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Tomorrow, Ontario Changes Rules of The Road
TORONTO - Tougher penalties for certain driving violations plus increased driver and vehicle license fees in Ontario all take effect on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the Toronto Trucking Association wants all truckers to know about it. The organization has issued a bulletin outlining tougher penalties for distracted driving, new rules protecting bicyclists and measures to ensure the safety of tow truck drivers. The province has also changed rules surrounding children riding school buses. Penalties for distracted driving will include an increased set fine of $490 and three demerit points upon conviction. Novice drivers will receive a minimum 30-day suspension for the first conviction and longer suspensions for subsequent convictions.
U.S. Canada Freight Movements Post Steep Drop
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The value of freight moving between Canada and the U.S. posted a steep decline in June, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Transportation Department. It fell 10.3 percent from June 2014, totaling US$52 billion, as all modes of transportation carried a lower value of U.S.-Canada freight than a year earlier. A possible recession in Canada got the blame from the department for the decrease in freight flows. The decline in overall U.S. imports and exports with Canada were each down 10.3 percent from a year earlier as well. U.S. truck freight imports from Canada by value did show a 7.9 percent increase over the past year but U.S. truck exports to Canada by value fell 6.1 percent during the same time. This led to total a total decline of 0.2 percent in U.S.-Canada freight flows by value for the month.
Average Diesel Cost Unchanged, Still Lowest in Years
LONDON, ON and WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The national average cost of diesel has paused from its recent string of declines while gasoline has moved lower over the past week in Canada. The petroleum information services provider The Kent Group reports diesel is at $1.05 per liter for the second consecutive week after falling for eight straight weeks and hitting its lowest level since November 2010. Compared to this week a year ago the price $0.242 less. Not surprisingly, prices varied little if any in the different regions of Canada from last week with the Atlantic provinces this week recording an average of $1.025 per liter, Quebec at $1.097, Ontario at $1.026 and the Western Provinces at $1.065.
Canada-U.S. Truck Border Crossing Figures Reveal Surprises
WASHINGTON, D.C. --New analysis of data shows truck traffic between Canada and the U.S. has declined while it has increased between the U.S. and Mexico. The Journal of Commerce reports U.S. Transportation Department figures show since the second quarter of 2005, truck crossings between Canada and the U.S. decreased 16 percent but grew 19 percent between the U.S. and its neighbor to the south Also, truck crossings at both U.S. borders have increased since 2009, as the level with Mexico approaches what the U.S. has with Canada. It reports in the second quarter of this year, Mexican border truck crossings with the U.S. were up 2.6 percent year-over-year, while crossings at the U.S. Canadian border dropped 1.6 percent. Compared to the first quarter of the year, Canadian truck crossings increased 4.1 percent in the second quarter of 2015, while there was a 5.1 percent jump in June from May after falling in April from May. At Detroit, the second-largest U.S. truck border crossing, truck volumes increased 3.4 percent from the first quarter, according to JOC, but were down 4.6 percent year-over-year.
Canadian, U.S. Diesel Prices Lowest in Several Years
LONDON, ON and WASHINGTON, D.C -- The national average price of diesel is showing no signs of stopping its recent string of declines while hitting its lowest point in years. Trucking's main fuel fell $0.011 from a week ago to $1.05 per liter, the eighth consecutive weekly drop and the lowest price since November 2010, according to the petroleum information services provider The Kent Group. Compared to this week in 2014 the price $0.247 less per liter.
Port Metro Vancouver Sees Jump in Cargo Volume
VANCOUVER, BC - The amount of cargo moving through Canada's largest port shows continued growth in trade through the Pacific gateway. Total cargo handled at Port Metro Vancouver was 70.3 million metric tons in the first half of 2015, an increase of 1.5 percent over the same period in 2014, according to newly released figures.
New Warning About Seasonal Cargo Theft Risks
AUSTIN, TX -- As the North American supply chain prepares to enter its busiest season, organized cargo criminals are gearing up to maximize opportunities to seize high-value shipments that will saturate the target-rich environment encompassing the remaining months of the year.
Trailer Manufacturer Manac Going Private
SAINT-GEORGES, QC-- Canada's largest trailer builder, Manac, has been transferred from public to private ownership. The announcement was made Thursday. The original founding Dutil family will be among the consortium of new owners. Media reports say the Dutils will be investing $36 million in the private company while Quebec's pension fund manager, its Quebec manufacturing fund, a labor fund and Investissement Quebec are providing $104 million in equity investments and loans. Manac was spun off from the Canam Manac Group in 2004 and taken public in 2013. Charles Dutil, Manac president and CEO, will remain in his current position.
