Trucking pioneer honoured long after death

OTTAWA — One of Canadian trucking’s most respected pioneers was honoured posthumously by his peers at the Canadian Trucking Alliance recently.

Former Trimac Chairman John Robert (Bud) McCaig passed away in January, but will always be remembered for his entrepreneurship as well as his love and dedication to his family and community. McCaig, who lost a battle to colon cancer, is survived by wife Anne, and children Jeffrey, JoAnne and Melanie, and his grandchildren.

McCaig’s son Jeffrey, who has since taken over at Trimac, was handed the Trailmobile Canada-CTA Service to Industry Award on his father’s behalf. The award is viewed by many as the highest honour the industry bestows on one of its own. Since 1958 it has been presented to an individual who, by their commitment, vision, leadership and unstinting service, has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of the Canadian truck transportation industry.

Bud McCaig was loved by both colleagues and the community

“Trucking is a people business first and foremost, and my father had great people skills,” said Jeffrey McCaig as he accepted the award at a ceremony in the West Block on Parliament Hill. “He also had a great entrepreneurial spirit that pulled the company through several near death experiences.”

The presentation of the award — a beautiful charcoal portrait of the recipient — was made by Bert Clay, vice-president, sales and marketing for Trailmobile Canada.

When Today’s Trucking first reported on McCaig’s passing earlier this year, Trimac President Terry Owen said the loss was felt immensely both at Trimac and in the Calgary community where McCaig — who was also part owner of the Calgary Flames — made a lasting impression.

“Bud was a trucker from Moose Jaw who started off with a couple of trucks, built the premier North American bulk business with 3,000 trucks, but never forgot his values and roots as a trucker,” Owen told Today’s Trucking. “With Bud, it didn’t matter who you were or what your job was. He treated everybody the same — with respect and kindness, and a humbleness in his approach, which is sort of remarkable for a man who has accomplished everything he has.”

Trimac was founded in 1945 when Bud’s father Jack McCaig and his partner Al Cameron establish Macccam Transport in Moose Jaw, Sask. In 1954, a new holding company, Trimac Limited, was formed and named after Jack’s three McCaig sons: Bud, Roger, and Maurice.

In the early 1970s, Bud became the top executive at Trimac, turning the company into one of the largest bulk transporters and energy field service companies in the country. It presently has over 2,500 trucks, 6,000 trailers, 141 North American terminals, 6,000 employees, and achieves over $700 million a year in total revenues.

Before he died McCaig was inducted into the Calgary Business Hall of Fame. But while he put his signature on many Western businesses, his deepest footprints are left in the community.

McCaig was also Chairman Emeritus of the Calgary Health Trust, and served as Chairman of Calgary Laboratory Services and of the Calgary Regional Health Authority. He and his wife Anne also founded the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute with the goal of improving treatment of arthritis and bone joint injury and replacement for all Albertans.

In 1999, McCaig was awarded the Order of Canada.