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Rewarding companies keep employees: HR experts
MISSISSAUGA, ON - Wowing your drivers is the key to keeping them, according to industry human resources experts. Tim Hindes, CEO for Stay Metrics, and Tracy Clayson, managing partner for In Transit Personnel, spoke to an audience looking for clues to relieving tight labor conditions at the Surface Transportation Summit, Wednesday. Clayson emphasized that companies looking to recruit the best drivers and retain them should start trying to keep them from the very first meeting. How we hire drivers, how we give them orientation, how we explain the company's processes is really key, she said. Hindes agreed saying that folding employees into the company culture shouldn't be left to chance, managers should actively socialize employees starting with their hire.
September truckload demand at an all-time high
PORTLAND, OR - The DAT North American Freight Index is reporting a soaring demand for truckload capacity last month. Spot fright demand was at an all-time high in September, with a 74% gain over the same month in 2016. The increase was the largest seen since 2010.
Navistar executives looking ahead
NEW CARLISLE, IN - Backed by a new family of products and a robust economy, Navistar executives are clearly feeling positive about the future. "We have [introduced] a lot of new products in the last two years, and we got a lot of new products coming in the next two," said Denny Mooney, senior vice president - product development, during a briefing to industry media. Those new products include the LT linehaul tractor, its RH regional hauling counterpart introduced at the Expocam trade show in Montreal, the heavy vocational HX tractor launched last year to replace the PayStar, and the new HV that replaces the WorkStar. The HV was unveiled at the recent North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta, Georgia. The HX itself represents a market segment that Navistar saw drop in half after it stopped producing 15-liter engines. "Our [13-liter model], because it was an EGR engine, we couldn't cool it at some of the power and torque ratings we needed," he said.
Trump stumps to truckers on taxes
HARRISBURG, PA - The American Trucking Associations (ATA) was on-hand in Pennsylvania this week to support President Trump in calling on the United States congress to ease the corporate tax burden on the trucking industry. ATA president and CEO Chris Spear said the group supports the President's plan to reform the U.S. tax code and hopefully have it passed into law by the end of 2017.
Crashes double from Oct to Dec says BC safety group
RICHMOND, BC - The Winter Driving Safety Alliance (WDSA) is urging drivers in British Columbia and everywhere to drive according to the weather conditions and go slow on the roads as Fall transitions into Winter. The group made up of industry insiders in that province, including the Government of B.C., the Insurance Corporation of B.C., and WorkSafeBC, says the number of police-attended collisions due to driving too fast for the weather conditions doubles each year in December, compared with October from the same year.
Teamsters congratulate new Quebec minister
Quebec City, QC - Quebec Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Pontiac André Fortin is the new head of the department of transportation for the province, and the Teamsters are looking for a spot on his dance card. Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard appointed Fortin to the post in Wednesday's cabinet shuffle, making him the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports (Minister of transportation, sustainable movement and electric transportation).