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IN PRINT — Trucks Unplugged: Diagnostic data is on the air
One of Central Oregon Truck's T680s had already crossed into Canada this March when the news arrived: Something seemed wrong with the fuel pressure. Sensor-generated warnings are never exactly welcome news, but Pape Kenworth was able to confirm the fuel system was already due for some scheduled maintenance. It looked like the driver could complete the southern leg of the trip to Denver.
Driver shortage and the demographic cliff
Discussions about a driver shortage tend to fade away when the economy struggles, but there is no escaping the fact that Canada needs to attract a new generation of drivers. A 2016 study - Understanding the Truck Driver Demand and Supply Gap - determined that for-hire fleets will need 34,000 more drivers by 2024, many of whom will be needed to fill seats once held by drivers who retire or quit. Solutions will involve reaching out to underrepresented groups like millennials and women. In the meantime, limits on Temporary Foreign Workers have effectively eliminated another option.
Execs learn Olympian lessons at convention
TORONTO, ON - Leadership skills are universal. There are plenty of lessons to be learned outside the trucking industry itself. And in the midst of the Ontario Trucking Association's annual convention, executives had the chance to hear guidance from experts ranging from a "Dragon" to a six-time Olympic medalist.
Made to Measure: Advances in telematics
TORONTO, ON -- There was a time that trucks essentially disappeared into a black hole between fleet gates and customer loading docks. Nobody really knew where equipment was at any given point in time. The only person who knew a fault light was shining on the dash was the driver. Telemetry and telematics changed this dramatically, capturing and streaming data for drivers, vehicles, and operations teams alike.
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.
Women discuss ways to advance transportation careers
TORONTO, ON - Female executives from Canada's transportation industry -- and even the former president of Home Depot Canada -- joined together at a Toronto Transportation Club luncheon on June 14 to discuss ways that women can move forward in their careers. But the messages about networking and standing up to be counted were seen to be just as important for businesses as the individual employees.