Truck Parking Directory

Truck containing 180000 eggs missing in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 05:24:00 +0000

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) ? A semi-truck containing 180,000 eggs was reported stolen from behind a southwest Florida convenience store.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office reports that the truck's driver told deputies he had parked the blue Volvo semi with a white Great Dane refrigerated trailer and Pennsylvania plates behind a 7-Eleven store on Sunday.

He last checked on it at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The driver said that when he returned at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the truck and the 180,000 eggs inside, were gone.

The News-Press (http://newspr.es/1kjrMQt ) reports that the there are no cameras at the scene that could captured the truck or when it was taken.

___

Information from: The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press, http://www.news-press.com

View the original article here

Truck skids off NY bridge, lands in Lake Champlain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:52:00 +0000

WHITEHALL, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a truck driver is hospitalized after his vehicle skidded off an upstate New York bridge and crashed into Lake Champlain's South Bay.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office tells local media that the truck was traveling on Route 22 during icy conditions around 2 a.m. Monday when it went off the bridge and landed on the frozen lake in Whitehall, on the Vermont border 65 miles northeast of Albany.

The driver was able to get out of the rig. He was taken to Glens Falls Hospital. Information on his condition isn't available.

Crews are trying to remove the truck from the lake.

View the original article here

Crafton wins in truck at Martinsville for 1st time

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:51:00 +0000

Driver Matt Crafton celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, March 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Driver Matt Crafton driver through turn four during a NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, March 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Driver Spencer Gallagher throws his safety harness at Caleb Holman (75) after the two were involved in an accident in turn one during a NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, March 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Steve Sheppard)

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Matt Crafton grabbed the lead for the first time with 47 laps to go and held on to win the rain-delayed Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday night for his fourth career victory.

It also was his first on the 0.526-mile paper clip, and a study in steady improvement.

"If you don't have the best car or truck there at the beginning of a run, you make changes throughout the race. It's about having a smart crew chief and someone putting their head on their shoulders and not tearing the stuff up," he said, crediting crew chief Carl Joiner for adjustments all race long.

"It's not so much stealing," Crafton said. "It's about beating them at the end when it counts."

Crafton, the defending series champion, passed local favorite Timothy Peters on the inside of the fourth turn to grab the top spot, then survived two two-lap sprints to the finish. The green-white-checkered run extended the race to 256 laps, leaving Crafton jokingly complaining about darkness.

After 24 previous starts at Martinsville, he was envisioning the track's signature trophy, a grandfather clock, in his living room at home, and not wanting to let anything get in the way.

"It's definitely one of those places that you want to win at just because that grandfather clock is such an awesome trophy to have in your house," he said. "Finally we got it. ... It's awesome."

Crafton became the 23rd driver to win in 31 truck races at Martinsville.

Darrell Wallace was second, followed by Ben Kennedy, Johnny Sauter and Ryan Blaney.

Wallace said his team struggled all day, too, after getting practice time in on Friday, then having qualifying rained out Saturday before racing after the Cup Series had run, changing conditions again.

"I thought I had enough saved for those last two (dashes), but we just couldn't get it done," he said.

Kennedy, conversely, wished he'd had more time to make a move.

"We were really rolling there at the end. I was really excited for it. I wish we'd had another 10 laps or so. I think we could have gotten up there and got 'em," Kennedy said.

Sauter and Peters were the hard-luck racers on the day.

Sauter led three times for a race-high 61 laps; Peters led six times for 49 laps.

The race, postponed by rain Saturday and run as part of a rare doubleheader following a 500-lap Sprint Cup race, was just the second of the season in the series, following the opener at Daytona on Feb. 17. The series will again take a long break, not racing again until May 9 in Kansas.

This one started at about 5:30 p.m., and finished with the sun setting and temperatures dropping.

___

Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

View the original article here

Indian trucker arrested for negligent driving

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:18:00 +0000

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Singapore: An Indian national has been arrested here for allegedly causing the death of a compatriot in a road accident last week.

The 33-year-old Indian tipper truck driver was arrested for allegedly causing the death of another 27-year-old Indian man by a negligent act, Today Online reported Monday.

The accident occurred at around 2.57 p.m. Saturday. The accused is currently assisting police investigations.

The victim was trapped under the front wheel of the truck and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene after his body was extricated.

View the original article here

Another winter storm set to hit Atlantic Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:42:00 +0000

Someone forgot to tell Atlantic Canada it's spring.

More than 27,000 customers were without power in New Brunswick Monday afternoon, after a winter storm continued to pound the eastern provinces, less than a week after a blizzard dumped 30 cm of snow in the region.

after the #peistorm this road was barely a cow path, thanks to the plow operators who worked hard to clear our roads pic.twitter.com/06Nw1Plba4
— Heather Mullen (@mullenpei) March 29, 2014

In Nova Scotia, nearly 7,000 were in the dark because of high winds and freezing rain.

Outages were reported all across Prince Edward Island as well.

In Newfoundland, the RCMP had closed a large section of the Trans-Canada Highway in the southern part of the province due to whiteout conditions, but Newfoundland Power reported no outages.

We are prepping for another winter storm hitting many parts of the province today. You can prep too - learn more at http://t.co/aI8lgiAMAK
— NLHydro (@NLHydro) March 31, 2014

Environment Canada's winter storm warnings remained in place for the region Monday, predicting continued blowing snow, ice pellets and freezing rain. Northern Quebec and northern Ontario were also expected to see heavy snowfall and freezing rain

View the original article here

Navy bases tighten truck driver screening

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 10:07:00 +0000

By BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Navy is prohibiting delivery drivers from entering its installations from North Carolina to Maine if they have had a felony conviction within the past 10 years.

The commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic ordered criminal background checks for everyone who uses a Transportation Worker Identification Credential to gain access to a base in the region. The move comes after a civilian truck driver who was a convicted felon drove onto Naval Station Norfolk last week, walked out onto a pier and onto a warship before disarming a sailor and using her weapon to shoot and kill another sailor.

The Navy has said Jeffrey Tyrone Savage possessed a TWIC card, but had no legitimate business on base the night of the shooting.

He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2008.

View the original article here

Parking lot doughnuts lead to charges in Watford

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 05:57:00 +0000

Police have charged a 19-year-old Warwick Twp. man, after spotting a pickup truck driver doing doughnuts in a parking lot with two girls in open box of the truck.

Police say OPP noticed a Dodge pickup in the parking lot of the Watford arena with two 17-year-old girls riding in the back.

Nobody was hurt. The officers stopped the driver after seeing him perform a "fast 360 degree spin."

They charged him with dangerous driving.

View the original article here

New trucking industry image/education campaign launched

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 01:53:00 +0000

A diverse group of trucking stakeholders announced the launch of an industry-wide image and education campaign last week at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Dubbed “Trucking Moves America Forward” (TMAF) was described as an education initiative designed to” inform policy makers, motorists and the public about the benefits of the trucking industry to help build a ground swell of political and grassroots support necessary to strengthen and grow the industry.”

“Today’s modern truck drivers are skilled professionals and devoted family men and women, trained to focus on safety, efficiency and reliability while operating the safest and most sustainable trucks we have seen to-date,” said Steve Ponder, chairman, Trucking Moves America Forward and vice president of Great West Casualty Company.

“Trucking is an important industry to our country, nearly every consumer good touches a truck along its journey and we are excited to share what makes trucking so special with the American people,” he added.

In addition to Ponder, other trucking executives such as TMAF vice-chairman Kevin Burch (Jet Express) spoke about “Trucking Moves America Forward” along with professional driver Allen Boyd and technician Herschel Evans. Innovative creative materials and resources – including an advertising campaign – are available online at www.TruckingMovesAmerica.com

“Trucking Moves America Forward is an on-going movement,” said Kevin Burch, TMAF vice chairman and president of Jet Express. “Trucking is critical to the American economy, injecting more than $642 million dollars into this country annually, and each person in the industry plays an important role in telling that story.”

“We plan to share those stories in the coming year and beyond with various initiatives,” said Mike Card chairman, fundraising for TMAF and president of Combined Transport, Inc. “The entire industry is excited as this campaign encompasses every sector within the industry and we welcome everyone’s support.”

Along with ACT 1, an initial founding member of the movement, other supporters include: Allison Transmission, American Trucking Associations (ATA), Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, Bulldog Hiway Express, Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants, Combined Transport, Inc., Cummins Inc., Daimler Trucks North America, Dana Holding Corporation, Detroit Diesel Corporation, Eaton Corporation – Roadranger, GE Capital, Goodyear, Great West Casualty Company, Hahn Transportation, Inc., Hendrickson, International, J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., Jet Express, Inc., Kenworth Truck Company, Longistics, Love’s Travel Stops, Mack Trucks, Inc., Meritor, Michelin, Motor Carrier Service, Inc., Old Dominion Freight Lines, Omnitracs Inc., Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Pegasus, Peterbilt Motors Company, Randall Reilly, Tennant Truck Lines, Tennessee Express, Inc., TransTech, Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), TRW and Volvo Trucks.

View the original article here

When Did Customer Service Breakup?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 20:46:00 +0000

When Did Customer Service Breakup?

We've all had friends in our circle who were known as "Mary & John", and when "John" split "Mary" was alone. Mary was the "odd" number at the dinner party and we were all concerned about her. Well, today it seems that the union of Customer & Service have had a breakup. Service has split and Customer is on his/her own.

Today, let me tell you a story that many of you will find humorous but is all too common. I can tell you this without fear of our local editor getting sued because it's about me, but business owners take note that you don't fit the profile of company "X".

Four weeks ago I decided that I needed another green recycling can from my trash pickup company. We'll call them Brown Keg Trash Pickup, an anonymous company in the interest of avoiding litigation. I called their Customer Service number, and as an environmentally conscious citizen requested my extra recycle can. The cheerful voice on the other end of the line chirped, "Of course, we'll have one delivered in 48 hours." After giving her all the pertinent location information, I hung up the phone with the satisfied feeling of a good citizen.

I arrived home about 5 p.m. the next day and I was happy to see another green can at the mouth of my driveway. When I looked again, I noticed that I had another green can - but it was without a lid. I quickly dialed my cheerful telephone voice at Brown Keg Company thanking her graciously for the rapid service and then told her about the missing lid. Just as cheerfully as the first time, she told me to leave it at the end of my driveway after my usual trash pickup and they would replace the entire unit since they didn't have extra lids. I agreed, and after hanging up the phone I pondered their plight of having lidless cans but no extra lids. I conjured up all sorts of scenarios that explained where all the lids to the lidless cans went, and sympathized with their predicament.

Well, 3 days went by and there sat my poor, green, lidless can at my driveway's mouth and a replacement never arrived. Feeling empathy for this green plastic waif, I returned it to the side of it's brother that had a lid. I called my cheerful Customer Service voice again, and reiterated the plight of my poor lidless can and after a chuckle she assured me a complete unit would be forthcoming. I found it necessary to make use of my lidless friend, and put it out the next pickup day filled to the brim. Fortunately, it wasn't windy and all the contents remained inside it. That was 2 weeks ago, and life being what it is other more important tasks have occupied me until this morning when facing another pickup day I thought of my lidless friend.

Once more I picked up the phone and called my trash pickup company, and this time I listened to a litany of choices of buttons I could punch and chose my cheerful Customer Service button again. I was transferred, listened to a brief melody when there was a "click" and I expected my cheerful voice to chirp "hello". The next thing I heard was another click, silence, and then the dreaded dial tone that means you've been disconnected. Not being one of the "fainthearted", I simply redialed my number. Again there was the litany of button choices, my choice and the music, and just when I began to feel that all was right with the world I heard - "click", "dial tone" and nothing.

This was not the morning for the phone to be playing games with me, so I made one more determined effort and REDIALED! "NASA, we have lift-off !" I once more heard the litany of button choices, but this time I outfoxed that monotonous voice and punched "0". I asked for the Manager of Customer Service, I was given her name and was transferred. What greeted my eager ear was, "You've reached the voicemail of ......., please leave your name and number and she'll return your call."

So here we sit - my lidless, green can and I facing another pick-up day. This eager-to-serve plastic green waif must bravely face another dutiful day half-clothed.

You must admit that is an amusing story, and one that far too many of us have lived through, but what a sad commentary it is about our business community. Doesn't it make you wonder if our language has changed so drastically that what we interpret "Customer Service" to mean - is not what today's business owners mean. It makes me wonder when the marriage of Customer and Service broke-up, leaving us all the lonely ones.

Entrepreneurs and business owners take note! If you're going to have a number for your customers to access your Customer Service, please follow these rules.

* Have the phone manned by an employee that can hear thunder and see lightening.

* Give that employee training in helping the caller and not shuffling the problem to another desk.

* Have an overseer, who can also hear thunder and see lightening, check that all incoming complaints were handled appropriately.

After learning how to find your customers and what they want; after getting them committed to doing business with YOU; and after wooing them to keep them as your customers - WHY WOULD YOU LET "SERVICE" DIVORCE "CUSTOMER?"

If your customers aren't getting the service they require from you - your competitor will be only too happy to help them!

YRC Teamsters to Vote on Revised Labor Contract

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 16:42:00 +0000

YRC Teamsters to Vote on Revised Labor Contract
Posted: Jan 23, 2014 03:48 PM | Last Updated: Jan 23, 2014 04:04 PM

OVERLAND PARKS, KS — The financial future of trucking company YRC Worldwide again depends on the outcome of a vote on a revised labor contract with Teamster members, which will be held this weekend.

“Our members made their voices heard about the company’s initial proposal, and we went back to the company and negotiated significant improvements that will give the members another opportunity to vote on saving this company,” said Tyson Johnson, director of the Teamsters National Freight Division and co-chairman of the Teamsters National Freight Industry Negotiating Committee.

On Jan. 9, a ballot count showed that the original proposal was rejected by over 19,000 Teamster members.

Here’s what’s different in the new proposal:

• Employees on seasonal layoff will be eligible for the lump sum bonus;
• The proposed wage freeze for current non-CDL employees has been eliminated;
• The starting rate for non-CDL new hires has been increased with a $1.00/hr annual increase;
• Employees subject to the attendance policy will have a “fresh start”;
• The company’s initial proposal to take away a week of vacation from employees with three weeks has been eliminated. Additionally, vacation weeks will be paid at 45 hours/week by the end of the agreement;
• The proposal regarding the use of Utility Employees has been eliminated;
• Restrictions on the use of PTS have been specified and protections for members at affected terminals have been improved.

If approved, the labor contract will be extended from March 2015 to March 2019.

The approval of the labor agreement might affect to YRC’s future, its employees and their jobs (30,000 jobs are at stake). That’s because YRC needs the contract changes to persuade lenders to refinance more than $1 billion in debt it can’t repay. The first payment, totaling $69.4 million, is due Feb. 15.

And while many YRC employees are in the U.S., YRC is also the parent company of Winnipeg-based YRC Reimer, formerly named Reimer Express.

Teamsters President Jim Hoffa commented: “Since the rejection of the company’s proposal, I met with dozens of YRCW members and I have heard from thousands of others. I came away convinced that we owed it to the members to make one last effort to save the company.”

“No one wants concessions, but with a ‘yes’ vote at least we live to see another day, and I urge you to do that,” Hoffa said.

You may read a side by side comparison of the new and previous Teamster agreement here or read the full current Teamster agreement here.

View the original article here

MAKE YOUR OFFER IRRESISTABLE

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 12:17:00 +0000

MAKE YOUR OFFER IRRESISTABLE

Since you're selling to human beings wouldn't it be great to know the five secrets that have the greatest influence on your customers? What I'm about to share with you will make you the Svengali of Sales in your niche. I'm going to put them in the order of use in the marketing process, but they can overlap or be switched around to fit your situation.

What happens in nature when there is a vacuum? Right. There is an attempt to fill that void, and human nature also follows that law.

1. Filling the void - When someone does a person a favor or gives them something of value for free, this act provides an imbalance in the relationship. This creates a subconscious pressure on the recipient to give back in some way. This is what's known in marketing as filling the void.

2. Reciprocation - In marketing the word "FREE" has the most response of any word in the English language. That's why marketers use it over, and over again. Everybody likes something for free, don't you? Even though "free" means there is no obligation or cost, the recipient does feel obligated. If something of real value is given to the person, an imbalance is created - a void in nature - that needs to be filled. Maybe not immediately, but if that person has gotten great value and use from the gift, there will be a nagging sub-conscious motivation to reciprocate in some manner.

You'll find that some people just don't seem to reciprocate, and it could be that they didn't appreciate the full value of your offer. This is why it's so important to make sure when you are offering a free gift with a promotion, that your customers are made aware of the full value of what they're receiving.

What really makes this work in marketing, though, is that you make your "free" offer available when your customer takes action. Now it can be a very small one like filling out a customer card for you (which gives you their name, address, and email address), or accepting your product on a 30-day trial.

3. Getting your customer to like you - Have you heard the phrase, "if a customer knows, likes and trusts you then they'll buy from you". Well, you've gotten them to know you with your "free" offer, the next step is to get them to "like" you. The quickest way I know to get someone to like you is for you to let them know that you like them (reciprocation, again).

Now, not ALL people are going to "like" you and you're not going to like all your customers, but if you take this approach you've a lot better odds of finding customers.

When you're writing your ads and marketing letters always write as if they are a personal note to a real, live, breathing friend. Use plain talk as if you're talking to your best friend, and not "hi-tech technobabble". Keep it simple!

4. Trust - I don't know about you, but when I hear someone say "TRUST ME" it reminds me of a snake oil salesman and makes me do anything but trust them. So how do you get your customers to trust you? Take a leadership role with them and tell them what they should do to take action and buy. You must be or present yourself as an "Authority" figure. An expert in your field and the only one they should buy from as proven by the endorsements of your other customers, their friends and neighbors.

If your offer is made in a letter, than include some endorsements from others, mention articles written about you, books, articles, newsletters that you've written, etc. It is interesting that most people don't want to make a decision, and it's better that you give them an action plan to say "yes".

5. Scarcity - This is one persuader that really motivates humans to action, and you must create and manage this to your advantage in every offer you make.

People want things that solve their problems or make them feel good about themselves that are of good quality. They want it even more - if the quantity is limited in some way. Remember the law of supply and demand? If the demand for a product is high and the supply is low, then the price that's charged will be accepted readily be it high or low. (Sounds like buying gas for your car, doesn't it?)

Even if you create the "perception" that there is a limited quantity available, a limited time frame for availability, or whatever you conceive to use, you'll find this a catalyst to action for your customer.

Of course, it goes without saying that you always include a guarantee of some kind in your offers. I always like the "no questions asked" type of guarantee for 30, 60, 90 days or even a full year if it fits for you. With this you're emphasizing your credibility (trust) by saying you're going to be around for a while. I've found that most times there are very few takers to the guarantee policy you offer, and if there is - you don't want to keep an unhappy customer anyway.

Be sure to include all five of these tips in all of your offers (ads, sales letters, presentations, etc.) and you'll see dramatic results and an increase in your business.

Trucking Company Catches $75,000 Fine for Moving Banned Carp

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:42:00 +0000

Trucking Company Catches $75,000 Fine for Moving Banned Carp
Posted: Jan 23, 2014 03:28 PM | Last Updated: Jan 23, 2014 03:57 PM

EDMONTON, AB — An Edmonton trucking company and a truck driver from Markham, ON, got some hefty fines last week after being caught hauling invasive, banned carp into Ontario.

On Jan. 25, 2012, a truck carrying grass carp and bighead carp from Arkansas entered Canada via the Ambassador Bridge at the Windsor-Detroit border.

At the time, the Canada Border Services Agency contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources to assist with the inspection of the truck and seized all of the fish after they discovered that some of the grass carp were still alive, according to a report from the Toronto Star.

It’s been illegal to possess live invasive fish such as bighead, grass, black and silver carp in Ontario since 2005. All four types of fish, known as Asian carp, threaten Ontario’s lake system because they reproduce rapidly and replace native species of fish.

But only a month after the Jan. 25 incident, the same truck and driver again entered Canada at the Ambassador bridge, this time carrying 6,350 kgs of bighead carp, some of which were still alive. Officers held the truck until all the fish were dead.

Alltheway Trucking Inc. and Yong-Sheng Zhang were each found guilty last week under the federal Fisheries Act for possessing live invasive fish. The company has been fined $70,000 while Zhang was fined $5,000.

Here’s an entertaining video of one Asian carp species, silver carp, which jumps when scared by boat vibrations.

View the original article here

Brampton Trucker Says He Smuggled Cocaine into NY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 04:32:00 +0000

Brampton Trucker Says He Smuggled Cocaine into NY
Posted: Jan 23, 2014 02:43 PM | Last Updated: Jan 23, 2014 02:43 PM

BUFFALO, NY — The owner of an Ontario-based trucking company has pleaded guilty to smuggling thousands of pounds of cocaine across the border into western New York in his trucks.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo says 39-year-old Parminder Sidhu of Brampton, ON, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in federal court Wednesday, according to various media outlets.

Sidhu used his trucks, which were equipped with false compartments, to smuggle more than 1,700 kgs or 3,800 pounds of cocaine into Canada, investigators claim.

Sidhu faces a minimum 10-year jail sentence, but he could also face a maximum of life in prison as well as a $10,000,000 fine. He will be sentenced in May.

Two co-defendants have been convicted of similar charges and will be sentenced in April.

According to the Toronto Star, Sidhu owned Prime 9, a trucking company, and between 2009 and 2010, moved cocaine from California to Canada via New York state on nearly a dozen trips.

“This prosecution demonstrates that American and Canadian law enforcement partners can work seamlessly together to protect the citizens of both countries,” U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.

Sidhu was caught on Sept. 8, 2010 when one of his trucks was stopped at the border and officials found 90 kgs of cocaine, about $4.4 million-worth on the street, hidden in his truck.

The driver, Ravinder Arora pled guilty in a U.S. federal court in 2011 to the charge of conspiracy to export cocaine and Michael Bagri, another smuggling-ring associate also from the Toronto area, pleaded guilty to the same charge in January 2012. All three men are awaiting sentencing.

For more on this story, read the full Toronto Star report.

View the original article here

Win Free Tickets to Big Trucking Conference! (Serious enquiries only)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:28:00 +0000

Win Free Tickets to Big Trucking Conference! (Serious enquiries only)
Posted: Sep 4, 2013 12:01 PM | Last Updated: Sep 5, 2013 07:25 AM

TORONTO — Back in the distant past, back in the days before twerking and selfies were part of anybody’s vocabulary, natural-gas and heavy-duty trucking were completely incompatible.

Not now.

Natural gas is a burgeoning part of the trucking industry; and it behooves fleets large and small to investigate how this new fuel can power their rigs into the future.

As any schooled industry leader will tell you, the companies that implement natural-gas strategies effectively have somewhere within their ranks a “natural gas champion:” i., e., the staff person who knows the most about the stuff.

Here’s the chance to make yourself that champion.

On Oct 1 and 2 at the RitzCarlton Hotel in downtown Toronto, the natural-gas industry leaders and innovators will be gathering at the Natural Gas Vehicle Infrastructure Canada Conference.

The two days are packed with top-drawer information. Attendees will learn about where natural gas is coming from; how much it’s going to cost and how to make it part of your fleet. You’ll get honest opinions on the costs, the downsides and the opportunities.

You can find out more by clicking here.

Better yet, because Todaystrucking.com wants our readers to be at the cutting edge of the industry, we’re offering free tickets to the conference (they retail at about $1,000 each) and we’re making it dead easy to win one.

All you have to is be one of the first to answer this no-brainer Natural Gas question: “Which Boucherville-QC-based fleet is among the Canadian natural-gas pioneers?”

Send your answers to Jason Rhyno at jason@newcom.ca. And please, serious enquiries only. We want these tickets going to people who will use them.

View the original article here

Groeneveld Gets New Account Manager

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 16:28:00 +0000

Groeneveld Gets New Account Manager
Posted: Nov 27, 2013 10:15 AM | Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 12:46 PM

DORVAL, QC—Groeneveld Quebec’s chairman and CEO, Jocelyn Malo, welcomes Francis (Frank) Bourbeau to the position of account manager for Eastern Quebec.

Bourbeau’s experience will be an important contribution to the company, Malo says.

Bourbeau is well known in the transportation industry and over the past 30 years, has held several positions in the equipment and aftermarket fields.

Groeneveld services both the trucking and construction industries for automatic lubrication systems, products and equipment.

View the original article here

Lubecore’s New Head of U.S. Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 12:38:00 +0000

Lubecore’s New Head of U.S. Sales
Posted: Nov 26, 2013 04:12 PM | Last Updated: Nov 26, 2013 04:12 PM

CAMBELLVILLE, ON— Lubecore International, a supplier of automated lubrication systems for commercial vehicles and off-highway equipment, names Doug DeJong executive director of U.S. sales.

“Doug’s business contacts and understanding of the needs of heavy-duty distributors will be real assets as we grow our presence in the United States,” says Jan Eisses, founder and president of Lubecore.

With has more than 30 years of experience in sales and sales management, primarily in the automotive and heavy-duty vehicle aftermarkets, DeJong is responsible for developing the company’s sales and distribution network in the United States. He is based in Chipley, Fla., and reports to Eisses.

View the original article here

Trucking Dangerous Goods: Who’s Liable in Case of Accidents?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 09:33:00 +0000

Trucking Dangerous Goods: Who’s Liable in Case of Accidents?
Posted: Nov 28, 2013 12:36 PM | Last Updated: Nov 28, 2013 12:39 PM

TORONTO— The Canadian Trucking Alliance is asking the federal government to invalidate contract clauses compensating shippers from liability in case of incidents involving dangerous goods such as crude oil.

CTA’s president and CEO, David Bradley, commented: “We strongly believe the most effective thing governments can do is to take the recommended actions to reduce the risk of highway accidents and to make sure that the parties whose negligence causes an accident are held liable for the claims.”

The growing trend of shippers including clauses in freight contracts that compensate them from liability from their own negligence goes against both public interest and policy, the CTA says.

The discussion comes in light of last summer’s Lac Megantic accident when several rail tank cars carrying crude oil derailed.

After that incident, the federal government wrote some big clean up cheques and called for increased insurance coverage for rail carriers and shippers.

But an incident of the magnitude of Lac Megantic is unlikely to occur with trucks, the CTA says.

In a report stating its position on the transportation of dangerous goods by truck, the CTA found that the frequency and severity of highway incidents involving trucks carrying dangerous goods is extremely low.

The report analyzed 328 dangerous goods incidents involving trucks in 2012 and found that the number of incidents was 1.64 every 10,000 shipments, with a majority (56.4 percent) of the releases of product under 500 litres, or in other words, minor. These incidents are usually cleaned up with little or no environmental damage.

Highway accidents, where the public is most at risk, accounted for 16.2 percent of all incidents, which means they happened as often as 0.27 times every 10,000 shipments.

Despite their rarity, the major accidents, which account for 6.4 percent of all incidents, are the main cause (56.8 percent) of releases of product larger than 5,000 litres.

“I think we can conclude from this white paper that overall the TDG regulations are effective in preventing dangerous goods incidents where trucks are involved,” Bradley said.

Even so, the CTA advisory committee on dangerous goods has been struck to look at the regulations in more detail.

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Bus Operators to Burley: Hip-Hip-Hoo-RAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 05:08:00 +0000

Bus Operators to Burley: Hip-Hip-Hoo-RAY!
Posted: Nov 26, 2013 09:11 AM | Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 04:29 PM
Burley is known for his sagacity and humor.

TORONTO— The voice of Ontario’s busing industry—the Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA)— paid homage to a prominent member of the trucking community recently by presenting Ray Burley with the OMCA’s most prestigious prize: A Lifetime Achievement Award.

Burley is president of Bering Consulting and for the past two years he has worked with Davy Truck Sales of Mississauga.

The OMCA’s President and CEO Director of OMCA (and former vice president public affairs at the Ontario Trucking Association) Doug Switzer commented: “It really was a great honor to be able to able to recognize Ray’s lifelong commitment to the coach industry.”

“He’s extremely well respected by his colleagues, peers, and competitors. His common sense, encyclopedic knowledge, and good judgment have led many, including me on a number of occasions, to seek his advice over the years on a wide range of issues. He is truly deserving of the recognition.”

Burley served as the Chair of the OMCA Board and was a long-time member of both the Executive and the Board. He volunteered countless hours to be an active member of a number of committees, including the Ontario Transportation Expo, the Coach Council, and Regulatory Committee.

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Video Spreads Good Vibes of Trucking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 00:30:00 +0000

Video Spreads Good Vibes of Trucking
Posted: Nov 26, 2013 09:48 AM | Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 04:28 PM

MISSISSAUGA, ON – The next truck that passes you by on the highway may be carrying more than cargo in its trailer; it may be carrying hope for people this holiday season.

And soon more people will realize it with the help of a new video and a partnership between Shaw Communications and Trucks for Change Network (T4C), a non-profit organization that marches available trucking capacity with charity freight requests.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of Mike and the Shaw team, Shaw Communications’ production and distribution of our video will help us to tell our story inside and outside the trucking industry. It’s a dream partnership for us,” says Pete Dalmazzi, President and Founder of Trucks For Change Network.

Since launching in 2011, T4C members have moved over four million pounds of donations to support charities and communities across Canada and in that process, they saved tens of thousands of dollars for charities such as Food Banks Canada, Habitat For Humanity Canada, and Canadian Red Cross.

The video, Filling Trucks, Fulfilling Needs, highlights the role that T4C’s growing number of trucking members play in their communities, and was made in part by Newcom Business Media, which publishes Today’s Trucking magazine.

Shaw TV will broadcast the video multiple times on all systems on Nov 27 and the segment will air more than 43 times on Shaw’s local go! shows through the month of November, which will also help inform the general public of the trucking charity and the positive difference trucking makes to peoples’ lives.

“We’re ecstatic to have this opportunity to promote Trucks For Change Network, and to provide the resources to produce this video. We’re proud to contribute to T4C’s work, and to support our customers and business partners involved in this innovative project,” says Mike Ham, Vice-President of Shaw Tracking.

View the original article here

CTA Recommends 105 Speed Limit For All

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 19:58:00 +0000

CTA Recommends 105 Speed Limit For All
Posted: Nov 27, 2013 10:56 AM | Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 10:56 AM

TORONTO— The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) recommends that all provinces follow Ontario and Quebec’s lead in requiring a truck speed limit of no more than 105 kilometres an hour.

The recommendation comes in a white paper, a report stating the CTA’s position on the transportation of dangerous goods by truck, which was published in response to last summer’s Lac Megantic, Que. accident.

Since the Lac Megantic event, when several rail tank cars carrying crude oil derailed, all modes of transportation of dangerous goods have fallen to scrutiny and the CTA says additional safety precautions should be taken.

After the speed limiter legislation went into effect in Ontario in 2009, the province saw a 24 percent drop in truck related fatalities, making Ontario the safest jurisdiction in North America, according to a Ministry of Transportation 2012 report, Ontario Road Safety Annual Report (ORSAR).

But despite the reported results, only Ontario and Quebec have implemented the legislation, which has not escaped debate or criticism.

Last year, a ruling by Justice of the Peace Brett Kelly called the law unconstitutional. While that ruling could not overturn the law, it did reignite the debate in many social media circles.

In addition to the nation-wide implementation of speed limit for commercial vehicles, the CTA also recommends mandatory entry level training for truck drivers based on a national industry standard.

View the original article here

Recruiting Young Minds to Truck Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:57:00 +0000

Recruiting Young Minds to Truck Writing
Posted: Nov 27, 2013 12:38 PM | Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 04:28 PM
Meet Cormac McGee, Ryerson student and winner of the 2013 Rolf Lockwood scholarship.

A 20-year-old son of Irish immigrants with the gunslinger-style handle Cormac McGee is this year’s recipient of the annual Rolf Lockwood Scholarship.

The Rolf Lockwood award is a $1,000 bursary given to a Ryerson undergrad with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 for writing the best example of a magazine article focusing on business journalism.

“I could be wrong on this, but I believe McGee’s the first male to win the prize,” says Peter Carter, editor of Today’s Trucking magazine, who presented McGee with his prize while overlooking the ice surface of the old Maple Leaf Gardens.

The award was established by Jim Glionna, founding partner and president of Newcom Business Media after the company’s Vice-President Editorial Rolf Lockwood was presented with the Harvey S. Southam Lifetime Achievement Award by the Canadian Business Press in 2003.

McGee won with a story he wrote in his second year, about a business start-up about mobile applications, or apps.

Here’s the opening paragraph:

“Hunched over a wooden table in his girlfriend’s cramped High Park apartment, Graeme Davis mashes his MacBook keyboard frantically. To his left is the living room, which is no more than a bright red couch and small television. To his right is the kitchen, where a half empty bottle of vodka sits beside a stack of dirty bowls.”

“I'm always very proud to represent Newcom at this annual occasion. The Lockwood Scholarship is one of about 30 journalism-school awards handed out annually, most of them named for Canadian journalistic luminaries such as John Honderich, Albert Wadham, Len Coates and Paul Rimstead,” Carter says.

The presentation took place at the annual Ryerson School of Journalism’s Awards Ceremony. This year, the luncheon was held on the fourth floor of the old Maple Leaf Gardens, overlooking the ice surface, where Carter and McGee talked about trucking, journalism and the marrying of the two.

McGee says he’s interested in business journalism—and after speaking with Carter— that he’ll “definitely be looking up the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) internship.”

View the original article here

More Truck Freight in October than September by 7%

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:24:00 +0000

More Truck Freight in October than September by 7%
Posted: Nov 28, 2013 12:58 PM | Last Updated: Nov 28, 2013 12:58 PM

TORONTO — There’s more freight hitting the road in Canada today than the same time last year, by about eight percent. Even since last month, the volume of freight was up seven percent, making October 2013 the second highest freight volume since 2009, according to TransCore Link Logistics’ Canadian Freight.

Out of the total volume of freight available, 68 percent was crossing the Canada-U.S. border, which is one percent more freight volume than the same time last year.

Freight travelling within Canada represented 26 percent of the total volume for the month of October, which is up seven percent since last year.

Cross Border Loads Coming into Canada:

56 percent were going to Ontario23 percent to Western Canada19 percent to Quebec2 percent to Atlantic provinces

The majority of loads travelling within Canada came from Western Canada (47 percent), Ontario (30 percent), Quebec (17 percent) and Atlantic region (6 percent).

Those loads were travelling to:

35 percent to Western Canada38 percent to Ontario24 percent to Quebec3 percent to Atlantic provinces

View the original article here

Carriers’ Revenue Increased in September

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 08:48:00 +0000

Carriers’ Revenue Increased in September
Posted: Nov 28, 2013 03:24 PM | Last Updated: Nov 28, 2013 03:24 PM

TORONTO, ON— In September, Canadian shippers paid carriers 1.1 percent more for ground transportation than they did in August, according to the latest Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI).

“This is the first base cost increase since March 2013,” said Doug Payne, president of Nulogx. “Total costs and base freight costs are still two percent and 2.3 percent respectively, below last year.”

The base rate— which excludes accessorial charges such as fuel surcharge— was up 1.7 percent since August.

Fuel surcharges accounted for 20.63 percent of September’s base rates, up from 20.12 percent in August.

A shipper paying more means more revenue for carriers, but of course everyone knows that doesn’t automatically translate to more profits for the carriers, there are just too many other factors to consider.

The CGFI, which is sponsored by Nulogx, highlights the changes in prices paid for freight transportation by Canadian shippers and represents general truck transportation, but excludes bulk, liquid and other specialty services.

Nulogx helps shippers and carriers secure competitive agreements, evaluate performance and develop business plans.

View the original article here

Omaha Truckers Join the Fight Against Sex Trade

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:13:00 +0000

Omaha Truckers Join the Fight Against Sex Trade
Posted: Nov 27, 2013 12:51 PM | Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 12:51 PM

OMAHA, NE— Some U.S. truck drivers are working with Omaha law enforcement to stop the sex trade.

U.S. law enforcement officials say there’s evidence of girls as young as their early teens being sold in truck stops along the I-80, according to a Fox 42 article.

Working and fighting alongside local law enforcement, truck drivers are becoming the eyes and ears of the highways.

As many as 293,000 American youths are at risk of forced prostitution, with females entering the sex trade as early as 12 and boys and transgendered youth as early as 11, according to the FBI.

"It's just horrible, any number is horrible, small number or large, especially if it's younger girls," says Terry Smith, a trucker fighting the sex trade.

Many of these youths are runaway or throw-away children who live on the streets, but some are kidnapped.

Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

Groups of young teens who is carrying their ID or controlling their purchasesYoung teens who regularly frequent truck stops

To read the full story, see the Fox 42 article.

View the original article here

"Land Line Now" podcast: Kansas guitarist Richard Williams on the band and the music

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 15:06:00 +0000

by Mark H. Reddig

Plenty of kids over the years have wanted to be a rock star, but few ever lived out that fantasy. Richard Williams was just a kid from Topeka, but he’s lived the rock star’s life for 40 years at the guitarist for Kansas, which performs Friday at the Heart of America Trucking Show. Mark Reddig reports.

http://www.eyeontrucking.com/video/Podcast/Ext/101113ExtendedSegment.mp3

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