2003 year in review, by the numbers

TORONTO, (Dec. 22, 2003) — It was yet another interesting year for the trucking industry. Skyrocketing costs (again), a soaring Loonie, a mad cow scare, cumbersome rules for crossing the border, and a new hours of service regime finally becoming a reality. Here’s a short recap of the 2003 Canadian trucking year, by the numbers:

14 hours on duty/10 hours off — the daily work/rest limits for drivers released by Transport Canada in February. They are expected to take effect in September of next year; similar standards come into force in the United States on Jan. 4, 2004.

$80,000: The amount the Owner-Operator’s Business Association of Canada alleged its accountant absconded with. The news was the first of a series of misfortunes for the group in 2003, including the bitter resignation of president Dave Marson in April.

May 20: The day the United States closed its border to Canadian beef and cattle after mad cow disease was discovered in Alberta. While some cuts of beef have since been allowed, the border remains closed to live cattle.

4: The number of hours notice U.S. customs officials wanted from carriers before a truck destined for the United States from Canada arrived at the border. Customs scrapped the idea and settled in July for a more workable half-hour timeframe for FAST shipments, and one-hour notice for non-fast shipments.

$69.6 million: The winning bid for Canadian Freightways, the Calgary-based LTL carrier, during an auction in August. The company becomes part of TransForce of Montreal.

10 years: That’s how long International Truck and Engine has committed to building trucks in Chatham, Ont. In September, the company secured $65 million in federal and provincial government aid and then scrapped plans to shift production to a plant in Mexico. In May, it renegotiated its collective agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers, roughly a year after a bitter strike.

$45: The amount Canadian employee truck drivers are allowed to claim for meals eaten away from home. In October, the CCRA raised the rate from $33 a day. However, drivers can still deduct only 50 per cent.

77 cents: The value of Canada’s dollar in American currency on Nov. 13, almost a 10-year peak. At the Ontario Trucking Association convention that day, two financial analysts predict an 80-cent Loonie by year’s end.