Western Canada’s Trucking Newspaper Since 1989
June 2019
Delivering daily news at trucknews.com
Volume 30, Issue 5
Page 10
Page 19
Page 20
Tech talk
School’s cool
Policy makers
AMTA panel discusses technology in the workplace.
MTA looks for support for its education council.
Branches of government discuss industry in Regina.
Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau Contact Derek Clouthier Derek@Newcom.ca or call 403-969-1506
Three initiatives to increase road safety in Alberta
RETAIL ING IS ADVERT 7-34 PAGES 2
By Derek Clouthier
Tough mountain to climb Log haulers in B.C. face timber and driver shortages By Eric Berard KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA Log haulers in British Columbia sometimes make reference to “the wood not getting any lower on the mountain.” The expression, as Greg Munden, president of Munden Ventures explained, is used to illustrate how the timber supply shortage requires the industry to go farther to harvest the resource. Causes for this timber scarcity are many: bug invasions, such as the pine beetle in the early 2000s; overcuts to try and maximize the use of trees affected by bugs; and wildfires to name a few. “At the end of the day, we’ve over cut our forests,” said Rob Ubleis, president of Ubleis Logging in Fort St. James, B.C. Provincial log haulers needing to access remote areas to collect wood headed for sawmills often have to spend more time and money to get there. Tri-drive axles are becoming more prevalent in many areas of the province. Though the additional drive axle helps with traction, the related extra differential and driveshaft require more maintenance and add weight, affecting payload.
The proper specs can help carry 63,500 kg on public roads and over 74,000 kg in the forest without impacting profitability or productivity. Munden’s tractors are all outfitted with hefty 550 hp and 2,050 lb-ft of torque X-15 Cummins engines, but operating costs remain under control. “The Kenworth truck provides a really robust product that is well proven in western Canadian logging applications without being excessively heavy,” Munden said. Power units are also coupled to Peerless trailers, which balance weight and longevity, he added. Bush road maintenance – or lack thereof – is a factor that can play a major role in a log hauler’s expenses for equipment maintenance. But it’s an issue that’s not always easy to settle. “The maintenance still has to be paid for and if you use a road that’s shared by many companies, then who pays for that in the end?” said David Elstone, executive director of the B.C. Truck Loggers Association (TLA). “There’s still is and always will be those types of battles.” Resources shortage The timber supply issue in B.C. impacts the entire forest industry’s supply chain, which relies on log haulers. Continued on page 24
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With timber and driver shortages impacting B.C.’s log hauling industry, finding highly skilled drivers has become challenging, and a top priority.
KANANASKIS, ALBERTA Mandatory entry-level training (MELT) is not the only initiative the Alberta government has implemented to help improve safety on provincial roads. Changes have also been made to Alberta’s driver examiner road test model, as well as its pre-entry program for new National Safety Code carriers. Terry Wallace, executive director of driver programs for Alberta Transportation, told Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Leadership Conference and AGM attendees April 27 that though these efforts were being looked at prior to the Humboldt tragedy last April, the incident pushed each of them to the top of the priority list. “We were here a year ago and world changed,” said Wallace. “Everything seemed to take on a different twist after that accident.” Wallace said he was particularly pleased with changes to how new Class 1 drivers will be examined.