John G Smith

Trucking groups scramble for order amid Fort Mac wildfire

FORT McMURRAY, AB - Lorraine Card, executive director of the Alberta Motor Transport Association, says she is beginning to reach out to her membership in Fort McMurray Wednesday to see how the association can help in the face of the worst wildfires Alberta has ever seen. Diversified Transportation Ltd., Trimac Transportation, and Manitoulin Transport are a few of the fleets Card is checking in on. "It's a terrible situation, and we do intend to reach out to our members there this morning," says Card. "We've been following closely on the radio, and our main concern is that people get out safely. We have to work closely with the authorities to see what we can do."

Low oil? Struggling fleet? Think positive, says speaker

BANFF, AB -- There is plenty of bad news to report. Alberta fleets can cite low oil prices and a lagging economy as just two examples. But Chris Cummins - a speaker who specializes in sales, leadership and personal development -- told members of the Alberta Motor Transport Association that they have the power to change things. It involves a positive attitude.

Is social media a waste of time for business?

BANFF, AB - I'm nervous about live tweeting this event. Sure, there are plenty of followers waiting on news from the Alberta Motor Transport Association. But Kimberly Allison, a certified social media specialist with Marketing RX, is asking whether social media is a real valuable tool or a real waste of time. It depends how you use it.

Mullen blames ‘disruptive tech’ for low oil value

Murray K Mullen has seen the impact of low oil prices first hand. More than 100,000 jobs, $60 billion in earnings, and $33 billion in capital investments have evaporated, much of it in Alberta. The Mullen Group itself - the largest provider of specialized transportation for Western Canada's oil and gas industry - has laid off more than 1,400 people. Blame a disruptive technology known as horizontal hydraulic fracturing.

Cash-strapped Alberta rethinks approach to highways

BANFF, AB - A cash-strapped Alberta government is rethinking the way priorities are set for the province's highway network and related maintenance - both for the short term and decades into the future. Every proposed infrastructure project must now contribute to a "triple bottom line" that considers social, economic and environmental impacts, Alberta Transportation Assistant Deputy Minister Shaun Hammond said in a briefing during the Alberta Motor Transport Association's annual convention. Decisions to twin a highway will be based on more than traffic counts alone. And "you will see more and more (environmental issues) in the next few months." The department is already reaching out to the association in the search for ways to reduce emissions around Red Deer, where particulates from diesel engines have played a role in creating the worst air quality in Canada. And Alberta Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason pledged earlier in the day to begin research into fuel-saving wide-base single tires "as soon as possible".

Mason highlights transportation projects in AMTA address

BANFF, AB - Alberta Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason spoke to the Alberta Motor Transport Association's annual conference this afternoon, emphasizing investments being made in the province's road networks. "The global collapse in oil prices, our most vital commodity, is causing tremendous economic pain and anxiety," he said, adding that the province's infrastructure investments are designed to help spur economic growth. "Transportation is vital to building the Alberta economy."

ELDs, environmental focus among industry ‘game changers’

BANFF, AB - Mandated technologies like Electronic Logging Devices and an increasing focus on environmental standards will be among "game changers" for Canada's trucking industry, Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO David Bradley said in what will likely be his final address to the Alberta Motor Transport Association.

AMTA identifies key accomplishments of 2015/16

BANFF, AB - The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) has identified a series of key accomplishments achieved in the past year, at a time when the province's trucking industry continues to struggle against the backdrop of a weak economy.

Mack projects 250,000-truck market, bigger vocational share

AUSTIN, TX - Mack Trucks president Dennis Slagle admits that North America's truck makers are still living through a "hangover" when it comes to sales. "The over-exuberance at the end of 2014 introduced a lot of orders into the system," he says. "The retail shelves were full, and that affected the number of trucks moving around." But that is hardly dampening the company's spirits.

Mack boosts fuel economy under Earth Day backdrop

AUSTIN, TX - Mack Trucks' choice of the setting and day to unveil a series of powertrain upgrades was no coincidence. Austin, Texas is known for its music and barbecue, but is also recognized as one of the Top 10 greenest cities in the U.S. And April 22 marks Earth Day. Collectively, they offered a fitting backdrop for changes made in the name of fuel economy. The 2017 Mack MP engine lineup will see fuel economy jump between 2.1 and 8.8% compared to today's models, while a new Predictive Cruise will effectively memorize terrain and enhance shifts when routes are repeated. Engine upgrades include a common rail fuel system, and turbo compounding that tranforms waste heat into torque on the camshaft. Fuel-saving enhancements have certainly put the engines on a diet. The common rail fuel system, widely used in Europe, allows for an assembled camshaft that is 27 pounds lighter than its single-piece predecessor. The MP8's cylinder block is also 44 pounds lighter than today's models. Even when turbo compounding is introduced on the MP8, the engine is still 33 pounds lighter than existing models.

Adopt ELDs ahead of mandate: Wright

TORONTO, ON - Bill Wright, the recently named president of PeopleNet Canada, describes the plans to mandate electronic logs as "exciting times". In fact, he asks, why would anyone wait for a mandate?

Runaway and Repeat

I'm experiencing a new day and new job at Today's Trucking, but there is no escaping the sense of déjà vu. Yes, I still lean on my GPS to find the office, and I think it will be several months before I remember the phone number, but something feels oddly familiar. Too familiar.

Rabid raccoons may be hitching rides

HAMILTON, ON – The raccoons and skunks bringing raccoon rabies into southern Ontario could be hitching a ride on tractor-trailers. Hamilton-area officials have recorded 84 positive cases since December, and…

Gin-Cor acquires JC Trailers Design and Fabrication

MATTAWA, ON — Gin-Cor Group — known for building vocational severe-service vehicles — has acquired Keswick, Ontario-based JC Trailers Design and Fabrication, which specializes in customized heavy-haul trailers and other…

Celadon mourns death of founder

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Steve Russell, who founded Celadon in 1985, died on April 15. He was 76.