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.
Bill Morneau is Wrong: Despite the promise of automation, drivers will be needed for years to come
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau appears to believe drivers are an endangered species. The observation came during a broad-ranging talk about the changing nature of employment. He referred to the…
Feds promise $10B to get goods to market
OTTAWA, ON - The federal government's fall economic statement includes billions of dollars for new infrastructure, and creates a Canada Infrastructure Bank that will look to maximize investments in "growth-oriented" projects. About $10.1 billion is pledged to help bring Canadian goods to global markets over the next 11 years. "Right across Canada, infrastructure projects are creating good jobs while ensuring stronger communities," Finance Minister Bill Morneau said. "But we're not done. Not even close."
TransForce buys XPO Logistics’ TL business for US $558M
MONTREAL, QC -- TransForce has purchased XPO Logistics' truckload business for US $558 million in cash. After XPO bought Con-way Inc. a year ago, Con-way Truckload's operations appeared to many observers to be an odd fit for XPO, which bills itself as the second largest freight brokerage provider in the world. In February, the Wall Street Journal reported that after evaluating and rejecting bids from three trucking companies, XPO would instead hold onto the unit. "I think we can improve it by integrating it and bringing it lots of new customers from our other service lines," CEO Bradley Jacobs told a WSJ reporter.
Benefits of ELDs outweigh costs 2:1, Transport Canada says
TORONTO, ON - Transport Canada has determined that the benefits of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) essentially double the related costs, according to a newly released Cost-Benefit Analysis. The analysis examined two scenarios - a mandate for all federally regulated carriers, and one that excluded vehicles that would already have to meet a pending U.S. mandate for the devices. The analysis "confirms the significant net benefit from an ELD mandate and dispels some of the myths about ELDs that are out there," said David Bradley, CEO of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which released the results.
U.S. funding driver training for vets
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted US $1 million to seven schools to help train more than 250 veterans and their family members as commercial drivers. The funding is provided through its Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMV-OST) grant program.
Plans for Surrey parking area parked
SURREY, BC - Developers have abandoned plans to create a new parking facility at 192 Street and 16 Avenue in Surrey, British Columbia. A member of the city's planning department confirmed for Today's Trucking that the developer, GG Metro, has asked for the application to be closed. It will hardly be good news for truck drivers looking for a place to stop. Municipal staff estimate that about 1,300 trucks routinely park illegally in the community.
