November 2011 Volume 22, Issue 11 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Convoy is a record Breaker! Breaker!
By Adam Ledlow PARIS, Ont. – The delighted laughs of the athletes, the roar of engine after engine filing down the highway, and the hooting and cheering from family, friends and industry folk lining the driveway filled the air near the Paris Fairgrounds on Sept. 17, signalling the start of the seventh annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy. The event was once again raising money in support of the Special Olympics, with organizers setting a goal to beat last year’s tally of $40,000. And beat it they did, with total donations reaching $54,000 by day’s end with the aid of 57 participating drivers. “From a meagre beginning of 17 registered drivers (in the week leading up to the event), we are thrilled to have the 57 trucks turn out, and are once again astounded by the drivers’ determination to collect pledges for Special Olympics,” said Tammy Blackwell, event coordinator for the southern Ontario convoy. “While they enjoy the friendly competition for lead truck, they genuinely applaud each others’ efforts for the best results Ontario can achieve. Our sponsors ensure we have a foundation to continue Continued on page 8
no pressure: A competitor maneuvers his truck into position during the National Professional Truck Driving Championships in Calgary, as judges look on. Photo by Jim Bray
National Professional Truck Driving Championships:
A trucking showdown in Cowtown By Jim Bray CALGARY, Alta. – Everyone makes rookie mistakes, but when push came to shove at the 2011 National Professional Truck Driving Championships, it was a rookie who made the fewest errors – and ended up driving off with the title of Grand Champion. The rookie in question was Claude Tessier who, while he may
Introducing ‘downspeeding’ Taking ‘run slow’ to a new low
have been a “Roadeo rookie,” has actually been driving trucks for the best part of 30 years – 22 of them with Groupe Robert out of Montreal, Que. Tessier hauls a bit of everything to the Midwest and east coast of the US – including hospital and bathroom products – and he told Truck West via an interpreter that what finally got him to enter the
championships in his home province was pretty much a dare from a friend. “It started when (a previous champion) and I arrived from a trip and it took him two or three times to back the load into the dock straight,” Tessier says. “I teased him that for a champion he had problems and that he should watch Continued on page 24
Inside This Issue...
Mark Dalton O/O
• Tribute to the troops:
Rosenau Transport has deployed a specially designed trailer that honours Canada’s Armed Forces. Page 7
• Fenced off?:
The US is considering fencing its border with Canada. Why aren’t trucking insiders more concerned? Page 16
• Training conundrum:
Are Alberta’s commercial drivers as well trained as they should be? Page 26
• Cat on track: We take a spin in the new Cat CT660. Does it live up to the hype?
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See pg. 32
Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau E-mail Jim Bray at jim@transportationmedia.ca or call 403-453-5558
To view list of advertisers see pg. 37
Careers: 9, 10, 12, 23, 24, 30, 32, 38 PM40069240