Bad News, Good News

Bob Ruff is an owner-operator based in Calgary who regularly sends me newspaper clippings on truck safety and local commercial truck accidents. “A driver must drive according to the road and weather conditions or he can expect to find himself in the headlines,” he says. How true. Here are some recent items that caught my eye.

“Deathtrap Taken Off Road” National Post, Nov. 3, 2000

“Ontario Provincial Police charged a 28-year-old Quebec man with operating an unsafe vehicle after he was found driving a tractor-trailer with two flat tires, worn tires, a nonfunctioning air suspension system, a cracked axle, a wheel ready to fall off, and numerous loose nuts. The vehicle, stopped on Hwy. 401 near Cambridge, Ont., was loaded with 32,000 kilograms of steel.” Several questions come to mind. How did this driver and vehicle get to Cambridge in this condition? Given that the OPP pulled the unit off the road, where was the MTO and its 24-hour roadside inspection program? How did the unit get out of Quebec with its heightened inspection effort? Who trained the driver in pre-trip inspection? Did the driver know of the defects? If so, was he told to pull it anyway?

“Collision Closes Hwy. 8” Calgary Herald, Dec. 4, 2000.

“Cochrane RCMP closed Hwy. 8 near Bragg Creek for more than seven hours after a collision between a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer. RCMP said the westbound pickup truck crossed the centre line and collided with the 18-wheeler. The driver of the pickup fled on foot but was caught by police. It’s not known whether charges were laid.”

I wish the reporter had been more thorough: the tractor-trailer driver seemingly wasn’t at fault, yet the door is left open. I’d like to know why the driver of the pickup fled, and whether he was tested for alcohol after being collared. (Also, if this had been two cars, would the story have made the news?)

“Trucker In Fatal Crash Says Illegally Long Workday is Common” Edmonton Journal

“A trucker involved in a fatal crash two years ago criticized his own industry after pleading guilty to working longer hours than legally allowed. The driver said that often loads are not ready on time, so long-haul drivers must violate the laws limiting them to 15 hours on duty a day if they want to meet deadlines. ‘You have no choice. It’s do it or get another job,’ he said outside court. The driver was fined $6000.”

Who was this guy driving for? Have the auditors been to their door yet? Who was the shipper and what was the expected ETA of the load the driver was pulling? Was the ETA reasonable? With the present driver shortage, drivers can be a lot more selective as to where they choose to work. No customer’s needs are greater than the public’s safety. Just-in-time freight, inventory costs, and a production-line requirement to maintain a minimal inventory don’t justify breaking the law.

“Quebecers Face No-Alcohol Law” Globe & Mail, Jan. 15, 2001

“Quebec’s plan to beef up anti-drunk driving laws will include an unprecedented 0.00 legal limit for professional drivers. That means truckers, taxi drivers, bus drivers and couriers who have even a single drink and then drive could face licence suspensions, fines, and demerit points.”

This is long overdue and looks as if the province of Quebec is finally coming of age on this topic. Let’s see if this proposed bill gets through the provincial government successfully.

I highly recommend using local newspaper clippings like the above at driver safety meetings. They provide a great springboard to broach different subjects in a meaningful way.