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.
PACCAR celebrates Distribution Center opening
RENTON, WA - More than 500 people joined PACCAR Parts in celebrating the grand opening of a new $32-million Distribution Center in Renton, Washington. The 160,000 square-foot facility began operations this April, serving 92 dealerships in Western Canada and the Northwestern U.S. It is one of 17 such Distribution Centers worldwide, and can store 38,000 aftermarket parts for all makes of trucks, trailers and buses.
IN PRINT: ‘Unskilled’ and unwanted: Immigration challenge
KITCHENER, ON -- Dave Taylor is a model employee by many measures. He has worked at Ontario-based Erb Transport for five years. He and his wife Fiona bought a home in Kitchener, commuting distance from the fleet yard, and their daughter Allanah attends Grade 10 at a local high school. "Dave comes in and does what he's asked," says Randy Steckly, corporate driver training manager.
WABCO, ZF unveil advanced braking and steering
AACHEN, GERMANY -- Automated collision avoidance is several steps closer to reality. At a demonstration event held here on Wednesday, ZF Friedrichshafen AG and WABCO Holdings revealed a prototype collision avoidance technology for commercial vehicles called Evasive Maneuver Assist.
Diesel hit hard in Federal Excise Tax changes
TORONTO, ON - Planned changes to the Federal Excise Tax (FET) on diesel fuel would eliminate exemptions for Temperature Control Units like reefers, Auxiliary Power Units, bunk heaters, and Power Take-Off units. And that threatens annual refunds of $800 to $1,000 per tractor-trailer as of July 1, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA). "I am extremely disappointed," says chairman Gene Orlick. "The decision to drop this rebate is because another industry [airlines] abused the system, making unique claims for lighting and other electricity in their operations." When the Federal Excise Tax was first added to diesel in 1982, it was only meant to be applied to transportation fuel, according to a CTA briefing note about new language in the federal budget's Notice of Ways and Means Motion.
Canada Cartage delivering water to homeless
TORONTO, ON - Canada Cartage employees are joining together to deliver four trailers loaded with Nestle Waters Canada to the Bargains Group in Toronto, supporting the 17th annual Project Water. Beginning Wednesday, they will supply more than 150 social service agencies, outreach providers and homeless shelters with 300,000 water bottles and 3,000 summer survival kits to help the homeless during the extreme heat of summer.
39 fleets recognized as top employers
OTTAWA, ON - Trucking HR Canada has recognized 39 fleets under its third-annual Top Fleet Employers program - rating organizations on issues including employee recognition, compensation, lifestyle, employee engagement, wellness, professional development, recruiting and retention.
Top 10 legal issues for 2016: Devine
KING CITY, ON - Evolving technology and changing regulations alike are contributing to legal challenges for Canadian carriers. And Heather Devine of Isaacs and Co. Barristers and Solicitors has even identified a Top 10 list that will make its presence known in the coming year. From MELT to marijuana, to ELDs and cross-border databases, click below to check out what you need to know.
U.S. private fleets report productivity spike, aging drivers
KING CITY, ON - Private fleets in the U.S. appear to be in an enviable position. Productivity is up, driver turnover is low, and a growing number of operations are investing in safety-related tools. But initial results from the National Private Truck Council's annual benchmarking survey also show there are still challenges to overcome, particularly when it comes to an aging driver population.