September 2011 Volume 31, Issue 9 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Cargo crime crunch
Trucking industry is getting serious about fighting back By Carroll McCormick MONTREAL, Que. – It’s a criminal free-for-all featuring cargo theft, fraud, cyber-fraud, identity theft, extortion, robbery, drug and weapons smuggling, brokerage fraud, Internet crime, credit card theft, gun violence, kidnapping, murder, infiltration by organized crime…but the Canadian trucking industry thinks it’s ready to fight back. As proof of a new commitment to shut down this crime Mecca, last year the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) with the cooperation and financial support of a pretty long list of trucking, insurance and police parties hired Lansdowne Technologies to prepare what it termed a “threat and risk assessment” of cargo crime in Canada. The report bills itself as the first of its kind in Canada, possibly the world, “to clearly explain cargo crime in Canada and to promote awareness of the issues and challenges facing Canada in coming to grips with the problem of cargo crime.” Carriers, insurance companies and
ring of honour: Robert St. Vincent, an owner/operator with Bison Transport was selected as the 2011 Truck News Owner/Operator of the Year. Among his prizes was a diamond ring seen here as St. Vincent was recognized at the Fergus Truck Show. Photo by Adam Ledlow
A passion for the business of trucking O/O of the Year says challenge of managing his business is what drives him By James Menzies FERGUS, Ont. – At 49 years of age, Robert St. Vincent is by no means old. But old school? He’ll wear that badge with pride. The 18th annual Truck News Own-
er/Operator of the Year got started in the trucking industry early. His father owned a small transfer company in the 1950s, instilling in St. Vincent a passion for trucking. “Every chance I had, I’d go with
him for a ride and I just loved being in that truck,” St. Vincent recalled. His aspirations, however, involved bigger trucks and far-off places. As a teenContinued on page 8
Continued on page 50
Guess who’s turning 25? We test drive Kenworth’s T800 to celebrate the milestone.
Inside This Issue...
• Training on demand:
A government-funded training organization is coming to the trucking industry, offering costeffective online training for heavy-duty technicians. Page 12
• Small tractors, big loads: In Canada, shunt truck spec’ing
is an artform. We look at some of the latest offerings that are reshaping the shunt truck landscape. Page 31
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• Heavy metal classics:
Profiling Classic Freight Systems, a specialty steel hauler with a load of ambition. Page 64
• The Good Shepherd: Mark Dalton takes a passenger along for a ride and begins to question his own beliefs.
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