James Menzies Author Gravatar Image Taking a position on Ontario’s speed limiter legislation by James Menzies As expected, the Ontario government finally tabled legislation that would require all trucks operating in the province to be mechanically limited to 105 km/h. The writing has been on the…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image Want to clear the air? Show us the money by James Menzies I just returned from the National Truck Equipment Associations’ Work Truck Show in Hotlanta, Ga. (The city failed to live up to that nickname during my stay, by the way…
Lou Smyrlis Author Gravatar Image Cost increases are becoming a worrisome and long-lasting trend by Lou Smyrlis Just received the latest financial statistics on the nation’s motor carriers, and, frankly, they are worrisome. The trend towards costs growing faster than revenues, which first appeared back in…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image Is B.C.’s “carbon” tax little more than a thinly-veiled fuel tax? by James Menzies While environmental groups laud B.C. for becoming the first North American jurisdiction to announce a full-fledged “carbon” tax, the trucking industry must feel like it will be shouldering an unfair…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image Stability systems: Is the CTA initiative a moot point? by James Menzies The CTA is forging ahead with its attempt to have stability systems made standard on all new Class 8 trucks sold in Canada. Frankly, I think it’s a policy that…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image HDAW Report: Why fleets buy by James Menzies Between them, they make buying decisions for more than 100,000 vehicles: Sid Gooch, FedEx Express; Kevin Tomlinson, South Shore Transport; Steve Duley, Schneider National; and Carl Lyth, Pepsi Americas. So…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image HDAW Report: The risks of carrying non-brand name parts by James Menzies If you’re a parts distributor, you’ve likely been there. Across the desk sits a smooth-talking salesman who’s got a slick PowerPoint presentation showcasing a new product that’s going to revolutionize…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image Internet images offer a preview of International’s newest truck by James Menzies Recently, a reader e-mailed us some pictures of a new truck sporting the International logo, which appeared to have been photographed during a covert operation the likes of which you’d…
Truck News Author Gravatar Image Zero Waste and winning the oil end game by Truck News My work has got me very involved in understanding the Zero Waste movement lately — and the zero carbon footprint dimension — and I’ve begun to feel that — with…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image HDAW Report: Long live the independent garage by James Menzies I’m in sunny Las Vegas for Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week, and if you’re in the parts and service business, you really should be here too. My head is beginning to hurt…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image How do you deal with trailer snow and ice accumulation? by James Menzies It’s that time of year again, the first significant snow fall has created havoc on Ontario roads and already the local new stations have begun complaining about snow and ice…
Lou Smyrlis Author Gravatar Image Living on the edge of healthy profit margins by Lou Smyrlis When speaking to industry groups this year, I’ve been focusing on what I call the “Four Cs” driving motor carrier fortunes these days. Those four Cs are: Consolidation…
Truck News Author Gravatar Image Steampunk — a trend you should know about by Truck News This may count as my most frivolous Blog entry ever, but I imagine that quite a few of our readers are engineers or at least people with enthusiasm for various…
Lou Smyrlis Author Gravatar Image Dealing with rates: you reap what you sow by Lou Smyrlis Downward pressure on rates is a top concern for motor carriers as we head deeper into the current freight recession. The subject certainly came up during our annual shipper-carrier…
James Menzies Author Gravatar Image Mandatory anti-rollover devices? Why not? by James Menzies Two years after it stunned the industry by announcing its much ballyhooed position on the mandatory use of speed limiters, the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) was at it again during…
