Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #40063170. Return postage guaranteed. NEWCOM Business Media Inc., 451 Attwell Dr., Toronto, ON M9W 5C4. Registration No. 10788RETAILandRECRUITMENTAdvertising InsertPAGE45January 2012 www.todaystrucking.comThe Business Magazine of Canadas Trucking Industry25 YEARSKEEP THOSEWheels Turning7 Tire-Saving Tips, PG. 32Why tech trainings a must, PG. 36PLUS: Big movement in medium-duty, PG. 40ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:Good-health ideas for driversPAGE26April 19-21, 2012www.truckworld.caTHE NEW BORDER: Its a good agreement, and they know it. PG.10CTA CEO David BradleyTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:48 AM Page 1TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:49 AM Page 2Com Com Com Com mpet pet et petiti iti ive ve ee fin financ anc aa ing ing ng ng av av a ail ail ai ai abl abl ab abl b e t e t e e hro hrough ugh hh Da Da DD iml mler e Tru Tru T uck ck Fin Financ anc n ial ial. . For For the the hh Frei Fre ghtl ghtliner iner Tru Tru T cks cks Deal Dealer n er n er neare eare aar st y st y st y t st ou, ou, ou o call call call a 1-8 1-800-F 00-FTL-H TL ELP. ELP. FTL FT /MC- /M A-10 A-1069. 9 Spec Specific ifi atio ii ns are subje ubject t ct to ch o change g ange with with with w out out out out noti noti noti notice. ce. ce. ce. Copy Copy Copy opyrigh righ righ rig t t 2011 2011. Da . Daimle imleer Tr r Tr TT r Trucks ucks ucks uck Nor North A th A h meri merica L ca LLC. LC. All All righ righ g ts r ts reser eserved. ved. d Fre Fre reight ight hh line line neer Tr r Tr Tr TT ucks ucks cks c is is a di a di divisi visi visi v on o on o on o on of Da f Da f Da f Daimle imle imle imler Tr r Trucks ucks ks ks Nor Nor NN th A th Ameri merica L ca LLC, LC a Da a D imle mler co r compan a y. *Com o paringa DD a DD a DD a DD15 E 15 E 15 E 15 EPA 2 PA 2 PA 2 PA 2010 010 010 010 engi engi engi eng ne w ne w ne w ne with ith ith i Blue Blue Blue BlueTec Tec Tec Tec emis emis emis emission sion sion sions te s te te s techno chno hno hnology logy logy logy to to to to t simi simi sim simi milarl larl lar y sp y sp yy ecd ecd c d c d DD1 DD15 EP 5 EP E A 20 A 20 2 07 e 07 eengin ngine wi e with c th c th h ompa ompa ompa mparabl rabl rrab e en e engine gine gine gine n rat rat at ratings ings ings ings and and and and loa loa loa lo d we d we dd we d weight ight ight ights. s. ssTHE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS NEVER DOWNHILL.Its a long way to the top. Thats why we build trucks ready to haul your business to the front of the pack. With 5%* better fuel economy, exceptional driver comfort and nationwide customer support, Freightliner keeps your drivers happy and your vehicles on the road and earning. To learn more about how we can help you take your eet to the top, visit FreightlinerTrucks.com/FleetSpotlight.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:49 AM Page 3SILVER SPONSOR: GOLD SPONSORS:ASSOCIATION SPONSOR:PLATINUM SPONSOR:PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:$15,000 IN CASH AND PRIZESThats whats up for grabs for the next highwaySTAR of the Year. The winner receives:$10,000 in cash An Espar Heater System Road-ready, trucker-friendly laptop from OBACSpecial-edition leather Todays Trucking jacket with winners name and Highway Star of the Year logoTravel and accommodations for two to Toronto during Truck World 2012Were looking for one driver who embodies the term professional. A driver with that certain outlook onlife and the industry that sets them apart from therest. A driver who gives to the community, oper-ates with the highest regard for other road users,and who generally sits tall in the saddle. In short,were looking for a driver with STAR quality to be the2012 Highway Star of the YearThe Highway Star of the Year award is open to ALLdrivers company drivers and owner-operatorsalike. If you know someone worthy of such an honour, please submit your nomination as soon as you can. Well be presenting the award during Truck World 2012 in Toronto, on Saturday April 21, 2012. Forms are available on-line at www.todaystrucking.com.2012 HIGHWAY STAR OF THE YEARTerry SmithMiramichi, NBRen RobertCalgary, ABReg DelahuntLanark, ONJean-Franois FoyNeuville, QCDale HadlandBeachville, ONBud RushOakbank, MBCliff LammerenEdmonton, ABTHE HIGHWAY STAR OF THE YEAR HALL OF FAMEHaving a winning driver on your team pays huge dividends. Theres free publicity. Its a morale boost, a proudflag to fly, and just entering somebodys name shows you care. The winning driver and his or her carrier areoften used as expert sources in subsequent magazine stories. Nominate as many drivers as you want.AND A CHANCE FOR YOUR FLEET TO SHINETT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:49 AM Page 4JANUARY 2012 5OPINIONS7 LETTERS9 ROLF LOCKWOOD21 DONNA SAUVE ON BAs & BURGERS 23 DAVE MACNEVIN54 PETER CARTERSERVICE DEPT40 GET YOUR FREE TRUCKS HERE!Thats how at least one OEM is market-ing its mid-range innovation. And itsonly one of a number of reasons whyyou should take a good look at howthe medium-duty world is changing. BY ROLF LOCKWOOD44 NEW PRODUCTS52 SPOT THE WOLF AND WIN A HAT52 COMPANIES IN THE NEWS40NEWS & NOTES10DISPATCHES32AND NOW TO RECAP:7 Tips Thatll Help Win the Tire War.Mid-range movement23Distract much?January 2012VOLUME 26, NO. 1FEATURES18STREET SMARTS THE MAN WITH TWO HATSAward-winning truck driver Bob Hulme has saved lives, delivered babies and witnessed policetakedowns. And he sure knows his way around aradar trap. BY PETER CARTER26DRIVER HEALTH THE GOOD FATNever mind losing weight. Herere some tips for just living healthier. BY JASON RHYNO32COVER WINNING THE TIRE WAR7 Tips For Keeping Your Rubber on the Road Longer. BY JIM PARK36MAINTENANCE SHOP CHOPSThe costs associated with being pulled over, put OOS or worse, having an accident, are soaring. Thats why keeping your maintenance crew up tospeed is more critical than ever. BY ROLF LOCKWOOD11 TV Stars jonesing for Trucks12 Whos where now?15 Trucking events to pencil in 15 Apps for trucks16 Sited on todaystrucking.com17 Truck sales statisticsBORDERLINEPERSONALITY CLASHTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:49 AM Page 5#1 selling Low Cab Forward (LCF) truck in North America since 1986Visit our website or see your local Isuzu truck dealer isuzutruck.caThe Isuzu N-Series family of trucks is the only LCF truck that providestwo EPA certied diesel engines and a gasoline engine alternative.The application in which your truck must perform is as unique as your business.Isuzu trucks provide you with choices so you can make the right choice.Isuzu trucks provide economy and durability: suzu's ECO-MAX diesel powerIraih provides up Io 40% beIIer Iuel eIIciehcy wiIhouI Ihe added cosI oI hybrid Iechhologies suzu's class-leadihg diesel ehgihes provide B-10 service liIe durabiliIy oI 310,000 miles suzu Irucks provide IeaIures IhaI help reduce operaIihg cosIs, improve perIormahce, mahage risk ahd proIecI your Iruck ihvesImehI Isuzu trucks enhance versatility: suzu's cab/chassis combihaIiohs oIIer sIahdard 3/seaI cabs or crew cabs wiIh seaIihg Ior a 7/persoh crew Body upII applicaIiohs accepI vocaIiohal bodies up Io 20 II. wiIh Ihe sIahdard cab ahd 16 II. wiIh crew cab models Isuzu trucks deliver performance: suzu Irucks provide Ihe ehgihe power opIiohs you heed wiIh GVW's Irom 12,000 lbs. Io 19,500 lbs. suzu diesel ehgihes employ cleah diesel Iechhology ahd are B-20 Bio-Diesel compaIible The suzu N-Series VorIec gasolihe ehgihe is available opIiohally as CNG/LPG alIerhaIive Iuel capableIsuzu trucks deliver with demonstrated performance and economy.*Use of B20 Bio-Diesel fuel must be approved by ICTA engineering. All photographs, illustrations, equipment and technical data shown are based on the latest information available at time of publication. Isuzu Commercial Truck of America,Inc., reserves the right to make changes at any time, without notice, including prices, colors, materials, equipment, specications and models, and to discontinue modelsor equipment. These vehicles are assembled from component parts manufactured by Isuzu Motors Limited and its afliated companies and by independent suppliers whomanufacture such components to Isuzus exacting standards for quality, performance and safety. NPR, NPR-HD, NQR and NRR are trademarks of Isuzu Motors Limited.ECO-MAX is a trademark of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. Vortec is a trademark of General Motors. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.See your authorized Isuzu truck dealer for warranty and other details.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:49 AM Page 6VICE PRESIDENT, EDITORIALRolf Lockwood, MCILTrolf@newcom.ca 416/614-5825EDITORPeter Carterpeter@newcom.ca 416/614-5828ASSOCIATE EDITORJason Rhynojason@newcom.ca 416/614-5827CONTRIBUTORS: Jim Park, Allan Janssen, Steve Bouchard, Deborah LockridgeART DIRECTORTim Nortonproduction@todaystrucking.com 416/614-5810PUBLISHERJoe Glionnajoe@newcom.ca 416/614-5805NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGERHeather Donnellyheather@newcom.ca 416/614-5804QUBEC SALES MANAGERDenis Arsenaultdenis@newcom.ca 514/938-0639PRESIDENTJim GlionnaCONTROLLERAnthony EvangelistaPRODUCTION MANAGERLilianna Kantorlily@newcom.ca 416/614-5815DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATIONPat GlionnaCIRCULATION INFORMATIONP.O. Box 370, Station B, Toronto, ON M9W 5L3416/614-2200 416/614-8861 (fax)Todays Trucking is published monthly by NEWCOM BUSINESS MEDIA INC.,451 Attwell Dr., Toronto, ON M9W 5C4. It is produced expressly for ownersand/or operators of one or more straight trucks or tractor-trailers with grossweights of at least 19,500 pounds, and for truck/trailer dealers and heavy-dutyparts distributors. Subscriptions are free to those who meet the criteria. For others: single-copy price: $5 plus applicable taxes; one-year subscription: $40plus applicable taxes; one-year subscriptioninU.S.:$60US;one-year subscription foreign: $90 US. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consentof the publisher. The advertiser agrees to protect the publisher against legalaction based upon libelous or inaccurate statements, unauthorized use of photographs, or other material in connection with advertisements placedin Todays Trucking. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertisingwhich in his opinion is misleading, scatological, or in poor taste. Postmaster:Address changes to Todays Trucking, 451 Attwell Dr., Toronto, ON M9W 5C4.Postage paid Canadian Publications Mail Sales Agreement No.40063170.ISSN No. 0837-1512. Printed in Canada.We acknowledge the financial support of the Governmentof Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) forour publishing activities.The Business Magazine of Canadas Trucking IndustryKenneth R. Wilson Award WinnerCanadian Business PressMemberNEWCOM BUSINESS MEDIA INC.451 Attwell Dr., Toronto, ON M9W 5C4416/614-2200 416/614-8861 (fax)Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #40063170. Return postage guaranteed. NEWCOM Business Media Inc., 451 Attwell Dr., Toronto, ON M9W 5C4 Registration No. 10788Liberty Linehauls Brian Taylor: The penalty doesnt fit the crime.SECURITY: You cant take safety for granted, PG. 18RETAILandRECRUITMENT Advertising InsertPAGE45December 2011www.todaystrucking.comThe Business Magazine of Canadas Trucking IndustryTRUCKINwithGAS Some of Canadas top haulers, including Vedder, are going long on LNG, PG. 28ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:8 Drive test tellsPAGE23April 19-21, 2012 www.truckworld.caM Page 1For industry news, weekly features, daily management tips, truck sales stats, product reviews, and more!Go Onlinetodaystrucking.comOur bass-ackward apprenticeship systemRe: Assume Nothing by Rolf Lockwood,Nov. 2011.The current process to becomea mechanic/technician is broken andneeds to be fixed. As the father of a son who is trying tobecome a coach and truck mechanic, I canshare the frustrations he has faced in hisjourney. During his senior year in highschool, he decided he wanted to be anauto mechanic. Upon graduation and at17 years old, a local auto dealer in ourcommunity hired him with the promise ofsending him to further his education inauto mechanics. After three years the dealership stilldid not know when they could send himto further his education. It may havebeen the fact that they had a good deal,paying him minimum wage, while maximizing the services he could pro-vide. He eventually quit the dealershipand decided to become a coach and truck mechanic. It astounded me to think that he need-ed an employer to sponsor him in this fieldbefore he could register for this professionat a community college. I cannot think of another profession that requires you to be in the work force, before you can goto school. It feels like the cart before the horsesyndrome. Attending community college firstwould better prepare them for their pro-fession, ensure they were current on com-pliance, regulatory and technical issues. Itwould also help prospective employers byhaving trained personnel, and as you noteit would avoid short cuts in training,should that be happening. Unless the industry along with automo-tive and trucking associations and theMinistries of Education across Canadatake a proactive approach to the issue oftraining and technicians, they will reapwhat they sow in a few short years. Bob Miskelly,Oakville, ONP.S. My son did find a sponsor and hesnow working towards his goal!The real meaning of broad shouldersRe: Getting things done 101 by PeterCarter, Nov.2011I enjoyed your editorial regarding howthe word should can lead to false aspira-tions and disappointments. I also think that when we say, on theother hand, should not interestingthings can happen; for instance, thiswoman I am talking to is really attractiveand since I am a married man I should notcarry this on further.Good or bad things can happen, oneway or the other, depending on the appli-cation of the word not. Should and not have equal value,resting on both shoulders of the individual.John OCallaghan, TorontoLetters EditortotheEmail peter@newcom.ca or send a letter to Newcom Business Media, 451 Attwell Dr., Toronto, ON M9W 5C4JANUARY 2012 7TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:50 AM Page 7As the percentage of post-2010 vehicles in yourfleet grows, so too will your demand for DieselExhaust Fluid. And at an estimated 1,500 litresof DEF per truck/year, now may be the time tolook at how bulk DEF can save you money.Thats where the experts at MacEwen can help.Weve been serving bulk customers forgenerations. Our DEF service team will analyzeyour requirements and design a right-sizedsolution for your operation from totes to tanks.And as your fleet grows, well make sure yourDEF system keeps pace so you can continue tominimize your operating costs.For more details, call us at 1-855-811-4DEF(4333), e-mail def@macewen.ca.Visit our new DEF micro-site...www.macewendef.caLocal people serving you.When it comes to DEF...Were the experts!TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:50 AM Page 8JANUARY 2012 9This time of year always brings on amusing lists. The top 10movies of the year, the 10 best books, you name it. My personal favourite by far is the Christmas wish list. Youll bereading this editorial post-holiday but Im writing in mid-December, so jolly old St. Nick and all that is top of mind. Back inthe day when my kids were kids, I absolutely loved the scribbledSanta letters theyd give me, replete with very specific toy requests.Receipt of same was followed by a frenetic spate of toy-store visits,and really, can anything be more fun? No matter how old you are.Anyway, before I could switch things up a bit and concoct a listof things Id like you lot to enjoy this new year, the CanadianTrucking Alliance (CTA) did it for me. The CTA shipped out a listof its infrastructure priorities for the suits in Ottawa to consider.Each provincial trucking association listed roads and bridges inneed of help as well as new projects deemed necessary.Most are predictable. Like B.C.s wish to see four-laning of Trans-Canada Highway 1 from Kamloops to the Alberta border. Albertawants ring roads in Calgary and Edmonton. Saskatchewan? Moreroadways, interchanges and staging areas around the GlobalTransportation Hub near Regina. Manitoba wants to see all itsRTAC highways upgraded to accommodate 63,500-kg weights,which is a no-brainer. Ontario is asking for a second bridge at theWindsor/Detroit crossing and upgrades to the Peace Bridge atFort Erie/Buffalo. Quebecs trucking community asks for bridgehelp, not surprisingly, and my favourite, twinning of Route 85from Quebec to New Brunswick. That last one is on AtlanticCanadas wish list as well. What really strikes me here is that were in trouble. I only mentioned a few examples of needs in that last paragraph buttheyd cost a gazillion bucks. The complete list is comprehensivelyimpossible. Easily in the possible realm, however, is truck parking. In somecases it isnt more truck parking wanted because there simplyisnt any to begin with. Ive written about this often, and I cantbegin to describe just how big the need really is.Ill ask this critical question yet again, in hopes that somebodyin Ottawa might actually be listening: how can you justify limit-ing a drivers time at the wheel, how can you possibly demandthat he rest a prescribed number of hours every day, if youre notalso going to ensure that he has somewhere to do the resting?Of all the ludicrous bits of rule-making Ive seen, this one topsthe list of mandates that werent thought through. It even beatsspeed limiters because it causes serious hardship and representsone monster of a safety problem. Why dont they see this?Only Manitoba and Quebec didnt mention parking.In asking for parking, B.C. just listed the need for a sufficientnumber of adequately serviced rest stops at appropriate dis-tances from major centres. Alberta says a rest area betweenCalgary and Red Deer is needed badly on the northbound side.Saskatchewan used exactly thesame general language as B.C.Ontario was specific, citing theneed for parking/rest areas alongHighway 17 from North Bay all theway to the Manitoba border and allalong truck-heavy Highway 401,where parking facilities for LCVswere also requested. The Atlanticrequest was also general, citing theneed to improve or add rest stops in New Brunswick and NovaScotia, especially to handle LCVs. They also want a rest stop out-side the Confederation Bridge on the N.B. side.May all those wishes be granted. May you find enough breathto hold while you wait. And even if none of those wishes comestrue, may you all have a terrific year. Its a special one for us, by the way, being our 25th anniversary.Look for more about that in the months to come.BEFORE I GO, I should clarify something I wrote in this spacelast November. I said the effort to measure the industrys techni-cian shortage, a project I helped launch together with Gord Box,Rolf VanDerZwaag, and a committee of interested people,seemed to be lagging a bit. I should have explained a little moreinstead of leaving that comment hanging in the air. The CanadianTrucking Human Resources Council sat on that committee andgenerously agreed to help. We here at Todays Trucking have beenworking closely with them to survey the industry, and well haveresults within the next month or two. Im impatient to get this inmy hands, re-engage the committee, and start making thingschange. More to follow... EditorialTrucks Need More Parking. Lots.Governments who insist drivers pull over and rest but dont provide places to do so are creating a monster of a safety problem.By Rolf LockwoodRolf Lockwood is vice-president, editorial, at Newcom Business Media.You can reach him at 416-614-5825 or rolf@todaystrucking.com.Of all the ludicrousbits of rule-makingIve seen, this onetops the list of man-dates that werentthought through.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 1:16 PM Page 9Its a good day wheneveryone in theCanadian truckingindustry manages to agreeon something. That something was theannouncement of twoaction plans by PrimeMinister Stephen Harperand President BarackObama that aim to speed uptrade and travel, improveNorth American bordersecurity, and align Canadianand U.S. regulatoryapproaches. These agreements repre-sent the most significantstep forward in Canada-U.S.cooperation since the NorthAmerican Free TradeAgreement, Harper said.With about half-a-dozencritical measures relevant totruckers in the announce-ment, it was big, big news.Well, here in Canada, anyway. Post-Sept. 11 securitymeasures hinderedCanadian carriersspecifi-cally the ability to transportdomestic loads through theU.S. by requiring full customsdocumentationnot to men-tion the disjointed policiesand regulations betweenNorth and South, exorbitantborder fees, and a host ofother irritants. Keyword? Irritantanestimated $16 billion irritat-ing loss of revenue each year,according to both the U.S.and Canadian governments. Since early 2010, TheCanadian Trucking Alliance(CTA) had been consultingwith the Beyond the Border10 TODAYS TRUCKINGBY JASON RHYNOThinning Borderoutthe Is the new U.S.-Canada border agreement too good to be true?TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 12:57 PM Page 10Working Group and theCanadaU.S. RegulatoryCooperation Council onmeasures to reduce trade barriers. So when theannouncement came with roughly half-a-dozencritical measures relevant to truckers, well, you couldpractically hear the cheersfrom the CTA offices acrossthe country.And, save for a few civil liberty groups, nobody seemsto be jeering the recentlyannounced plans.Its an ambitious plan that affects travelers and various industries, but the relevant parts for the truckingindustry are: Mutual Recognition ofTrusted Trader ProgramsCurrently, companies have toapply to both the U.S.Customs-Trade PartnershipAgainst Terrorism (C-TPAT)and the Canada BorderServices Agencys Partners InProtection (PIP) separately,despite the fact the informa-tion required is the same. FAST CardsBoth governments will exam-ine ways to allow FAST cardsto meet requirements of other security programs,involving CBSA, CBP andother government agencies. Pre-InspectionInspect once, accept twice isthe motto here. A pilot slatedfor launch at the Port ofMontreal will introduce this concept where freightarriving at the NorthAmerican border will only be inspected by oneCustoms agency but will beaccepted by both countries. Pre-ClearanceU.S. Customs and BorderProtection (USCBP) willlaunch a pre-clearance pilot ata land border by Sept. 2012,possibly the Peace Bridge,where infrastructure limita-tions contribute to traffic con-gestion. Facilities at the PeaceJANUARY 2012 11These agreements represent the most significant step forward inCanada-U.S. cooperationsince the North AmericanFree Trade Agreement,Prime Minister Stephen HarperYou know CATHY JONES, the seductive and very funny starof This Hour Has 22 Minutes?Shes a trucker at heart.She loves rigs. Like really.I feel like I have an inner three-year-old boy yelling Truck!Truck! every time I see a truck,she told a writer for the TorontoStar Wheels section.In a hilarious story about her love/hate relationship with carsYou know cars were unreliable and they didnt start allthe time so I grew up thinking, If the car starts then well go.The capricious Newfoundlander says her love of tractor trailersmeans shes never bored when shes on the highway.Its the aesthetic of the trucks, Jones, who now lives in beautiful Mahone Bay, says. If you look at the cabs of these 18-wheelers, I mean just to do it is porn. Its like theyre shiny,theyre beautiful, they have everything that cars have lost.Photo courtesy of Heart & Stroke FoundationTV STAR CALLS BIG TRUCKS PORN.AND MEANS IT IN A GOOD WAY.MODEL CITIZEN: The big-rig-loving Ms. Jones struts her stuffin a Heart & Stroke Foundation fashion show.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:50 AM Page 1112 TODAYS TRUCKINGTech-Savvy Writer Wins A Grand PrizeVidya Kauri, a 31-year-old Ryerson University student in her thirdyear of the four-year Bachelor of Journalism Program, is one ofthose rare people who can braid technical know-how with plainEnglish. These people should be encouraged.And thats exactly what happened to Kauri in November whenshe was awarded the $1,000 Rolf Lockwood Scholarship at theRyerson University Journalism Awards Night. (Newcom Business Media founder and President Jim Glionna introduced the award after the companys co-founder and Vice-President Editorial Rolf Lockwood won thehighly coveted 2003 Harvey Southam Editorial Career Award. Now,the Award goes every year to a Ryerson student who, in their sec-ond year, produces an outstanding piece of business journalism.)Born in India, Kauri first studied engineering at her fathers insistence then returned to school to embrace journalism whereshe very deftly melds technical interests with wordsmithing. Her winning story was about the beer delivery business. TO READ IT, TYPE KAURI IN THE SEARCH BOX AT todaystrucking.com.NEWCOMPRODUCES THIS MAGAZINE AS WELL AS Transport Routier, Canadian Technician, Plumbing&HVAC, Truck and Trailer, CanadianCar Owner, Truck World, CamExpo and online adjuncts to all its properties.DispatchesFeats of Darryn-DoBELANGERS GOT A HISTORY OF HEROISMThis past July, Darryn Belanger, a 13-year driver with KriskaTransport, witnessed a truck in front of him lose control, flipand start on fire. Fast-acting Belanger remained calm, stoppedand pulled the trucker from the burning rig, saving his life.And its not the first heroic act under Belangers buckle,though it is the most spectacular. So, in November, Belangerwas presented with the 2011 Bridgestone-Ontario TruckingAssociationTruck Hero Award. Darryn is a model professionalas evidenced by his selfless act of bravery and kindness,said Kriska President Mark Seymour. Were proud to haveDarryn as part of our organization. He quietly goes about hisbusiness and is now a hero amongst his peers.TorontoTransportation ClubThe Toronto Transportation Club hasselected a new executive. They areSenior Director and General Manager ofTranscore Link Logistics ClaudiaMilicevic as president; Trailcon LeasingAccount Manager John Foss as firstvice-president; Vice President of Salesand Marketing at Durabody IndustriesPeter Collins, second vice president; andfinally, Director of Sales for CanadianNational Railway Gary Crowther,immediate past president.Manitoba AwardsManitobas best and brightest truckers were honored by the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA)recently. Now in its seventh year, members of the MTA nominate their peers to receive awards based oncontributions to not only the MTA, but to the industry as a whole.The 2011 Volvo Trucks Manitoba Driver of the Year went toWilliam DeGroot of Arnold Bros. Transport.Payne Transportation LP Associate of the Year Award washanded to Larry Seel of Wajax Power Systems.Earl Coleman of Big Freight Systems Inc. won the MTA/RBC Royal Bank Service to Industry Award, and the MTA/Shaw Tracking Distinguished Member Award went toArnold Bros. Transport.The inductees to the MTA Pioneers Club this year were Bordon Hadley of Smooth Freightand Eldon Funk of Wajax Power Systems. Kauri first studiedengineering at herfathers insistencethen returned toschool to embracejournalism.Heardon theStreetTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:50 AM Page 12JANUARY 2012 13Bridge would allow trucks tobe pre-cleared on theCanadian side of the borderby Canadian BorderProtection (CBP) prior toentering the U.S. The CTAsaid that they have histori-cally cautioned against anyinitiative that would seetrucks stopping twice wherecurrently there is only onestop, but they will work withgovernments and port offi-cials to make sure that theprogram is efficient. Border Crossing FeesBoth governments willexamine the rationale andimpact for the multitude ofborder crossing fees, like theAnimal and Plant HealthInspection Services fees. Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID)Funding has been allocatedfor RFID, and the hope isthat this will lead to anexpansion of FAST lanes and RFID tech for commer-cial lanes. Harmonizing standards oncertain goods, like vehicles,food and drugs, should alsoease things. The plan alsocalls for major infrastructuredevelopment at certain bor-der crossingsin fact, hoursafter the Action Planannouncement, the NiagaraFalls Bridge Commissionannounced a $50-millionplan to improve the U.S. sideof the bridge. Perhaps thebiggest win is the move toharmonize data require-ments for in-transit goodsthat temporarily travelthrough one of the two coun-tries. Its the greatest bangfor our buck, said DavidBradley, president of the CTA.By restoring carriers ability to move in-transit,trade will be more efficient,cost less and speed up tran-sit times for trucks movinggoods through the States. Still, though, there areskeptics waiting on the side-lines, suspicious of sharingso much information withUncle Sam. Some have sug-gested that the U.S. politicalclimate, which tends toresemble Chaos Theory oflate, could derail certainaspects of the planif a TeaPartier flaps her wings inIdaho, will a president feel itin Washington? I try not to worry toomuch about things that wehave virtually no controlover, Bradley said in anemail to Todays Truckingregarding possible impactsfrom U.S. politics. Bradleymaintains that the majorityof measures pertinent to thetrucking industry are notcontroversial on either sideof the border. Civil libertarian groupshavent voiced too muchopposition either, and thedust that they are kicking upis not aimed at the commer-cial measures.It seems to me that thereare some people out therewho are desperately lookingfor something about theagreement to be critical of,Bradley wrote. It is a goodagreement and they know it.They are grasping at strawsand being contrarian for thesake of being contrarian, inmy view.At the end of the day, theborder agreement is a hugewin for the Canadian truck-ing industry, and while thereare still a billion details to beironed out and much workneeded, it looks to be a clearroad ahead. DispatchesWe pay you CA$H for your invoices in 24 hours!J D Factors has been turning INVOICES into CASH for over 20 years.Our customers simply send us their invoices with proper backup (bill of lading and load confrmation), and they have access to their funds the next business day.t J D ofers advances up to 95% tNo start up fee required t Fuel Card services availableFor more information call 1-800-263-0664 or email Canadasales@jdfactors.comJ D Factors Corporation 315 Matheson Blvd. EastMississauga, ON L4Z 1X8www. jdfactors.comIt is a good agreement and they know it.They are grasping at straws and being contrarian for the sake of being contrarian...TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:50 AM Page 13DURON. Fight Soot. Save Money. DURONTM-E the leading soot-fghting formula in the industry. It seeks out soot particles and isolates them before they can join forces. And if they cant cluster, your engine is defended from damage. Todays operating conditions can produce and retain more soot than ever before. But DURON-E, formulated with 99.9% pure base oils, is engineered to go above and beyond the call of duty. Its proven to handle up to 2x more soot* while maintaining its viscosity; protecting engines from wear, extending drain intervals, maintaining peak fuel economy, and reducing maintenance costsfor feets even in the heaviest soot conditions.That keeps costs down over the long haul and extends the life of your engines. Get the most from your feet. Learn more at fghtsoot.com*Based on MACK T-11 Enhanced Soot Control Test results. DURON-E Synthetic 10W-40 performed 2.2x better than CJ-4 requirement, while maintaining viscosity level.Petro-Canada is a Suncor Energy businessTMTrademark of Suncor Energy Inc. Used under licence.FIGHt ENGINE SLUGGISHNESS.ARM YOURSELF WITH DURON.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:50 AM Page 14JANUARY 2012 15logbookfebruarymarchapriljanuary 2012Go Onlinefor more events, visittodaystrucking.com23-26Heavy Duty ManufacturersAssociations Heavy DutyDialogue The Mirage, Las Vegas Kicking off Heavy-Duty AftermarketWeek, the HDMA Dialogue features a day of outstanding seminars and fleet executive panels.Contact: 919-406-8847Website: hdma.org23-26Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2012The Mirage, Las Vegas Following HDMAs Heavy DutyDialogue, Aftermarket Week is jam-packed with educational seminars and educational sessionsagainst a trade show backdrop.Contact: 708-226-1300Website: hdma.org9-122012 Technology & Maintenance Council Annual MeetingTampa Convention Center,Tampa, Fla.Contact: 703-838-1763Website: truckline.com4-7Truckload Carriers Association(TCA) Annual ConventionBayfront Hilton and Convention Center,San Diego, CalifContact: 703-838-1950Website: truckload.org 19-21Truck World 2012International Centre, Toronto This is Canadas meeting place for Canadas trucking industry.Contact: Joan Wilson,416 614-2200Website: truckworld.caDispatchesTRUCKING?THERES AN FOR THATFuelBookMan, are there ever a lot of Apps out there.Last month we called up Dan Dickey (or as we know him on Twitter: @BCTrucker1), a driver for 18 yearsbased out of B.C. Dan runs between Vancouver and Calgary twice a week, and knows a thing or twoabout smartphone apps.Low Carb Diet Assistant by nanobitsoftware.comIm supposed to use this one,said Dickey in a Twitter message.While this app isnt free ($2.99) it has all the features you needto keep track of your diet.The database allows you to searchinformation on over 1000 food brands, 404 restaurants, and youcan add your own to a custom list.You can set goals, and viewyour progress on well-designed, full screen graphs.You can also export your nutritionlog to Excel or another program for when you visit your doctor.Whrz TimmyLets face it, we need a cup of Tim Hortons just to get through the day.This app shows you whereTim Hortons are located, plus various other popular restaurants (KFC, Wendys, McDonalds,),gas stations (Shell and PetroCan), banks, grocery stores, Walmarts, Costcos, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Rona, depending on where you live.TSN MobileGreat app.You get all the sports headlines, TSN blogs, scores, and the ability to filterby whatever sport youre into.You also get TSN Radio, and during some games,theres a live forum going so you can interact with TSN sports writers and other fans.We asked Dickey if he had found a fuel app he liked, and he saidhe hadnt yet, but that would be a nice one for the situationwere having right now,he said, referring to western Canadasfluctuating diesel prices. The best free fuel app we found was the Canadian-madeFuelBook.You can search stations near you, compare diesel prices, and also filteryour search by showers, full restaurant, lubes, emergency repair, motel, scale andparking. Fuelbook also comes with a parking feature that aims to let you knowwhether youll be able to get parking at a particular location. Only problem is thatthis depends on users updating Fuelbook, and at the time of testing, nobody wasusing this feature.The interface was relatively intuitive, and text was easy to read.Other Apps you cant live without.Follow Dan on Twitter @BCTrucker1or check out his website: bctrucker.comTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 1516 TODAYS TRUCKINGSITED ON THE WEBTODAYS TRUCKINGontwittertwitter.com/todaystruckingJoin the Conversation!Away at the RacesQuick-thinking Trucker Pulls an Indiana Jones Move and Saves Lives Several people in eastern Canada are still alive today only because a truckdriver from Northeastern Quebec saved their lives and they might noteven know it.According to MRC des Collines-de-lOutaouais police spokesman Const. Martin Fournel, two cars were sitting at an intersection on highway105 in this Gatineau-area village when a southbound logging truck started losing control. Another trucker, this one with an empty flatbed on his way to a pickupin Low, Quebec, noticed the truck in peril with its loose load and he spedup to place his vehicle between the rolling logs and the two cars, so histruck took the hit. Sacre Bleu!MORE @ http://tinyurl.com/gatineauohFreightliner Taps Students in Search of Ideal TruckWhat, praytell, will the owner-operator of the future want in his or hersleeper berth? A microwave that wont cook meat? Or a tranny that features forward, reverse and gender-neutral.:) Better yet, maybe the berth will be adorned with cult-movie postersand strewn with empty pizza boxes. Point being, the folks at FreightlinerTrucks are trying to determine the ideal owner-operator truck of thefuture and in their quest, theyre tapping into some of the sparkiest mindsaround: college kids.MORE @ http://tinyurl.com/customtruckHow to Run An Award-Winning Parts ShopLunch was on the housefor staff at the Mack/Volvo dealer PerformanceEquipment recently as the brass from head office dropped in to officially present the parts department withthe Mack/Volvo Canadian PartsDealer of the Year Award.Larry DeHoop is Corporate PartsManager for the parent company,the Slotegraaf Group, whichowns Mack, Volvo and Hino dealer-ships in several centers aroundSouthern Ontario. And if he runshis department anything like he responds to requests for tips on running agreat shop, its no wonder he got the blue ribbon. Read on:MORE @ http://tinyurl.com/slotegraafWhen Alliance Truck Parts invited a few trucking journalists out to the races inMiami, Todays Truckings associate editor Jason Rhyno got a pass to walkaround in the pit and garage areas. He shared the experience with Facebook pals:P.S. Like Us! Today.MORE @ www.facebook.com/TodaysTruckingTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 1612-month Class-7 Sales200100012-month Class-6 Sales12-month Class-5 Sales12-month Class-8 SalesJan. 2011Feb. 2011May 2011June 2011July 2011Aug. 2011Sept. 2011Oct. 2011Nov. 2010Dec. 2010Dec. 2010April 2011Mar. 2011Canada Truck Sales Index October 2011DispatchesU.S. Retail Truck Sales12-month Class-8 Sales, United StatesCLASS 8 This Month YTD 11 YTD 10 Share 11 Share 10Freightliner 599 5232 3380 25.2% 21.6%International 656 4241 3916 20.4% 25.0%Kenworth 467 4150 3074 20.0% 19.6%Peterbilt 301 2290 1732 11.0% 11.1%Volvo 332 2159 1556 10.4% 9.9%Western Star 126 1369 960 6.6% 6.1%Mack 125 1346 914 6.5% 5.8%TOTAL 2606 20,787 15,532 100.0% 100.0%CLASS 7 This Month YTD 11 YTD 10 Share 11 Share 10International 146 1001 655 40.6% 38.2%Kenworth 41 425 292 17.2% 17.0%Freightliner 62 419 319 17.0% 18.6%Hino Canada 52 328 199 13.3% 11.6%Peterbilt 31 292 231 11.8% 13.5%TOTAL 332 2465 1696 100.0% 100.0%CLASS 6 This Month YTD 11 YTD 10 Share 11 Share 10Hino Canada 20 310 160 40.5% 30.2%International 39 294 236 38.4% 44.6%Freightliner 23 149 87 19.5% 16.4%Peterbilt 2 12 34 1.6% 6.4%TOTAL 84 765 517 100.0% 100.0%CLASS 5 This Month YTD 11 YTD 10 Share 11 Share 10Hino Canada 35 432 381 52.0% 67.0%International 65 351 118 42.2% 20.7%Freightliner 2 26 13 3.1% 2.3%Kenworth 1 19 37 2.3% 6.5%Peterbilt 1 3 8 0.4% 1.4%TOTAL 104 831 557 100.0% 100.0%Jan. 2011Feb. 2011Mar. 2011Apr. 2011May 2011June 11July 2011Aug. 2011Sept. 11Oct. 11Nov. 201018,00017,00016,00015,00014,00013,00012,00011,00010,0009,0000June 2011July 2011Aug. 2011Sept. 2011Oct. 2011Nov. 2010Jan. 2011Feb. 2011Apr. 2011May 20113,5003,0002,5002,0001,5001,0005000Feb. 2011Jan. 2011 Dec. 2010Mar. 2011Apr. 2011May 11June 11July 2011Aug. 2011Sept. 2011Oct. 2011Nov. 2010Dec. 2010200 1000Sept. 2011Oct. 2011Nov. 2010Aug.2011Jan. 2011Feb. 2011March 2011April 2011May 2011June 2011July 2011Dec. 20104503001500Sources: Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association and Wards Communication.Sterling ceased production in 2009 and has been removed from the truck sales listing.Mar. 11Canada Provincial Sales (Class 8)CLASS 8 BC AB SK MB ON QC NB NS PE NL CDAFreightliner 36 120 15 15 270 104 22 17 0 0 599International 26 124 8 42 283 103 25 18 21 6 656Kenworth 44 210 18 20 68 100 7 0 0 0 467Peterbilt 46 90 22 44 49 40 9 1 0 0 301Volvo 25 25 29 15 148 71 14 4 0 1 332Western Star 24 64 4 1 18 12 1 2 0 0 126Mack 4 17 12 4 60 21 1 2 0 4 125TOTAL 205 650 108 141 896 451 79 44 21 11 2606YTD 2011 1731 4328 918 1230 7289 3840 879 390 49 133 20,787CLASS 8 This Month YTD 11 Share 11Freightliner 5692 41,943 31.4%International 4259 28,918 21.7%Peterbilt 2354 18,654 14.0%Kenworth 1990 17,148 12.9%Volvo 1849 15,140 11.3%Mack 1097 9938 7.4%Western Star 181 1641 1.2%Other 2 16 0.0%TOTAL 17,424 133,398 100.0%JANUARY 2012 17Simple. Quick.Effective.TruckandTrailer.caWe Move Iron!Canadas #1 Source for Heavy Trucks and TrailersTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 1718 TODAYS TRUCKINGNEWSFLASH! Cops dont need tobe set up with a roadside radargun to nab you for speeding. Newtechnology lets them gauge your speedeven when theyre headed towards you in amoving cruiser or coming up from behind. In fact, cops dont even have to have aradar gun to ticket you. They just have tobe able to persuade the judge youre guilty.This important information comes toyou not from a police spokesman butrather from one Bob Hulme, recentlynamed Canadian Truck Driver of the Yearby the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA)and Volvo Trucks Canada.For almost 30 years, Hulme has spendhis nights behind the wheel of an SLHtractor trailer delivering Sears merch tocatalog shoppers around Elliot Lake, BlindRiver, Manitoulin and sometimes pointsfurther west. Nobody knows the curves,infrequent passing lanes and blind cor-ners of the Trans-Canada and Highways 6and 108 better than Hulme.Its dead obvious that hes a safe driver.Otherwise he wouldnt have earned theprize, which was presented at NovembersOntario Trucking Associations (OTA)annual convention. And it almost goes without writing thatif Hulme were anything but an outstand-ing ambassador for his company, he wouldnot have been singled out. Just like the mailman, Bob is an SLH-man who delivers his merchandisethrough rain, snow, sleet, and freezingrain, said Don Gray, SLHs safety coordi-nator and driver trainer. As long as theroads arent closed youll find Bob makingsure customers orders are delivered.Like so many other truck drivers, Hulmehas been the unofficial first-responder toinnumerable highway accidents and hasthus helped fend off his share of disasters.At the award-presentation time, officialscited an incident a few years back in whichHulmes driver-partner actually passed outbehind the wheel and Hulme was quickenough to first notice the problem and sec-ond grab the wheel and hit the spike. Whatcould have been disaster ended up beingnot much at all.What the prize presenters mentionedbut did not go into great detail about wasHulmes avocationhis two decades asan auxiliary member of the OntarioProvincial Police (OPP). Recently, he wasnamed Auxiliary Officer of the Year. To participate in the OPP AuxiliaryProgram, you have to take training as aregular officer, then commit to monthlymeetings and training and go out on atleast one 12-hour patrol shift a month. On those shifts, youre pretty much aregular cop, minus the gun.If there was ever an emergency theycould swear me in as a regular police officer on the spot and I could arrestsomebody if necessary, Hulme toldTodays Trucking.The OPP Auxiliaries wear blue shirts;regular cops wear black. Other than that,theyre indistinguishable. (The OPPAuxiliary and Regshave abandoned theSmokey the Bear hats and returned to thepeaked caps.) Hulme says many people sign on to theAuxiliary in the hopes of joining the forcesfull time, but that never interested him.The father of three says that when hewas younger, he knew his trucking careerprohibited him from coaching teams orgetting involved in daytime activities, buthis weekends were free and he wanted tobe involved in the community in somecapacity. The Auxiliary program fit hisschedule and aptitude.Last Sunday, for example, he said, we did a food drive and collected 4,000lbs worth $3,000 for the needy at a gro-cery store. Hes been in more parades than yourlocal pipe band. Hulme has been involved in high-speedchases, thug takedowns and countlesstraffic accidents. Not long ago he found himself the soleprofessional present for the birth of a babyin a small house on the Northern Ontarioreserve called Wikemikong, known locallyas Wiky.MANAGING PEOPLE, TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS, AND SAFETYStreet Smarts Street SmartsThe man with two hatsdrivers Award-winning truck driver Bob Hulme has saved lives,delivered babies and witnessed police takedowns. And he knowshis way around a radar trap. By Peter CarterI NSI DE:21 BAs & burgers23 Other roadside distractionsCABNCRUISER: Some weeks, SLH driver Hulmemoves from his Volvo into an OPP cruiser, as partof the forces auxiliary department.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 18JANUARY 2012 19Street SmartsI was with an officer in a plaza in Wikyand this man comes up to us and says, mywifes water broke. He led us into a tinyhouse where this poor woman was in themiddle of giving birth.Then, Hulme says, laughing, the offi-cer had to run out to the cruiser to call anambulance and Im thinking, youre notgoing to leave me all alone here are you? He did. And thus the Sears guy oversawthe delivery of one more very special parcel. On another occasion, and not far awayfrom Wiky, in the tiny Trans-Canadawhistlestop called Webbwood, Hulmelanded in the middle of a potentiallydeadly hostage-taking.Somebody robbed a taxi in [nearby]Espanola and took the taxi driver hostageat 3:00 in the morning., the soft-spoken 61-year-old Toronto-born driver said. Therewas a standoff in Webbwood and again Iwas one of the first officers on the scene.Has hanging out with cops madeHulme a better driver? Not really, he says, adding, Ive alwaysbeen extremely careful. Hes got morethan three million safe miles under hisbelt buckle.These days, Hulme drives a 2011 Volvospecd with an I-Shift automatic and supersingles. And when hes not driving or policing or volunteering youll find Hulme with hisgrandkids at the family cot-tage or puttering around on the gorgeous 1950 Fordpick-up that he restoredfrom scratch. The Driver of the YearAward completely blind-sided Hulme. He and hiswife Christine had madethe trip from Sudbury toToronto but he was underthe impression they wereattending a party marking Christines 25years with her company.They booked into a hotel called theDoubletree. Hulme thought: What a coincidence.Not only is this where we had our honey-moon night all those years ago but also, itappears the Ontario Association is hold-ing its annual convention here.Even when he ran into some SLH staffin the hotel, Hulme was surprised but notsuspicious.I didnt realize what was going on untilI saw my Kevin, Lori and Trevor comearound the corner.Hulmes three grownchildren had arrived, insecret. And so, sur-rounded by his family,Hulme was presentedwith the award byBrent Weary, RegionalVice President, Salesand Marketing of VolvoTrucks Canada. I, a humble Hulmeenthused afterwards, had never won any-thing before.Stopped a few crimes in progress per-haps; saved numerous lives and conscien-tiously delivered happiness to tens of thou-sands of catalog shoppers in remote com-munities maybe, but won anything? Nah. ACT NOW! Be among the rst to receive the 2012 ERG jjkeller.com/51494 | 800.327.6868Coming Soon Reserve Now!Reserve 2012 ERG at 2008 edition prices!PC 52105HANDLED WITH CARE: Hulme lovingly restored this 50 Ford.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 19In todays tough economy, transport companies are facing more challenges than ever. Factors like higher fuel prices, shrinking margins, and reduced shipping opportunities are forcing organizations to do even more with less. But in doing so, some organizations discover they dont have the internal resources needed to properly assess, manage and achieve the new expected level of performance. Luckily, they can look to Shaw Tracking to provide these resources. Shaw Trackings Professional Services team can assist in the deployment of technology and help manage operations in order to take greater control over prots. Professional Services SupportThe opportunity for increased control over profits comes from implementing new technology within an organizations current operations. As with any new technology, it is common to question the most effective method of calculating its Return on Investment (ROI). The solution? Set up benchmarks prior to rolling out the technology against which the ROI can be measured. This is why Shaw Trackings Professional Services has made its mandate as follows: To provide organizations with a proven methodology and the tools to effectively measure the greatest potential for ROI. Shaw Tracking understands that the groundwork must be laid before putting all of an organizations benets and costs into any given profit-driven formula. After all, every formula is as unique as the business its coming from. Shaw Trackings Professional Services step-by-step method to calculating true, attainable ROI provides:Q succinct and complete project denitionsQ the scope and boundaries of the projectQ the sof t benefits made tangible and quantiable in monetary termsQ a solid, water-proof line of argument and attainable ROI documentQ a sensitivity analysis of nal results probability and the major risk factors that impact itAutomated Hours of ServiceShaw Tracking offers fleet managers the tools they need to accurately monitor and assess their performance, efficiency, safety, compliance, driver and truck information, all in near real-time. The Hours of Service application uses the electronic on-board recorder (EOBR) embedded in the MCP100 hardware solution, and complies with Canadian and US regulations. This technology allows for improved dispatch decisi ons, incr eased pr oducti vi t y and maximized miles per truck per day. As such, the Shaw Tracking Hours of Service application was designed as a proactive management tool, enabling eets to optimize their dispatch assignments by providing accurate, near real-time driver availability information to the load planning process.As a web-based sof t war e ser vi ce, the information is delivered to the dispatch system via a web interface. It can also be viewed online with a web browser. This automated record-keeping system helps reduce costs by eliminating the use of paper logs and by mi tigating the driver violations and fines associated with non-compliance. Additionally, the Hours of Service application runs on the OmniTRACS platform, which minimizes the need for up-front investment and driver training.Proven ResultsOver the past year, Shaw Trackings Professional Services has delivered proven results and greater profits to many new and existing customers. On average, the following results have been delivered:Q an average savings of $929,955 annually per customerQ an average savings of $6,461 per truck per yearSo if youre wondering whether Shaw Tracking is right for you, ask yourself this: With greater control over your operations and prots, can you afford to go without it?Call 1.800.478.9511 or visit SHAWTRACKING.CA for more information.ADVERTISING FEATURECHARTING THE COURSE TO PROFIT CHARTING THE COURSE TO PROFITTRACKINGTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 20JANUARY 2012 21Everyone knows thatpeople with BAs inEnglish will alwaysneed to get their vehiclesfixed and their propertieslandscaped. Mechanics,plumbers, roofers, and heavy-equipment operators are justas important as professorsand doctors. We have to keepreminding ourselves of that. We already know theres ashortage of people enteringthe skilled trades. And eventhough I saw a study recentlythat suggested that most ofthose vacancies will eventuallybe filled by immigrants, thatdoesnt mean we dont haveanything to worry about inthe long run.My question is, what aboutour own citizens? Our ownchildren? Why arent wetraining our own people first,our unemployed? Whyhavent governments, whetherin Canada or the U.S., beenworking feverishly with highschools to addressthis problem? Whyarent we as parentsand taxpayers com-plaining to theboards of educationabout the lack oftechnical classes inour high schools anddemanding they bring themback? Is it because very fewcitizens remain involved withthe school system after theirown kids get through? Doesanyone really care? As business people and citizens, we should make ourvoices heard.As Canadians, we reallymust find a way to elevatecareer choices in the tradesand service industries to thesame level as those thatrequire university diplomas. Itwould go a long way to solv-ing several serious problems.When I was younger, everyhigh school offered academicas well as technical courses. Inmy school, subjects weremodified for technical stu-dents so teachers made surethat students who graduatedwere literate. Everyone wasoffered a stint in auto shop,carpentry, plumbing, foodservices, etc. Everybody got achance to experience each ina safe learning environmentand they found out what theywere good at doing. These men and womanlearned life skills andadvanced their careersthrough technical courses in their local colleges andapprenticeship programs.They are the people whostarted small shops and hired other people as theygrew their businesses, payingtheir taxes and payrolls, generally contributing to our economy. Skilled trades were notlooked down on. They werentjust for dummies. But nowpeople might pay lip serviceto the trades but do they really encourage their ownyoungsters to pursue them? I dont think they do. And it seems to me thatthe educational system hascompletely abandoned chil-dren and young people whoarent university material.Theres a stigma attached to trade schools.Whats worse, the universi-ties are churning out gradu-ates that the economy doesnthave places for.How many university graduates are flipping burgersto pay off their hefty studentloans but cant get jobs intheir fields? And how manyof them are standing besidehigh school drop outs whowere discouraged early on because they werent academic minded and theschools didnt promote the skilled trades?People only value a servicewhen they need it. If we dontdo something soon to fix thetrades shortage, were goingto find ourselves in even moredesperate need of them in thefuture. Then imagine howmuch its going to cost andhow long its going to take tohave your car serviced. Guest ColumnDonna Soave is office manager at North Star Landscaping Inc.,in Toronto.Those Flippin Burgersskilled trades Why it looks like Canadas on the verge of putting a reallyhigh value on skilled trades. By Donna SoaveUniversity grads flip burgers beside drop-outswho were discouragedfrom taking up a trade.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 21No matter the size of your eet; when youre running efciently, youre seeing more prot. And to keep your operation running smoothly, Shaw Trackings Automated Hours of Service lets you manage your eets safety and compliance with ease. Take care of your drivers with:QFully compliant paperless logs for just 26 cents a dayQAn electronic on-board recorder to comply with Canadian and US regulationsQPermanent exemption from new regulations on Distracted Driver complianceSo if youre wondering if Shaw Tracking is right for you, ask yourself this:With greater control over your protability, can you afford to go without it?Call 1.800.478.9511 or visit SHAWTRACKING.CAYour automated, electronic coach.24/7/365SERVICETSX 60 / NYSETRACKINGYour automated, electronic coach.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 22JANUARY 2012 23Remember thosefamous summer vacationsloading upthe Plymouth Fury wagonand heading out to a cabinwith those wonderfully musical voices coming fromthe back seat? Dad! He pinched me, orDonnies making faces, or,finally, everybodys fave, Arewe there yet?And you thought distracteddriving was new. (It just occurred to me. Iwonder if cell phones willreduce that backseat racket.The kids can all text eachother without bug-ging Dad so much.) But seriously, thesight of peoplereading and textingor applying make-up while manoeu-vring their two-ton-and-over vehiclesscares the bejeesusout of me. Here in Albertathey have finallypassed distracted-driving laws thatencompass a wholelist of things, andgood on them.(Unfortunately formy waistline,snacking did notmake the no-go listand neither did mybeloved Timmies!)And I am assuming thepolice will use discretion whenit comes to enforcement.Apparently a handheld CBradio is still allowed if you canprove you were using it tomake your drive safer, andthat covers a lot of ground. SoI dont believe the CB is on theendangered list at this point. Hand-held cells are nowtaboo and thats okay withme. All of our companytrucks have hands-freedevices, and our satellite-tracked trucks have thisrobotic female voice to mes-sage our drivers without themtaking their eyes off the road. I must add that eventhough the hands-free system is legal it can still be dangerous. The person on the otherend isnt in the vehicle withyou so has no idea what thedriving conditions are. Theywont stop talking because adeer runs in front of you. Andthey might say somethingthatll cause you to forgetyoure driving. Imagine youre entering atight S curve on an icy road,and your 15-year-old phonesto say shes, um, late with her,you know, cycle. Could be a dangerous distrac-tion to say the least.Really its best to bestopped and parkedwhenever any phoneconversation needsto take place. Also, there aretons of distractionsoutside the cab thesedays, and drivershave to work doublyhard to not bethrown off by them.Im thinking ofthings likeand thisis no all-inclusive list: Those new high-impact electronicadvertisements.When they changeads, its like lightningbolts coming at your windshield. Those blue headlights onBeemers and other luxurycars, they can be brighter thanmost domestics high beams. Portable speed signs thatmeasure your speed and flashit when you are exceeding thelimit. (I swear some peopletry to see how high they canmake it go on purpose). Summer pedestrians wearing bikinis on resort-town sidewalks; (ummonsecond thought, lets just livewith this one.) I have long assumed thatlaws like these are made fordrivers who obviously cantchew gum, listen to the radioand change lanes withoutcausing mayhem. Professionals who navigatea 53-foot trailer with 30 tons of freight through asnowstorm while sipping aTimmies and chowing downon a double cheeseburgercould live without these laws. But maybe, just maybethese new regs will save a life or two, and who can argue with that? And like Isaid, I am sure our enforce-ment officers will be modelsof discretion.Besides, most of the driv-ers I admire learned to driveunder the same conditions asChevy Chase did, like in thatmovie when he left for vaca-tion forgetting that the dogwas tied to the bumper. (Poorlittle fella kept up for the firstmile or so.) And wasnt hisdead aunt tied to the top ofthe car, too?Truck drivers, like thatpoor pup, have already beenthrough a lot and wont let little distractions (or distracted-driving laws) get to them. Guest ColumnDavid MacNevin is operationsmanager at Whitecourt TransportInc., based in Whitecourt, ABThoughts on Distracted Drivingdrivers Even though an activitys perfectly legal doesnt mean its not lethal.By David MacNevinThere are tons ofdistractions outsidethe cab these days;and drivers have towork doubly hardto not be thrownoff by them.SIGN OF THE TIMES: Professional drivers can takeeven the most distracting ads in stride.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:51 AM Page 23Endorsed by:April 19 - 21, 2012International CentreToronto, Ontario See more than 310,000 sq ft of new trucks, trailers and equipment. The Green Route New Product Showcase Free Daily Seminarstrwww.truckPlatinum SponsorGrand Prize Sponsor:TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 1:56 PM Page 24FeaturingVocational Truck & Equipment ExpoA special focus on medium duty, vocationaltrucks, equipment, chassis, bodies and services.ckworld.caLanyards provided by:Thousands of $$$ in prizes including theGRAND PRIZE*a $10,000 Bay Bloor Radio Gift CertificateSponsored by:*You must attend Truck World to win. Contest open to Truck World 2012 visitors 18 years of age or older. Visit truckworld.ca for contest rules.Endorsed by:TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 1:57 PM Page 2526 TODAYS TRUCKINGGOODFAT... Not so good.TheTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:52 AM Page 26JANUARY 2012 27Driver HealthTheres a cheeseburger I dream about. Its sold at a small ham-burger joint in Torontos east end called The Burgers Priest.(Redeeming the burger one at a time.) In fact, if I had to pick what my favorite food is, Id go with cheeseburgers.Pizza would be a close second, and third would be, well, cheeseburgers. Iveactually thought about starting a blog devoted to cheeseburgers. Back in November, I went for a ride with Erb Transport driver Alfy Meyer.We were hauling a load of chicken tortellini from Kitchener, ON to Morris, IL.We had to wait at meat inspection in Detroit, so we decided to hit one of therestaurants in Detroits famed East Market, where I had one of the best cheese-burgers in recent memory: salami (freshest Ive ever had) piled on a beef pattythat was smothered in old cheddar. And the bun? The bun was a pretzel. Salty,greasy and utterly fantastic. That evening, we wound up at a truck stop where I lazily had two over-the-counter slices of pizza (2 for five bucks!) that tasted as if someone soakedthe crust in water, then put a brick of cheese on top. Down the hatch theywent, quickly, and before I knew it, I was asleep in the bunk, dreaming aboutcheeseburgers.The next morning we had breakfast at the truck stop restaurant. (And saywhat you will about the Great Canadian Beer Gut, one look at all thoseAmerican truckers made me realize we have nothing on them; those are somebig, big boys.) I ordered the Louisiana Skillet with rye bread. The skillet hada base of white potatoes, a shifty looking spicy cream sauce, chopped chorizosausage, diced ham, a quarter inch of cheese, some specks of vegetablesthrown in for good measure, topped with two eggs, over-easy. Tasted like thepizza I had the night before. Shouldve had the biscuits and gravy. As I was re-living my favorite episodes of Man Vs. Food, Alfy was diningon home-cooked meals he had prepared and brought with himfish, leftovermeat pie, fruits and nuts, and various other goodies. He joined me for breakfast but took a lot of time ordering off the menu,making sure that what he ordered wasnt overly jacked with sugars and nastyfats. When it came time to eat on the road, this man showed true discipline.Alfy wasnt trying to lose weight or adhering to any specific diethe was justeating healthy. Staying in shape is a bit more of anuphill jog for truckers than most people.Who wants a salad after a long day onthe road? The thing is, you've alreadygot the discipline and patience. Howabout putting it to work for you on the road to a healthier lifestyle? BY JASON RHYNOTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 27TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 28EXERCISE: IT HELPSBut, if youre like many people, doing laps around yourtractor-trailer feels a little silly. You can certainly bringsome weights with you and store them easily in your cab,but theres only so many exercises you can do withdumbbells. Look for foldable, light-weight equipment,like the VERSA STICK. Its not going to clutter up your cab,and is the closest thing youll get to a gym on the road. JANUARY 2012 29Driver HealthTheres no denying thenight-vision thing. As youage, your eyes get worseand night driving becomesmore stressful. But it neednt stress you out.According to Dr. Marc Green,PhD, a Toronto- and Pittsburgh,PA-based traffic-and-visionexpert, theres no evidence thatwhat we commonly refer to as night blindness has led to more accidents and in fact his research shows that aging drivers adapt quite well to theirchanging abilities.Most night time accidents are rear-endcollisions, which have more to do withreaction times than vision.Your best bet is to make yourself as visible as possible. Since theres only so much you can do to avoid collision, Id make sure I have as many conspicuityaids as possible. Dr. Green actually offers a seminarcalled Vision and Conspicuity Issues inAccidents.Says Green: Clean your lights. And anybody who doesnt have a white traileris running a big risk.You have to make sure you have yourtape is clean. Thats the law. Be as visible as possible.And another irritant that seems to worsen with age is ones aversion to glare.Because of the deterioration of the opticpart of your eye (as opposed to the neuralpart) bright light seems to reflect differentlyas you age, so bright lights at night areharder to look at.Theres not much you can do aboutthat, except, Green says, glance away fromthe glare.BLACK IN THE DAY: These picturesshow how much aging changes the relativetransmission of light through the optic mediafor viewers of age 20, 60 and 75. Fortunately,humans can also adapt accordingly. Says Dr.Green: You know when you first walk into adark room you cant see anything but then yourvision adapts? The same thing applies here.BY PETER CARTERHaving A Blind Moment?AGE 20 AGE 60 AGE 75TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 29ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTICS (December 14, 2011) The EXP-1000HD from Midtronics is an expandable electrical diagnostic analyzer ...moreLockwoods Product Watch: a bi-weekly report on the industrysnewest products and services, collected and written by Rolf Lockwood.Plus recent goodies that you may not have seen before, such as worthyitems that didnt get much of a marketing push at the time of their introduction. Well cover it all.See the latest Lockwoods Product Watch Newsletter HERE!Click HERE to subscribe or HERE to view the archive.PRODUCT WATCHLOCKWOODSYoure simply not up to date unless you are a subscriberIts FREE, its EASY. To sign up go to www.todaystrucking.comTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 30Driver HealthFor long-haul drivers, staying healthy is a bit more of an uphill jog than it isfor most people. After the ride down to Illinois, I realized that nobody has theright to tell a driver how to eat and exercise unless theyve gone on the road fora few days. Still, though, health is major problem in the trucking industry. Mix in thelong hours, the stress of the job and irregular sleep patterns with the meals ofdeep fried everything, its not surprising that, according to one study, lifeexpectancy for a U.S. unionized trucker is 63 years while owner-operatorscome in at a depressing 55.7 years. The general U.S. male population gets tolive to the ripe old age of 75.But youve heard enough studies and have been pitched enough new dietsand exercise advice. John Siemeda, personal fitness trainer with Brampton-based APPSTransport, is suspicious of the diet and exercise industry. Its a big moneymaking thing, he says. My focus is not on weight loss, its on living healthy.For $5 a week, APPS employees get two one-on-one sessions with Siemeda,and, among other duties, he also makes daily lunches for a handful of APPS drivers. Im into good fats, he says about the meals he makes for drivers. Thinkchicken and rice with vegetableshome-cooked food minus any sugars,bread thats been whitened and bleached, or anything overly processed. Keepeating all you want, he says, just make sure its all good food. Easier said than done, however. As a red-meat-eating, cigarette-smoking,beer-drinking Canadian, Ive developed some habits that are hard to break. You have to start eliminating things, Siemeda says. Dont think aboutchanging your whole diet, just get rid of one bad thing to start. He points tothe concierge in the building where he lives. The concierge had lost 70 poundsby simply cutting out any visits to McDonalds and Wendys. Seventy poundsgone simply by breaking one habit.Its about changing your language, Siemeda explains. Say I dont eat this anymore. Then give it a few days. Your body will stop craving those fat-filled donuts. Its okay to fall off the wagon, too, Siemeda says. Commitment doesntmean you never fall, it means you get back up again. So what about exercise? After my Illinois breakfast with Alfy, we had about45 minutes to kill while we waited to unload. Alfy carries some light gymequipment with him, so we worked out in the parking lot for 15 minutesjustenough time for me to work out some of that Louisiana Skillet monstrosity. And thats all it takesavoid the bad stuff, get some moderate exercise andstart from there. Cutout SugarAs much as possible, that is.Even naturally grown foodshave sugar but you have power over how much white stuff you add.Speaking of...Avoid Anything WhiteIf you do have to eat a fast food place, get thechicken and toss the bun. Siemeda suggest carrying your own loaf of bread with you. Cook for yourself,and bring the food with you. Think basic, nothing fancy. Nobody likes tofu, not even vegans. EASYThings YouCan Do ToLOSEWEIGHT 3(Advice courtesy of APPS nutrition expert John Siemeda)Dont Miss MealsIt seriously messes with your blood sugar. Boil some eggs in themorning and bring them with you. A little salt and pepper, and youvegot a tasty snack. Think unsalted nuts, fresh walnuts, and just keep snacking throughout the day. 1,200Calories of Beef? Get Lean.1,200Calories of Pasta? Youll Get Fat. JANUARY 2012 31TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 3132 TODAYS TRUCKINGTire wear is not the problem. Itsusually a symptom of some otherproblem, such as poor suspension condition,misalignment, bad driving habits, impropertire specing, etc. Simply removing a bad tireand throwing on a new one is consigning thatsecond tire to an early grave as well. Frankly, if you are buying premium, name-brand tires, the likelihood of getting a badtire is minimal. Tire makers use highly auto-mated manufacturing processes today to prevent such occurrences. If your tires arentliving up to expectations, its probably yourtruck or your driveror your own neglectthats killing them.Here are seven tips to help get the best possible life from your tires, including multi-ple retreads.1THE RIGHT TIRE FOR THE JOBGiven the variety of tread and casing designsand rubber compounds available today,choosing the right tire for the job ought to beeasy. You can spec for any number of factors,such as durability, fuel efficiency, or tread life.But there are conflicts even in those three factors. A more fuel-efficient on-highway tiremay give you a shorter life cycle because ofshallower tread depth and compounding.Traction could be an issue too. A traction tirewith deeper tread will last longer but may notdeliver the fuel economy benefits. Tires built for regional work can withstand more curbing andscrubbing, and may have deeper treads and thicker sidewalls.Theyll perform well on short hauls with more turning and dock-ing, but will wear more quickly on the highway. Get the picture? Quality tires perform best in their intended application, sounderstand what it is you want from a tire, and spec accordingly.The amount of highway, off-road, and city driving you do shouldinform your tire spec. 2PROPER INFLATIONWhile there is still debate over the cost effectiveness of tire pressure monitoring systems and automatic tire inflation systems, theres no debate over the value of proper tire inflation. Itsaves fuel, saves tires, and saves money. Its also a P-I-A of biblicalproportions. Proper inflation allows the tire casing to support the weight ofthe load. The sidewalls of an under-inflated tire are stressed dueto excessive flexing and are prone to premature, sometimes catastrophic failure. Excessive casing temperature will alsoweaken the rubber compounds that keep the casing and the treadtogetherthis applies doubly for retreaded tires. Tire servicecompanies tell us under-inflation is number-one underlyingcause for roadside tire service. On top of that, soft tires exhibit poor rolling resistance charac-teristics. Poor rolling resistance means less-than-optimum fueleconomy. The alternative to technology here is grunt workget someonedown on his knees checking tire pressures on a regular basis. Sincedrivers will not do it, and skilled technicians time is too valuable,you need either a tire guy or a service provider to maintain tirepressure. Sure that costs money, but so does doing nothing. Thequestion is which costs less over the life of the tire?BY JIM PARKCOST OF INFLATION:Sooner or later, anythingthat wears and tears willcost you money. TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 32Win the Tire WarJANUARY 2012 333ALIGNMENT & BALANCEFew fleets actually balance tires and do regular alignments. Proofof the need for both service items lies no farther away than yourown scrap pile. Carefully examine your take-offs and youll see specific wearpatterns, advises Guy Walenga, Bridgestones Director, Engineering,Commercial Products and Technologies. If you see tires that havetread on them, but its worn irregularly, youll know you have aproblem. You now need to identify the trucks those tires came fromand fix whats causing the wear. Classic symptoms of an out-of-balance condition are cuppingand scalloping. By the time irregular wear patterns show up, thetire may be beyond redemption. Balancing it after the fact mayslow the wear, but you cant stop it. Balancing a tire when its first mounted using weights is a goodway to send it into service, but other sources of evolving wear, suchas poor suspension components, bad alignment, etc., can chew offbits of the tire changing its balance points. Balancing compoundssuch as beads, powders, and liquids (butnot golf balls) have proven effective inminimizing long-term tire wear. Use onlyapproved and recognized materials. The need for alignment is often judgedon its ROI. Do you spend a few hundredbucks every year to possibly save a tirecosting roughly the same? Again, go backto the scrap pile, or take a walk throughthe yard and look for alignment relatedtire wear. This includes feathered wear, high-to-low left-to-rightwear, and shoulder wear on steer tires. When sourcing an alignment service, choose one that will correctthe problem rather than just resetting the truck back to OEM specs. The OEM specification is a manufacturing tolerance, saysMike McCoy, National/Special Accounts Manager at Bee Line. IfI was a fleet owner, I wouldnt be satisfied with someone settingmy alignment to within OE tolerance. McCoy points to camber as an example. Some OE specifica-tions allow for as much as 7/16 of a degree positive or negative.TMCs RP 642 calls for less than one-quarter of a degree, he says.Balance and alignment are both dynamic conditions. Theychange over the life of the tire, so dont expect the set-it-and-for-get-it approach to work with balance or alignment. 4INSTALLATIONSeating a tire properly on a wheel, and then mounting the wheelproperly on the hub is not as easy as it looks. If it looks simple, itsnot being done right. First, the wheel must be checked for damage and incongruities.Warpage can cause lateral run-out, bent flanges can cause radialrun-out, and bad bead seats can cause pressure loss. All tires have a thin ring embossednear the bead seat used to verify con-centric mounting. The distance betweenthe ring and the wheel should be thesame all the way around; if not, remountthe tire.Getting the wheel mounted concen-trically on the hub is just as tricky. First, the mounting surfaces ofthe hub and the wheel must be brushed clean and free of loosematerial. Dont rely on the hub pilots to center the wheel on thehub. Manufacturing tolerances are too wide. Win TireWarCORE VALUES: Dont let a $3 valve takedown a $300 tire. Replace the stem andcore at each tire change.7 tips to keep your rubber on the road longer.theTT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 33Win the Tire War34 TODAYS TRUCKINGSeveral clever solutions exist to help in this exercise: stud spacing sleeves thatfit over the studs will center the wheelmore precisely than the hub pilots. Some are reusable, some are designed tobe left in place. You can also mount the wheel and hand tighten two nuts on opposite sides of the rim, and thenapply the brakes. The outward push ofthe brake will center the wheel on thehub. Tighten the rest of the nuts as perprocedure. And heres the important part. Checkfor concentric mounting with a run-outgauge, or an object placed near the tiresidewall and tread face. Even a sixteenthof an inch out will affect tire wear. Sure,its a pain in the posterior, but it willimprove tire life. Outsourcing could bethe answer.5TIRE INSPECTION & WEAR ANALYSISAll tires look good the day you installthem. But a driver could run over a pieceof metal on the roadway in the very nexthour, and cut the sidewall. Regular andfrequent inspections can save a casing orprevent a service-call-inducing blowout. Irregular tire wear wont show upimmediately, but it wont take long. Atthe first sign of some unexpected wear,remove the tire and fix the problem before installing another tire. If your tirepeople are not experts in tire wear, consult someone who is. A valuablesource of information is the Technologyand Maintenance Councils (TMC) Re -commended Practice RP 219 - Radial TireWear Conditions and Causes: a Guide toWear Pattern Analysis. Remember, tire wear is often a symp-tom of some other problem. And when itcomes to alignment, steer tire wear canoften be the fault of the drive axles. 6RETREADINGThe single most effective way to loweryour lifecycle tire costs is retreading. On-highway operators can retread twice,perhaps three times, effectively doublingor tripling the life of the casing. Somevocational operators can retread a half-dozen times or more. Call it maximizingreturn on your tire investment. All of the same tire management strate-gies youd apply to virgin casings apply toretreads, with an emphasis on inflationpressure checks. 7TIRE MANAGEMENTThe key to a successful tire program is theability to track them. Fleets can comparebrands vs. tread design vs. wheel positionand learn which tire performs best in par-ticular situations. While larger fleets can take full advan-tage of the sophisticated tire managementsoftware on the market today, smallerfleets may have a hard time justifying thecost. Most tire manufacturers have web-based tire tracking programs, such asBridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions TireLife Cycle Cost Calculator, or GoodyearsTVTRACK and TireValuCalc. 1- 6lI k0Wl! (41-4691) - www.hewes|ahe.cemProfessional Grade Performance Since 1920Relax, Howes Has YouCovered This Winter.Start your engines every time with HowesDiesel Treat. And enjoy a little extra protectionfor yourself with a FREE Howes deluxe travel blanket. Either way Howes has you covered.Now thats sure to put a smile on your face. Prevents Diesel Fuel From Gelling, Guaranteed! Saves Money and Eliminates Downtime Increases Power and Fuel Economy Treats More Fuel than Competing Brands Particulate Filter Friendly and Warranty Safeem Howes DeluxeFleece Travel Blanket!when you purchase 6 bottles of Howes ProductsSee stores for details or visit www.howeslube.comOer ends: 3/31/12, available while supplies last.t!uctsFREE! FREE!TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 34Win the Tire WarJANUARY 2012 35Several TPMS providers also includetracking software with their product thathelps owners track pressure and tempera-ture history. A low-tech but effective option, and agood place to start if this is new to you, isTMCs RP 208. Its designed to track andanalyze tire durability and operating costs.Its paper and pencil, but it works. Tires should be viewed as a system. Itstread and compounding, the casing, main-tenance practices, and tracking to deter-mine what works best, says Tim Miller,Goodyears commercial tire marketingcommunications manager. When yourjob is to stay profitable through low cost-per-mile and tires are a [significant]operating cost, its imperative to trackyour numbers. Its the only way to a solidbottom line. www.espar.comFind out how Espar Heaterscan SAVE YOU MONEY.WEEKLY PUMP PRICE SURVEY / cents per litrePrices as of December 13, 2011 Updated prices at www.mjervin.comRetail Diesel Price WatchCITY Price Excl. TaxesWHITEHORSE 143.9 -0.5 125.8VANCOUVER * 135.9 -4.0 95.0VICTORIA 136.9 0.0 101.5PRINCE GEORGE 134.9 -0.5 103.1KAMLOOPS 134.4 0.0 102.6KELOWNA 136.5 -0.2 104.6FORT ST. JOHN 141.9 -0.7 109.8YELLOWKNIFE 136.2 0.0 116.6CALGARY * 127.9 5.0 108.8RED DEER 124.9 0.0 106.0EDMONTON 122.6 -0.7 103.7LETHBRIDGE 129.9 0.5 110.7LLOYDMINSTER 128.2 0.0 109.1REGINA * 130.9 0.7 105.7SASKATOON 128.9 -0.2 103.8PRINCE ALBERT 129.9 0.0 104.7WINNIPEG * 128.5 -0.6 106.9BRANDON 125.9 -2.0 104.4TORONTO * 129.7 -2.8 96.4OTTAWA 130.9 -3.7 97.5KINGSTON 131.9 -2.0 98.4PETERBOROUGH 128.2 -0.3 95.1WINDSOR 124.2 -2.5 91.6LONDON 128.9 -1.5 95.8SUDBURY 127.9 -2.0 94.9SAULT STE MARIE 128.5 -1.1 95.4THUNDER BAY 134.7 -2.3 100.9NORTH BAY 129.3 -1.5 96.1TIMMINS 132.6 -1.3 99.0HAMILTON 128.8 -0.7 95.7ST. CATHARINES 128.9 -0.7 95.8MONTRAL * 136.9 -1.5 98.0QUBEC 135.6 -0.7 96.8SHERBROOKE 135.4 -0.5 96.7GASP 133.9 -2.5 99.2CHICOUTIMI 132.9 0.0 98.3RIMOUSKI 133.9 0.5 97.2TROIS RIVIRES 133.9 0.0 95.3DRUMMONDVILLE 134.9 0.0 96.2VAL D'OR 131.9 -5.6 97.4SAINT JOHN * 135.1 -2.7 96.4FREDERICTON 136.2 -1.8 97.4MONCTON 135.9 -2.6 97.1BATHURST 137.7 -2.7 98.7EDMUNDSTON 137.6 -2.5 98.6MIRAMICHI 136.8 -2.7 97.9CAMPBELLTON 136.9 -2.7 98.0SUSSEX 135.4 -2.7 96.6WOODSTOCK 138.8 -2.8 99.6HALIFAX * 128.8 -2.1 92.6SYDNEY 132.5 -1.2 95.8YARMOUTH 131.6 -1.8 95.0TRURO 130.3 -4.2 93.9KENTVILLE 131.0 -1.8 94.5NEW GLASGOW 131.8 -1.7 95.2CHARLOTTETOWN * 129.7 0.0 99.3ST JOHNS * 138.2 -2.9 101.8GANDER 134.7 -2.9 98.7LABRADOR CITY 144.9 -1.6 107.7CORNER BROOK 138.9 -2.9 102.4CANADA AVERAGE (V) 131.7 -0.5 100.7V-Volume Weighted (+/-) indicates price variations from previous week.Diesel includes both full-serve and self-serve prices.The Canada average price is based on the relative weights of 10 cities (*)(+/-) PreviousWeekANOTHER GO-ROUND: Retreading can triplethe life of your casings, lowering lifecycle costs. SEALING THE DEAL: Use a proper bead lubricant to improveyour chances at more concentricmounting. READING BETWEEN THE LINES:Cupping and scalloping wear arecommon, and they are signs of anout-of-balance condition. TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 3536 TODAYS TRUCKINGTraining has probably neverbeen more valuable than it isright now with the industrymore complicated than ever, no matterwhat the trucking job. Thats especiallytrue in the shop. Added to the traditionalobligation of getting trucks and trailers inand out of there faster than humanly pos-sible, the fleet-maintenance chief hasacquired the huge burden of compliancein recent years. And an ever-growing bur-den at that. So the bedraggled shop super has whatare often competing priorities. Fix it fastbut make darned sure you fix it right. Nomore educated guesses. No more sayingYeah, OK to a screaming dispatcher evenif youd like to hold that trailer for just halfa day longer. Given the risk of a failed on-the-roadinspection or worse, an accident, that dis-patcher should be hearing No can do a lotmore often nowadays.Training technicians is also where a bigdifference can be made in your shops effi-ciency. Not just in terms of clearing jobsquickly, but ensuring that those jobs dontcome back 500 lousy miles later becausethe thing wasnt fixed right the first time. One thing for sure, says Bendix veteranRon Gervais, who now runs his own train-ing company, Freinmeister Group, is thatits less expensive to provide training thanit is to allow an untrained employee to per-form a task he or she knows little about.The reality is that you probably donthave enough techs in the first place, whichmeans each of those you do employ is cru-cial. And their skills levels equally so. Theanswer is continuous, up-to-date training. Remember too that for every four tech-nicians retiring this year, most estimatessay that, as an industry, were only recruit-ing one. Retention is thus an issue as well,and training plays a role in that context.Theres general agreement that mechanicsappreciate the opportunity to learn andwill be more likely to stay where thatoption is open to them.CHOPSSHOP The costs associated with being pulled over, put out of service orworse, having an accident, are soaring. Thats why keeping yourmaintenance crew up to speed is more critical than ever. BY ROLF LOCKWOODSHOW, DONT TELL: The traditional classroom is far more effectivewhen theres hands-on instruction instead of a droning lecture.TT January 2012_Todays Tr masters.qxd 11-12-16 11:53 AM Page 36JANUARY 2012 37NO WILL-FIT TRAININGSo, if training is going to happen, whatform will it take? First, the experts will tell you, decidewhat you need. Meaning, take a look from30,000 ft and assess your teams strengthsand weaknesses. Do you need to improveperformance? Specific product knowledge?Maybe a return to the fundamentals?Really, its a question of looking at whoyoure going to be training and workingbackwards from there. Talk to your techni-cians, find out where they feel theyrefalling short. Many managers do the opposite, looking to see what training isavailable and blindly assuming it will fit.Wrong. Start with conceiving the resultyou want and only then go shopping. The single most effective way to train technicians is to understand theirneeds and design training that meetsthose needs, says Jeff Moss, learning technology manager at Mack NorthAmerican Institute (the training arm ofMack Trucks).Youll likely find that their needs actuallydiffer quite a lot from one mechanic to thenext, which demands defining the trainingprocess before you start. As much as needsdiffer from one person to another, so willtheir ability to absorb training in the firstplace. Language competency and basic lit-eracy will come into play here too, thoughtheyre often ignored, the latter especially. Literacy plays a key role in ourapproach to training, says Jeff Moss.Beyond reading comprehension, we con -sider computer literacy and technical literacy essential skill sets for todays serv-ice technician.Everyone has time and budget con-straints these days, so your companyscapacity to create a useful training pro-gram has to be realistic. Can you afford tosend people offsite for a day or two at atime? How many people are you going tobe training? Are they spread out geo-graphically or all in one place? If yourelooking to buy CD/DVD-based programs,do you buy off-the-shelf material or canyou afford to have it custom-designed?Are your techs sufficiently disciplined thatthey can handle self-managed onlinetraining without a live instructor?The questions are endless, really, andchoosing the means of training delivery willbe as important as decisions on content.DELIVERY METHODSThe genesis of this article was a desire onour part to examine how things havechanged in the last 10 to 20 years in termsof delivering training to technicians. Itsno longer feasible for many shops to sendtheir people away for a few days to somedistant classroom, and even finding timeat home base can be tough. We wanted toknow what has changed, but in fact wediscovered that the old ways are still withus f