April 2008 Volume 28, Issue 4 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Setting the stage
Pump pains
Ontario, Quebec ponder speed limiter enforcement tactics By Carroll McCormick MONTREAL, Que. – For those trying to keep track of the twists and turns in the road leading to speed limiter laws in Quebec and Ontario, here is the latest: Quebec now has a speed limiter law, but has not yet implemented it and professes not to know when it will. Ontario is busy drafting its own law, it may have it ready to adopt by spring and it wants to implement it by this fall or sooner. To recap the story, last November Quebec became the first province to introduce speed limiter legislation, in Bill 42. On Dec. 19 the National Assembly voted B-42 into law. However, the law set no implementation date for section 66, which mandates activating speed limiters at 105 km/h; i.e., Quebec has a law but has not yet turned it on. The word from Transports Quebec, as of Feb. 29, is that it is conducting studies of “105” – the hip new shorthand for this issue. It desires and is discussing harmonizing the implementation of 105 with the rest of Canada and even North America. When 105 will be implemented, and how it will be enforced are, at least for public ears, unknown.
B.C.’s carbon tax may cost the industry millions
Photo by Adam Ledlow
WHERE’S THE CARROT?: B.C. has become the first province to adopt a carbon tax, which will add over eight cents a litre to the cost of diesel fuel. The trucking industry, however, will receive little in return for its contribution.
By Jan Westell VICTORIA, B.C. – The new B.C. carbon tax is creating a great deal of controversy in this province, especially amongst the trucking industry, which is faced with the greatest cost increase. Yet, one B.C. trucking company is taking the added cost in stride. The general manager and partner of Coastal Pacific Xpress, considers the new carbon tax to be just another expense. “This is just business as usual for us,” says Jim Mickey.“We consider the increase (in fuel) a cost of doing business.” CPX is based in Cloverdale, located just a few kilometres from the Washington border crossing, and is considered to be one of the fastest growing truckload carriers in B.C., with 250 trucks and 700 trailers. While CPX is well established, and adjusts its costs according to provincial, national or international economic fluctuations, the general manager realizes that smaller operators are unContinued on page 19 ■
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Inside This Issue... • Engine report card:
A comprehensive look at hybrid trucks
• Shooting for the stars: On-road editor Harry Rudolfs climbs
See pg. 44
A look at how EPA07 engines are peforming with big fleets in the real-world. Page 40
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behind the wheel of a Western Star 4900 FA for the first time – a rare treat for a company driver. Page 50
• Recall rundown: Truck recalls are a nuisance, but there are ways to minimize downtime when seeking recall-related repairs. Eric Berard explains. Page 52
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• Mark Dalton in Survival of the Fittest: Mark finds he is his own worst enemy when it comes to living healthy. Page 76
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