October 2010 Volume 30, Issue 10 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Wasted wind
In freight we trust
Fears of double-dip recession overblown, trucking analysts say
Ontario driver wants to turn truck-generated wind into household energy By James Menzies TORONTO, Ont. – Who has seen the wind? Former owner/operator and part-time professional driver Larry Cater has, and he likes what he sees. Specifically, Cater has seen the potential in harnessing the draft generated by transport trucks and converting it to household electricity. It may seem far-fetched, but Cater has patented his idea for a Traffic Driven Wind Energy Generator, or as he prefers to call it, ‘Green Truck Lanes.’ “Being a victim of the road for a number of years, I’ve realized there’s substantial wind out there that’s unharnessed, so I went looking for a way to harness the energy from the road,” Cater told Truck News in a recent interview. The former owner/operator sold his truck two years ago and invested the money into his invention while continuing to drive a company truck part-time. Cater comes from an inventive family; his father sold two patents in the 1960s, one of which was in use until recently. Cater has developed three variations of a system that would take the wind created by transport trucks and other vehicles and then convert it to electricity. The first consists of a modified jersey barrier, which would line medians on existing highways such as the 401. In addition to preventing
Professional drivers were promised “more convenient access” to Ontario’s redeveloped service centres. This is what you got. By James Menzies TORONTO, Ont. – Professional drivers who were concerned that the service centres along Ontario’s busiest corridors may not be redesigned with their interests in mind, appear to have been correct. As construction continues on many of Ontario’s 23 provincially owned service centres, professional drivers are finding truck parking at some sites is inadequate. At West Lorne, for instance, pull-through truck parking spots have been replaced with spaces that require a driver
to back in blindside, professional driver James Garvin told Truck News. Worse, the width of the spaces don’t even account for a truck’s mirrors. Garvin parked in one of the spaces recently and noted his mirrors overhung the white lines. West Lorne does, however, have six drive-through RV spots and four LCV parking spaces. The West Lorne service centre is still under construction, but Garvin worries the parking situation won’t improve. When he asked a general contractor onContinued on page 22
By James Menzies DALLAS, Texas – There’s little chance of a double-dip recession, leading trucking industry forecasters assured attendees at the first annual Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference here recently. Eric Starks, president of FTR Associates, said while “there are substantial downside risks out there in the marketplace, a true double-dip recession is unlikely.” He said a “growth recession” is more likely, which is described as positive growth but at such a slow pace that it may feel like a recession to trucking companies. FTR keeps a Trucking Conditions Index, which considers many variables affecting the trucking industry and combines them into one metric to measure the overall health of the trucking industry. The index, which plummeted during the recession, is now near the zero mark, which means neutral. “We’re kind of back to normal,” Starks said. “Some guys feel great, but in general, the industry is feeling okay. The industry is going to tread water for the next several months at least and by the middle of next year, things will accelerate.” Despite startling new housing figures that showed sales of
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Navistar launches assault on medium-duty market
Inside This Issue...
• Waiver crackdown:
We don’t expect you to feel sorry for sex offenders. But some drivers charged with sex-related offenses long ago may find it difficult to run in the US. Page 14
• Sinking ferry?: Will a ferry service linking Nova Scotia and P.E.I. be given a lifeline? Or will all truckers have to rely on the Confederation Bridge? Page 16
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John Erik Albrechtsen of Paul’s Hauling candidly discusses what issues are on his mind. Page 52
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• Show, shine’n…shrug:
Mark Dalton’s first show’n’shine experience is more than he bargained for. Page 60
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