John G Smith

Draft transportation plan focuses on Southwestern Ontario

LONDON, Ont. – A newly released draft transportation plan for Southwestern Ontario includes several trucking-specific measures, such as a review of load restrictions during spring thaws, options to introduce more…

Magnum expands Abbotsford warehouse, doubles inventory capacity

Upgrades to Magnum’s warehouse will support a new Quick Ship Program that will increase inventory levels and reduce lead times on shipments. ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Magnum Trailer and Equipment has…

Gap between safety ratings and actual fleet safety: Survey

TORONTO, Ont. – Surveyed members of Canada’s trucking industry are all for investing more in enforcement activities, but they see a significant disconnect between safety ratings and a fleet’s…

ECONOMIC WATCH: Transportation, warehousing jobs dip

OTTAWA, Ont. – Canada shed 5,100 transportation and warehousing jobs between November and December, as totals dropped from 1,031,600 to 1,026,500, Statistics Canada reports. But the numbers are…

4 questions to ask before buying a used truck

This is not your typical highway tractor. Outwardly, a heavy-spec’ truck may not look much different, but it’s a different beast down beneath the cab. TORONTO, Ont. — You can’t…

Insulin-using truck drivers cleared for cross-border work

TORONTO, Ont. – Truck drivers with insulin-treated diabetes are now officially cleared for cross-border operations, under a medical reciprocity agreement between Canada and the U.S. Canadian commercial motor vehicle…

Understand torque, hp, and axle ratios

The chart was chosen for its clarity. It represents a Detroit Diesel DD15 engine with a rating of 455 hp and 1,550 lb-ft. The engine is available in ratings from…

How to choose the truck powertrain you need

Engines do not work in isolation. Consider all the possible use cases and the rest of the driveline. TORONTO, Ont. — How fast do you want to go, how much…

Little action after western auditor general reports

Auditor generals in Western Canada have highlighted several gaps in enforcement resources. CALGARY, Alta. — Governments are rarely accused of working too fast, and when it comes to some truck…

International makes Endurant transmission standard

International LT, RH and LoneStar heavy-duty trucks will now include the Endurant 12-speed automated transmission as standard equipment. The transmission developed by Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies can support torques of 1,850 lb-ft, and be paired with the Cummins X15 or International A26 engine.

When will electric trucks enter production?

TORONTO, Ont. – Upstart electric truck manufacturers might be overly aggressive when announcing  production timelines — largely in a bid to secure venture capital. And it’s led to a…

Rugged Samsung tablet comes to Canada

Samsung Electronic’s Galaxy Tab Active Pro is now available in Canada, offering a tool designed for harsh working environments. The device is able to withstand excessive pressure, temperatures, vibrations and drops, and has been tested to meeting the MIL-STD-810G military specification, the company says. It is also IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.

How far should Ontario’s emissions crackdown go?

Cleaner air comes with a price tag. It’s paid every time equipment evolves in the name of controlling emissions. A tighter focus on particulate matter gave us diesel particulate filters. When regulators squeezed the allowable levels of NOx, we saw the widespread introduction of exhaust gas recirculation and diesel exhaust fluid. The current push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has led to the rollout of everything from new oil categories to aerodynamic refinements and lighter components. Even battery-electric and hydrogen-electric trucks are now on the horizon.

Trimble to acquire Kuebix, creating massive network

The Kuebix transportation management system interface and app. SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Trimble has announced that it’s acquiring Kuebix, in a deal that it says will connect North America’s largest network…

Zonar app to deliver Cummins over-the-air updates

Zonar is now offering Cummins Connected Software Updates, supporting over-the-air engine updates with the Zonar OTAir app. Details about the required updates for specific engines are offered through a Cummins portal. But the Zonar device is more than a simple conduit for the data. OTAir also helps to ensure data security during the transfers by validating the VIN to ensure the correct vehicle receives the right update.