hated the thought of having to do the same thing day in day out for the rest of my life. At this point I was living in north Yorkshire, England and I always saw the heavy haul trucks coming into our camp to move machines. I knew it was a long shot but I made a call and a few weeks later got a call with a job offer from GCS Johnson in North Yorkshire which I accepted. It was and still is one of the largest heavy haul companies in the UK, but family owned and operated by Geoff and Mary Johnson, and son and daughter Stuart and Allison Johnson, so I was not treated like a number. Geoff Johnson is a man I quickly came to respect and admire, he has forgotten more about heavy haul than most people know, I often heard people in the industry say, “If people tell you it can’t be moved, call Johnsons, they will move it” and it’s true.

Stuart Johnson, took a chance on a fresh faced 22 year old with not much experience and they taught me everything I know today about jacking and sliding, hydraulic trailers and modular trailers too. I started on a 80 tonne GVW Daf 95 with a 56 T/M knuckle boom crane. I was in my element with a huge variety of not only moving plants but also on big jack and slide jobs because I had the only crane truck. At Christmas time I got to work beside another amazing family company, BJ & C Carberry, where we traveled UK erecting Christmas trees in all the city centers. After about 2 years the old Daf 95 was put into retirement and I was handed the keys to a brand new 150 ton GVW Daf 105 that had the same 56T/M crane. This truck was brand new and I was like a giant child. I had never had anything new in my life and it was my pride and joy. I took it to many truck shows winning trophies for “Best Heavy Haulage.” After another year and a half, I wanted to stretch my legs, asking to come off the Daf and replace it with an available Mercedes Actros that was doing the European work. For the next 4 years I travelled France, Germany, Italy and practically every other European country and I loved it. I have nothing but happy memories working there.

Moving back to Wales in 2011 I started working for Powell heavy haulage, based in Chepstow, driving a Volvo

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FH16 610 HP called, “sweet sixteen.” I delivered bridge beams up to 46 meters long on a triple extending Broshous flat deck trailer. The trailer had 3 axles all power steered by the truck, a technology that I feel would be awesome here. The money was terrible but I loved heavy haul, so I stuck at it.

Feeling like a change of life I came to Canada on a vacation to visit some friends for 6 months. I travelled across Canada spending 2 months in Winnipeg with my friends Hugh Rowlands and Vlad Pleskot, 2 men I have a lot of respect for and some of you might know. I then spent 4 months in Kelowna, just taking in the Canadian life and having my first vacation since I left school 10 years before. On my last day in Canada, at a show and shine

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in Surrey, it happened, I met my partner April and was taken in hook, line and sinker. I returned to the UK for a few months, trying to decide what I wanted in life and where I could see myself in 10 years. In January of 2013 decided to sell everything and come back to Canada to start my life with her. I am now living in Surrey as one of Canada’s newest permanent residents, with April, my step son Ryley (8), step daughter Lexi (19) and April and I have a daughter Savanna (3). I guess you can say I am living

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Without her I have no idea where I would be right now.

In 2013 after waiting 8 months for a work permit, I started working for Apex Industrial Movers in Delta BC, mainly running the knuckle boom crane truck for the jack and slide jobs. A big part of our work was installing transformers for BC Hydro all over Canada but we also moved some boats, trains and buildings. I kept my toe in the heavy haul pond by being called from time to time to drive some of the oversize loads. I was happy there but I knew in my heart I wanted to be back behind the wheel on a daily basis.

In March 2016 I was offered a full time driving job at Spruce Hollow Heavy Haul in Abbotsford, BC and I jumped at the chance. I hit it off straight away with owner Jim Weber and I will be the first to admit I felt out of my depth. I must have asked him 100 questions a day and

july 2017

Westcan is committed to the principles of Employment Equity and is a proud national sponsor of MADD Canada. he would just smile. I would get my note book and make notes as he answered every question. I had a Western Star with a C15 twin turbo, and off I went with fellow driver Jeff, mainly moving machines from Tacoma back to BC or Alberta.

A few months later I was offered the job I always wanted from the day I arrived in Canada, driving one of the beauties owned by Ridge Lowbed Services. I used to see their trucks driving around and be mesmerized, the shine, the sound, I called it the neck snap effect. So I made the move to Ridge and was handed the keys to, in the boss Billy Jorgensen’s own words, “my baby.” It was supposed to be for just a few weeks but one year later I still have her and love the truck. It’s a 2005 T800 Kenworth, with a

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big cat (that is top secret) and I tow a pacesetter lowbed giving me an 8 axle setup. It gives us the capability to move practically any machine needed.

Every day is a laugh at work and I love that, working alongside 3 other great company guys, Chris Nesbit, the man who knows at least one person from every town in BC and is renowned for his multiple show winning Pete 379. That being said he has since seen the light and is now part of the Kenworth T800 club. Cliff Van Derwall with his long hood Pete 379 , and Bryce Falk with his Pete 357 “Shorty the pimp” this is the best team I have ever worked with and every day is filled with laughs.

With the frustration of some of the driving abilities in the Lower Mainland it’s good to be able to laugh.

I love working for family owned businesses. I love that everyone is on first name terms or nick names where drivers help each other and are not chasing for each other’s jobs. I like it so much so that I brought April on board and she now runs our office.

Every weekend starts with washing the truck and my little daughter Savanna not only helps wash the truck, she will walk around afterwards and point out all the bits we missed. She loves doing it, loves the day trips we do together and she loves Daddies truck.

I drive around the Lower Mainland and occasionally get the chance to stretch my legs on a drive over to the interior and Alberta moving every type of machinery

you can think of. My step son Ryley comes with me on the longer runs. He had never left the lower mainland before but now he has done runs to Northern BC, and even into Alberta and he loves it. It’s nice seeing the kids faces when we turn up for a load and in disbelief they say, “we are loading that??”

I haven’t had many issues with law enforcement, only 1 ticket in 15 years of having a class one, but as any driver knows , heavy haul tends to spend more time at the scales waiting for permits and such. I make a point to show my face while waiting at the scale and say hi, yes sir , no sir and am respectful. I don’t know if it’s a military thing but I will always be respectful.

That being said I also expect it back , I will talk to you how you talk to me. It just makes sense that if you start shouting at an officer from the start you can expect trouble in return. I for one don’t think having a good relationship with your local CVSE and scale houses is a bad thing.

I still have plenty of life goals as I am only 32, one of which is to bring over a European spec Volvo FH16, 16 liter 750 hp cabover, or a Scania R730, 730 hp V8 16 liter. I know, I know, I hear the gasps and shaking of heads. I think it’s just a cool way to stand out and trust me you shouldn’t knock it till you have driven one. But at this moment I am in my happy place in life, amazing family, awesome boss and work with a great team.

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One of the biggest highlights was going to my first truck show with Ridge Lowbed. After working a full week, roll into the show ground on the Saturday morning, wash the truck with a soapy sponge and hose pipe. Then after a couple hours polishing come away with 1st place for best lowbed.

It’s a real team effort here at ridge where every driver helps the other and we have a boss who loves nice trucks as much as we do. You only have to look in the office at all the trophies on the walls and you know it’s a company that prides its self on looking after the drivers and the trucks. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. *****

The Love Boat

Ed and Betty met while on a singles cruise, and Ed fell head over heels for her. When they discovered they lived in the same city Ed was ecstatic. He immediately started asking her out when they got home. Within a couple of weeks, Ed had taken Betty to dance clubs, restaurants, concerts, movies, and museums. Ed became convinced that Betty was his soul mate and true love.

Every date seemed better than the last. On the onemonth anniversary of their meeting, Ed took Betty to a fine restaurant. While having cocktails and waiting for their salad Ed said, “I guess you can tell I’m very much in love with you. I’d like a little serious talk before our

PAGE 30

NEW Extended Hours Mon-Fri 8 am- Midnight • Sat 8 am- 5pm relationship continues to the next stage. So, before I get a box out of my jacket and ask you a life-changing question, it’s only fair to warn you that I’m a total golf nut. I play golf, I read about golf, I watch golf on TV. In short, I eat, sleep, and breathe golf. If that’s going to be a problem for us, you’d better say so now!”

Betty took a deep breath and responded, “Ed, that certainly won’t be a problem. I love you and I love golf too; but, since we’re being totally honest with each other, you need to know that for the last five years I’ve been a hooker.”

Ed said, “That’s no problem, you’re probably not keeping your wrists straight when you hit the ball.”

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july 2017

Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

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PRO-TRuCKER MAGAZINEe

REFLECTIONS THRU MY WINDSHIELD

By Dave Madill Dave was Pro-Trucker Magazine’s Rig of the Month in June of 2001 Dad and His Deer Those that have read my previous stories know that at one time Dad bought a brand spanking new R model Mack tractor which we used to pull a gravel bottom and it was also used as a highway tractor. Well it was his pride and joy and except on very special circumstances no one else was allowed near it. Let me tell a little story about how Grandpa named this truck.

We had our own gravel pit and right behind the pit was about 40 yards of Scotch Pine Christmas trees that at the time were about 4 feet high. Right behind the Christmas trees was the bush with some massive Oaks and Maples. The local deer would come up through the hardwood, pass along a tractor trail in the pines and go into the pit almost every night. I found out later that there is something in the grease that they crave, minerals or whatever. One summer, every morning when we went up to the pit, we would see a big White

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CALLING ALL

PRO-TRuCKER MAGAZINEe

OWNER OPERATORS!

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Monarch Transport (1975) Ltd. july 2017

Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

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PRO-TRuCKER MAGAZINEe

Tail buck and he was developing a fine set of antlers over the summer. By the time the fall had rolled around he was a massive 10 pointer, (five on each side), and Dad, even though he was not really a hunter, was determined that he would get this deer. Now Dad was ex-army, having served in WW2 and he had picked up a 303 Lee Enfield which was the same rifle that he had carried in the army. He was a decent shot as long as the range was under 100 yards but he was not really a “hunter.” Grandpa told him he would be better off if he let me take the deer as I was a much better shot and actually did a lot of hunting. But Dad was adamant that it was his buck so we deferred to him to keep the peace.

Getting ready for hunting season, Dad had me take the front end loader back into the hardwood and use it to construct a tree stand in one of the Oaks. He then had me trim the branches so he had a good shot at the edge of the pit where the deer trail came up. Well I constructed his “hide” about three weeks before deer season so the deer would get used to it and even cleared a few of the taller Scotch Pines away so he would have no problems. Dad actually went in and bought a deer license so that he would be legal and picked up some extra ammo for the 303.

Deer season came around and under cover of darkness Dad slipped up the hill, climbed into his stand and proceeded to wait. He said he saw the deer pass him

going into the pit but it was too dark for shooting so he waited till daylight figuring he would get “his” buck as it left. Morning came and finally the deer started to leave – does came out first as per usual and finally the big buck came up to the top of the pit and stood there looking around. Dad carefully took aim and at a range of about 40 yards touched off 1 round striking the buck perfectly in the neck and dropping him instantly.

Unfortunately Dad had forgot one thing, his truck was parked in the pit and the surplus army steel jacketed bullet passed through the neck of the deer without even slowing down and continued into the pit impacting dead centre on the driver’s side of the windshield of his Mack.

That was also not slowing things and it went onward, passing through the back of the driver’s seat, the rear wall of the tractor, and then knocked the mount for the airlines off shattering the mount and hoses and fittings.

But it wasn’t finished, it ricocheted off the mount and passed through the nice chrome muffler shield , the muffler itself and then departed to God knows where.

Grandpa and I heard the shot from the house so we hopped in the pickup and raced up to the pit to find Dad standing proudly over his kill. Grandpa took it all in at a glance and asked Dad if it had been worth all the trouble. Dad was ecstatic with his big buck and said it was all good, that is until Grandpa mentioned that he had also shot something even bigger. Never had

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july 2017

Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

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PRO-TRuCKER MAGAZINEe

I seen a grown man cry but when Dad looked up and saw his Mack and actually saw how much damage had been done to it, he did break out in tears. Needless to say Grandpa and I were the ones that loaded the deer and later took care of it. I then was given the chore Custom Fabrication • Servicing Available of driving the Mack 15 miles into town with no front window to get new glass.

Power Tailgate • Roll Doors A couple days later Dad went up to his truck only to Nothing too big or small. We can handle all your trailer needs! find that Grandpa had a friend of his stop by during the # 1 0 3 - 2 0 0 8 6 9 2 A Ave. , L a n g l ey, B C night and paint Deadeye John on both sides of the hood.

Dad never did live that one down and when we finally sold that Mack it still had a bullet hole dead centre in i n fo @ t i m s t r a i l e r re p a i r. c o m the drivers seat but we did eat well that winter although Dad had trouble every time we served, “his” venison.

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PAGE 36

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TIRE FLIES FREE, KILLS DRIVER

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Is it poor maintenances or the drivers fault?

It takes a team effort to make the roads safe.

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Be safe on the road with SKIDDD WHEEL INDICATOR While driving down the hwy and you hear a, “BANG BANG” noise from the back of your trailer - this indicates there is a flat spot on your tire! That is why when dragging your tires for approx. 100-200 feet or more it will take out the circumference of the tire. From busted and/or cracked hubs, cracked rims and hot bearings which could cause lug nuts to come un-torqued causing the wheels to fall off. This is UNSAFE and related problems will occur.

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Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

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PRO-TRUCKER MAGAZINEe

Truckers What makes a man a trucker, why does he play this role?

Is the something deep inside him in his heart or in his soul?

The thunder of his diesel: does it fill an inner need, What makes a man a trucker, are they a different breed – Are a thousand lonely truck stops a substitute for home?

Does he think of wife and family while he’s out there all alone.

The rhythm of the highway is a sad and lonely song, And he dreams about his loved ones as the big rig moves along.

There is a touch of wanderlust that the highway helps to fill, As he looks around the next bend, over another hill.

His family, they wait at home; he’ll get back when he can, That’s what keeps him going, this special breed of man.

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 or amazon.com PAGE 38

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N ‘N SHI

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PAGE 39

Alberta Big Rig Weekend July 14-16 in Nisku, Alberta

july 2017

PRO-TRuCKER MAGAZINEe

USE LESS. TREAT MORE. Treats 100 gallons of fuel

Treats 100 gallons of fuel

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=

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PAGE 40

when you purchase 3 bottles of Howes Meaner Power Kleaner Visit www.howeslube.com or call 1-800 GET HOWES Offer ends: 9/30/17, available while supplies last.

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july 2017