Trucking Life

Updated: Charities hit Truck World for a good cause preview image Updated: Charities hit Truck World for a good cause article image

Updated: Charities hit Truck World for a good cause

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Maxine Shantz says all it took was one year of volunteering with the Special Olympics Convoy and she was hooked. The Home Hardware employee took on tasks with the GTA branch of the project six years ago and has been more involved every year since. Including spending a day in the charity’s Truck World booth recruiting drivers, selling raffle tickets to raise money for the cause, and raising awareness. Shantz says the booth at the biennial convention brings good exposure to the cause, forming a sense of community for drivers around the event and shines a light on the good things drivers do in a climate where they are often portrayed in the media as the bad guys after incidents on the road.

What’s that in your bag? Swag preview image What's that in your bag? Swag article image

What’s that in your bag? Swag

Gratuit. Livre. Zadarmo. However you say it, it’s free. At conventions it’s the Stuff We All Get - SWAG. At every trucking convention, nearly every booth features some kind of giveaway, and Truck World 2018 was no different. With more than 500 exhibitors - including more than 75 companies in the two-day recruiting pavilion – my mission was clear: hit every booth and come away with as much free stuff as possible. There was one simple rule – I couldn’t take for anything that wasn’t available to everyone. I didn’t include draws where there was only one prize awarded at the end, but did include gifts which required something from the giftee, as long as it was a simple ask and there were enough prizes for most people who completed the task. I also included prizes available only to children, although I didn’t take them home with me.

Makin named fleet maintenance manager of the year preview image Makin named fleet maintenance manager of the year article image

Makin named fleet maintenance manager of the year

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Jason Makin is just another good Kingston boy. Nine years ago, after a career as a technician with the Canadian Forces followed by some time at Toyota Motor Company, Makin and his wife decided to return to their hometown in Eastern Ontario. He took a job as the fleet maintenance manager with Cruikshank Construction. Nearly a decade later Makin is the Volvo Fleet Maintenance Manager of the year for 2018. Makin made the drive to the Canadian Fleet Maintenance Summit (CFMS) to be presented with the award.