October 2012 Volume 23, Issue 10 Delivering daily news to Canada’s trucking industry at www.trucknews.com
Sick and ‘tire’d Western Canadian trucking industry frustrated with limits on wide-base tires
All
worked
of my job as member of the team here, but truck shows are not just for the members of the press – they’re for the drivers and fans of trucking, so why shouldn’t they enjoy the same benefits? Largely that is because of numbers, but mostly because of the size of the events themselves. Manufacturers and
By James Menzies CALGARY, Alta. – Twelve years after new-generation wide-base single tires hit the North American trucking market, most Canadian provinces still impose limits on their use, even though they’re arguably the most fuel-efficient tire available. While Ontario and Quebec have allowed weight parity with duals, all other provinces continue to limit the tires to US load limits. This, even though impending national fuel economy standards for model year 2014-2017 vehicles will push trucking companies to spec’ the most fuel-efficient vehicles possible. There’s hope in the industry that an anticipated report from Laval University will put to rest any lingering perceptions that the new-generation super-singles are more damaging to roadways that duals. “The pavement issue is the card (legislators) always come up with” to limit weights on wide-base tires, explained Francois Beauchamp, field engineer with Michelin, which has been among the strongest proponents of wide-base single tires. This limitation on fuel-efficient wide-base single tires is a major frustration for Canadian fleets running east-west. While they
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PICTURESQUE IN PURPLE: This ain’t no Sunday driving rig. Working trucks like this Flying Eagle big bunk Pete got their due at the Working Chrome truck show in August.
Working trucks get their due at Working Chrome truck show By Mark Lee WINNIPEG, Man. – I’ve visited all the major truck shows in the past couple of years. I enjoy spending time visiting the trade shows and seeing all the new products on display, but each and every time, my first port of call is the show truck section. As a member of the press, with
a flash of my credentials, I can get photographs before the arena is officially opened and engulfed with visitors. I also get to visit with the drivers who bring their trucks to the show. This is a good thing, as once the doors open to the public, I would have no chance. For me, this is one of the perks
Navistar’s new path Page 37
Inside This Issue...
Mark Dalton O/O
• Border beckoning: ACI e-manifest is coming (for real, this time). Are you ready?
Page 7
• Bridging gap: Campaign looks to “bridge” gap between Sas-
katchewan’s economic boom and infrastructure bust. Page 22
• Slow starters:
Early adopters of natural gas are still struggling to reap the rewards of their investment. Are greater – and greener – days ahead? Page 26
• Jim’s Brayings: What do two golf tournaments, two TV shows
and a smoking gun have in common? Jim explains. Page 46
Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau E-mail Jim Bray at jim@transportationmedia.ca or call 403-453-5558
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To view list of advertisers see pg. 45
Careers: 18, 20, 25, 27, 29, 33, 40, 41 PM40069240
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