October Magazine

Dave brings to you 38 years of valuable experience in transportation, management, business and compliance. Dave has driven in every condition across North America and overseas as military, police, company driver to owner operator to now Publisher Editor of Canadian Trucking Magazine.

We made history folks with 114 trucks rolling around Winnipeg on September 17th 2011 for the “Worlds Largest Convoy for Special Olympics�

By golly we had us a CONVOY. Friend of the Convoy and top photographer Dennis of course took all the pictures and road shotgun with me. Of course he forgot to fill the tank or someone did.

It is worth a Visit to the site to see all the great shots @ www.pbase.com/ photosbydennis/convoy_2011.

Thanks Dennis for the great pictures in this issue.

It is the people that do make the difference when it comes to the Convoy.

From the Law Enforcement that dedicated thier time year after year making sure the convoy runs the perimeter highway of Winnipeg without interrupting or delays, to the lead truck (Below) where this Driver with his very proud daughter raised the most donations to become the lead truck of the 2011 Convoy!

The Bison Team, same people year after year donating thier time and energy to make this event happen.

If you have not been a part of a Convoy in your area before, pencil it in for next year.

Every September acrosss North America is the Convoy for Special Olympics and in October acrosss Canada and in Texas is Convoy for a cure.

In December in many

cities is the Parade of Lights.

Stay tuned in future issues of Canadian Trucking Magazine our web page @ www.canadiantruckingmagazine.ca

and our face book page for details of a convoy close to you.

The main thing is to get out there and support a great cause while also having fun and a warm fuzzy feeling.

In Winnipeg the number of trucks we have here on a week-end and the transportation hub of NA we should have at least 200 trucks and break another record for 2012.

Again, make sure you visit the web site Dennis has to view all the great pictures of the 2011 and past Convoys.

A Soldier, is someone that once wrote a blank cheque to thier country up to and including thier life.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, what will you be doing with a few minutes of your time?

Our Service People be it Military, Police, Fire ,Ambulance run towards danger while most are running away!

They deserve our respect everyday never mind once a year for a minute of silence.

I relate the story of Grumpy (Big Bill) last year when he noticed it close to 11am and stopped his truck on the highway, stepped out, took off his hat and bowed his head in silence for these Heros.

Grumpy on the Transcanada Hwy did not hear one truck or car pass for the minutes he gave respect. He lifted his head to see cars and trucks stopped on both sides and some standing outside in silence.

Remember they are not Heros because they died, they are Heros because of how they lived!

Heros and Angels come in many forms, be apart of the 2012 Convoy and make a difference!

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Sandy Long Trucking Santas doing Great Things Many might not know that truckers do much more than just drive that truck.

Truckers are involved in charitable work throughout the world. Here in the USA, truckers work to raise money for Special Olympics, research for a cure for breast cancer, Make a Wish foundation and Trucker Buddy Program to name a few. Two years ago, a new charitable organization was started called Trucking Santas.

Trucking Santas was founded by Heather Pontruff and her fiancé Louis (Lou) Obadal through their website Trucker’s Voice. Heather and Lou heard of families who were not going to be able to afford any sort of Christmas for their children and made the decision to do something to help. Since then, Heather and Lou have identified 38 to date families that live in poverty, have terminally ill children, or who are out of work due to the economy. In addition to the 38 families, Trucking Santas will be assisting 65 people who are in a cerebral palsy home.

Heather says, “Many of the said families have had tragedy, including kids that are terminally ill. In one family, the father was paralyzed in an accident this year; the stories make one sad to hear. Some of these families have never had presents under the tree. In addition to being able to assist others, we are assisting truckers too by showing that truckers do care about those outside of the industry.”

Each family receives 4 outfits, 1 pair of shoes, and new bedding for every person in the family.

The children get gifts. If the families have a need for pots and pans, dishes, towels, etc., they also get

them. One lady at the cerebral palsy home teaches Bible study to the others, her Bible was worn out, plans are in place to get her a new one along with an audio Bible set and other materials to assist her in her ministry. Others at the facilty have asked for special bedding, they will get it. Heather reports that these folks are ‘amazing!’

Trucking Santas has no corporate sponsors but do have some companies and many truckers involved in making Christmas special for their adopted families and folks. They have yet to gain their non-for profit certification, hopefully that will occur within the next year according to Heather. Some of the truckers involved had this to say why they are involved in Trucking Santas and how they can afford to do so in this economy.

Vern Lampman: “Melissa and I wanted to reach out and help a family in need. We were blessed several years ago when families in our town helped us at Christmas when my income was cut in half after leaving the Air Force. God has blessed us financially and we want to share blessings!”

Tullina Jones Wambold: “I feel like even though I may not be in the best position myself, I know there are MANY others who have it a lot worse. I feel blessed with what I do have so I want to do my best to help someone else.”

Becca Burke Allison: “ I believe we need to help each other in this world; love your neighbor for real. Any of us can fall on hard times.

All of us are pretty much clueless as to how we got here and what we should be doing. Helping others makes the most sense. Besides, it’s fun!”

Rebecca ‘Queenbee’ Lee:

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“What comes around goes around.

Growing up my dad was the chief of police in a small town in Minnesota, every Thanksgiving and Christmas my dad bought a case of turkeys and all the fixings for a holiday meals for 6 families in our area. By me being part of this, I feel I am following those family footsteps.

Granted times are tough, but a little bit of love goes a long ways on a holiday. It brings great joy to me.”

Thomas Heatherman: “Why did I do it, it’s hard to explain. I have seen enough death and destruction so it’s nice to do something good. Besides Christmas is a time of year that kids look forward to.

There's nothing like the smiles on a child's face when they see the presents; I may not see the faces but I know I helped make their Christmas. From the time I said yes to Trucking Santas I started setting money aside for my adopted family.”

The adopted families are grateful for Trucking Santas as stated by Amanda Sargis, “I am the wife of a independent trucker and with the cost of fuel and operation and maintaining the truck we wouldn't of had the Christmas that we had, and seeing the generosity that folks had helped raise my spirits and prove yet once again that humanity does still exist in the world.

I am still struggling today living hand to mouth but continue to carry last year’s Christmas in my heart knowing that my kids will always see that as their best Christmas ever and I must thank all involved.”

One does not have to be big and jolly or wear a red suit to be a Trucking Santa, one just has to have a big heart and any amount of money to assist. Heather says, “While direct money donations are

not accepted, we always need card senders and adopters. If you help adopt a family, you will be given a wish list from an online store. The families name and address are automatically imprinted into there.

The Trucking Santa shops for the gifts and directly ships it or takes it to the family themselves.

Some Trucking Santas cannot afford to do a whole list, they can do part of it or just one item. Cards are appreciated almost as much as the gifts because it shows someone cares.

The family in turn sends me pictures of them opening their gifts, and I post them for all Trucking Santas to see.”

If you are interested in becoming involved in Trucking Santas and bring a merry ho ho ho to a needy family or person, Heather says, “Anyone interested In helping out can contact me anytime via facebook (www.facebook.com/theoneandonlytv),

email (trkrsvoice@thetruckersvoice.net), or twitter (@trkingsantas).“

Street Smarts: A Guide to a Truck Driver's Personal Safety Do not cuss a trucker or a farmer with your mouth full!

WINNIPEG – October 25, 2011 Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT), together with the University of Manitoba Transport Institute and the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) announce the continuation of the GrEEEn (Economically and Environmentally Efficient) Trucking incentive program.

Reintroduced for the fall of 2011, the program offers incentives to companies/owner-operators to install various technological improvements that work to reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption.

The announcement was made today by Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton. “We are pleased to continue to partner with the Manitoba government and appreciate the new support that will bring fuel-efficient options to more of the trucking industry,” said Bob Dolyniuk, Executive Director of the Manitoba Trucking Association.

“The GrEEEn Trucking program has been a success in supporting our industry’s objective to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and

this benefits not only the trucking industry, but also the community at large.”

The key objectives of the GrEEEn Trucking program are to further demonstrate Provincial commitment to promoting technology and innovation as a way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the freight transportation sector and help the private sector, through financial incentives, implement GHG emission reduction technologies.

Last year, $225,000 in funding leveraged $13 million in upgrades by local transportation companies. Companies are eligible for rebates of up to 25 per cent, to a maximum of $2,500 per tractor or trailer.

Eligible upgrades include aerodynamics for tractor and trailer units such as side skirts and front fairings, lowrolling resistance tires, automatic tire-inflation devices and anti-idling technologies.

The GrEEEn Trucking program offers a flexible way for Manitoba’s trucking industry to combine technologies, enhance efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. An energy efficient trucking industry is more competitive, supports employment growth and contributes to a healthy provincial economy.

For more information on the GrEEEn Trucking Program including how to apply for funding, please visit www.gov.mb.ca/mit and

www.greeentrucking.ca

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