June 2013 Volume 33, Issue 6 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Caught off-guard New licence designation banning Ontario drivers from US catches many truckers by surprise By James Menzies TORONTO, Ont. – In April, nearly 47,000 Ontario-based commercial truckers were surprised to receive letters from the province’s Ministry of Transportation, informing them they were not qualified to drive in the US due to a medical issue. The letter stated their licence would be labeled with a ‘W’ code, indicating their inability to legally drive commercially south of the border. Richard Parsons, a 62-year-old Windsor, Ont.-based cross-border trucker, was among those who received the letter. He said he was completely caught off-guard, and worried about his ability to keep his job. He called the MTO and said: “You’re telling me I’m losing my job. Ninety-nine per cent of my runs are in the States and it’s been that way for the last 40-some years.” Parsons has a condition he characterized as a lazy eye, which he was told made him ineligible to drive in the US. However, he said he’s been driving cross-border for decades without incident and he has no such restrictions when trucking Continued on page 8
big fleet, even bigger responsibilities: John Haines, national fleet director for Canada Cartage was named this year’s Maintenance Manager of the Year. Photo by Adam Ledlow
Canadian Fleet Maintenance Manager of the Year John Haines on preparing your shop, staff and self for success By Adam Ledlow MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – “Doing something is better than doing nothing.” A simple adage, and one that John Haines, national fleet director for Canada Cartage and winner of this year’s Canadian Fleet Maintenance Manager of the Year award of-
Daimler’s DT12 enters production We take you to Germany, where the first models are being built.
fered when asked to give advice to young technicians and managers in the industry. “You’ve got to work hard every day at it,” he told Truck News in his office at Canada Cartage’s Mississauga terminal. “You’re going to make mistakes – I’ve made lots of them over
the years – but I’ve learned from them and, hopefully, the next time you do it better, and you do it better, and you do it better, and you’ll eventually score.” The 35-year veteran was presented with the award at the 50th annual Canadian Fleet Maintenance SemiContinued on page 45
Inside This Issue...
• Just in time:
A P.E.I. owner/operator finished the Boston Marathon just over an hour before the fateful blasts went off. We have his story. Page 15
• Are you prepared?: Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) consumption
rates could be set to soar as a result of the new GHG regs. Is your fleet prepared for the implications? Page 56
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• A whiter light:
On-road editor Harry Rudolfs test-drives Truck-Lite’s new LED headlights. Page 72
Page 66
• Like a lamb to slaughter: Mark Dalton ends up sharing his bunk with an unexpected passenger.
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