Features

Respect your DPF, and keep it clean

Diesel particulate filters could be considered the Rodney Dangerfield of truck components. They get no respect — at least, not the respect they arguably deserve. Black smoke that once spewed…

Finding parking is no easy chore: Driver’s Education

Have you ever arrived late to a meeting because all the nearby parking lots were full? You drive deeper underground, down the spiral ramps searching for 140 square feet of…

Simulators offer safety, training benefits

It felt good getting behind the wheel and hearing the roar of the engine, especially after being stuck at a desk for so many months. Rolling down an empty highway…

Why Canada has some of the most productive trucks in the world

In the 1960s, U.S. and Canadian rules on weights and dimensions were almost identical. But things didn’t stay that way for long. By the time the 1980s came about,…

Flatdeck fleets focused on weight, longevity…and IQ?

Flatdeck haulers have always looked for light weight and longevity when spec’ing trailers. Now you can add IQ to their list of priorities. The trend towards smart trailers has been…

5 cargo securement myths

Not everything you hear on the street regarding cargo securement is totally accurate. Unfortunately, these misperceptions can lead to expensive citations and even being placed out-of-service. Here are 5 myths…

Beware the pitfalls of cargo securement rules: Driver’s Education

Cargo securement is a snake pit. As regulations go, few others are as open to misunderstanding or misinterpretation. While plenty of tiny paragraphs spell out how many chains or straps…

The unwritten (but now written) Truck Stop Code: Driver’s Education

Pirates had them. The Marines, too. Lots of groups of like-minded people have codes, like pilots, police officers, golfers. Among other things, golfers are expected to dress respectably, replace their…

How technology has evolved the safety manager’s role

Safety systems such as lane departure and following distance warnings seem friendly and helpful when you are a new driver, but can get annoying after a while, says an experienced…

Canadian AI businesses building a future in trucking

It’s been almost 25 years since Skynet first became “self-aware”. The fictional computer began making its own decisions at 2:14 am Eastern Time on Aug. 29, 1997, to be precise.

Legal marijuana can still cost truck drivers their job

While a substantial portion of the population was overjoyed when Canada legalized recreational cannabis in October 2018, it’s become a nightmare for truck fleets, drivers and law enforcement. Removing marijuana…

Knowledge is power when installing, using inverters

Truck drivers have been using AC/DC inverters for a couple of decades now. They are versatile devices and must-haves in any sleeper cab. You’d think, after all that time, drivers…

Shedding pounds for payload

Some truck and trailer components, when removed from the vehicle or replaced with lighter-weight alternatives, can be worth their weight in gold. That is, if they can be removed without…

DIY truck electrical system maintenance: Driver’s Education

Ask any technician and they will probably have a story or nine about do-it-yourself repairs gone wrong. Some are amusing, like the guy who walks into the shop with a…

Longer trailers, added axles, and a patchwork of vehicle weights and dimensions

Those who wonder why vehicle weights and dimensions are so varied from one jurisdiction to the next can look directly to Ontario. The province had achieved several productivity gains during…