December 2013 Volume 33, Issue 12 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Brutal border backup
Continued on page 12
Surface Transportation Summit: Pg. 22
The
kids are alright
US computer glitch causes biggest border backup in years By Ron Stang WINDSOR, Ont. – A nationwide US Customs computer glitch saw truck traffic backed up here more than 20 kms in the kind of delay not seen since the weeks after 9/11. The day in question was Oct. 22 when computers processing both commercial and vehicular traffic malfunctioned and resulted in multi-hour delays, according to truckers with whom Truck News spoke. US Customs and Border Protection officials did not provide an actual count for the hours the system was down. Spokesman Kris Grogan from a US Customs regional office said he didn’t know “the exact length, because I think some places came up before others” and Detroit Customs chief Ken Hammond said “I believe it was just a couple of hours.”
Economic Forecasts Inside: ATA: Pg. 10 • APTA: Pg. 15
all in the family: Arron Attard is the youngest of the Attard family to launch a career behind the wheel. Father Steve founded S&S Trucking which has provided a launching pad for the careers of his children. Photo by Daniela Piteo
Who says today’s youth aren’t into trucking? For this small Ontario fleet, trucking is still a family affair. By Daniela Piteo GEORGETOWN, Ont. – It’s do or die in the trucking industry. The industry is, for Steve Attard and his family, their livelihood, their passion and soon, their legacy. Attard got behind the wheel of a truck at a young age, following in his father’s stead. As soon as he could put
Driving the T880 We put Kenworth’s newest truck model through its paces.
Page 54
the money together, he bought himself his first set of wheels. “When I was 18 years old, I bought my first truck. I couldn’t even use it. I was (unemployable), because in the 1980s you had to be 21 years old to drive,” Attard said. Attard always had a passion for trucks and decided to eek his way into
the industry at a slow but steady pace. “At first, I started making small deliveries, until I became an owner/operator,” said. Attard. After many years of working for other companies, Attard decided to branch out on his own; after all, he had been a private business owner as Continued on page 32
Inside This Issue...
• Report from the Summit: This year’s Surface Transportation
Summit was bigger than ever. Check out our report, including strong words on a tender subject. Pages 22-25
• Safety meeting:
We report on the Fleet Safety Council meeting, where behaviour was a hot topic. Pages 28-30
• Trailer talk:
Utility Trailer has revealed its proprietary manufacturing processes to the press for the very first time. We share some of them in an exclusive interview. Page 52
• The Truxpo Gambit: Dalton went to the truck show looking for deals. He may get more than he bargained for.
Our mufflers are stronger, last longer and save you $$$! See our ad page 56
Page 60 905-795-2838
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Careers 34-51
Ad Index 57 PM40069240
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