John G Smith

John G. Smith is the editorial director of Newcom Media's trucking and supply chain publications -- including Today's Trucking, trucknews.com, TruckTech, Transport Routier, and Road Today. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995.

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Montreal blitz targets belts, phone use preview image Montreal blitz targets belts, phone use article image

Montreal blitz targets belts, phone use

MONTREAL, Que. – Drivers of heavy vehicles around Montreal were under the watchful eyes of enforcement teams who were riding an unmarked coach on Tuesday, during a blitz run by Controle Routier Quebec with the support of provincial police. The higher vantage point gave the teams a clear look at whether drivers were using cell phones behind the wheel or not wearing seatbelts. Both offences will see steeper penalties in coming weeks. "Most people now use their cell phone on their thighs,” said Marie-Josée Michaud, public relations officer for Contrôle Routier Québec. In a patrol car, that can be difficult to see, but there’s no problem from the higher position in a bus.

Updated: Loads continue to move during flood preview image Updated: Loads continue to move during flood article image

Updated: Loads continue to move during flood

DIEPPE, N.B. – Loads continue to move between Moncton and Fredericton, even as a section of the Trans-Canada highway is closed because of extensive flooding in New Brunswick. “It’s about an hour more, so two hours each way,” says Jean-Marc Picard, executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, referring to the alternate route. “Right now, we’re lucky to have an alternate route.” Route 2 was closed to all traffic at 7 p.m. on Thursday, while barricades and signs steered vehicles to Route 1 through River Glade and Route 7 at Oromocto. Notices are also being displayed at the borders with Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Maine.

Don’t Waste Time: Let’s learn the lessons of a different ELD mandate

At first glance, the Canadian Trucking Alliance seems to be getting ahead of itself in the call for a “graduated education” period before electronic logging devices (ELDs) are mandated. The federal government has yet to finalize such rules, or even decide if it will embrace an accelerated December 2019 deadline the alliance is championing. Other than Ontario, most provinces have been silent on the idea, too.