CROSS BORDER SERVICES
Cocaine Fishy in This Bust!
BY DAWN TRUELL
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eized at the airport in a shipment of fish and shrimp was over 175 pounds of cocaine. The shipment originated in Georgetown,
Guyana and was destined for the USA. On August 10, 2016, Police at the International Airport in Guyana, Cheddi Jagan, uncovered the cocaine as the cargo was preparing for shipping. The drugs were found in pellet packets inside the backbones of the fish! Drug smugglers will go to any lengths to hide their product. In Edmonton in July 2016, 100 kg of N-phenethylpiperidinone, a chemical compound used to manufacture Fentanyl, and 4 kg of W-18 powder were seized. Combined this is enough to produce 38.3 million fentanyl pills. The
shipment was discovered in four cardboard barrels. The couple that was arrested for the illegal importation of these compounds were from Edmonton, AB. They had been at the airport to collect their packages, which originated in China. Upon first sight they appeared to be barrels of some sort of metal chips, which one would assume would be used for the manufacturing of a metal product. At closer look, right under the layers of metal chips were plastic bags of what looked like brown sugar. Once CBSA tested, it was revealed that the prod-
ucts were indeed the illicit fentanyl and W-18. The danger with Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is that it is up to 50 times stronger than heroin, causing many overdoses in Canada and the USA. In Alberta alone there had been reported 300 deaths by fentanyl in 2015. China is the largest supplier in the world of N-phenethylpiperidinone and W-18. For the past 15+ years I have been directly involved in helping persons and companies join all of the Safety & Compliance programs such as FAST, C-TPAT, PIP, TTP CSA, to aid in the fight against ter-
rorism and to facilitate our international trade. CBS provides a full Training program for all mentioned. For more information about
these programs please contact Cross Border Services at www.crossborderservices.ca or email dawntruell@gmail.com.
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CANADIAN TRUCKING ALLIANCE
Trans Can Analysis Shows Benefit of ELD Mandate
T
oronto, Ontario – Momentum continues to build towards the implementation of a federal ELD mandate in Canada. Late yesterday, Transport Canada released its long-awaited Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) for a proposed mandate that would apply to all federally-regulated vehicles where the driver is currently required to complete a paper logbook. The CBA looked at two scenarios: One included all federally-regulated commercial motor vehicles in Canada that would be covered by the mandate while the other excluded those vehicles which would be covered by the US mandate. In both cases the result was the same. Benefits are expected to exceed the costs associated with a Canadian ELD mandate by a 2:1 ratio. According to the CBA “ELDs are an effective compliance tool to reduce the potential for driver fatigue and the likelihood of a driver reporting incorrect data on a paper log book … (and) are expected to improve road safety by increasing the accuracy of tracking driving hours (to ensure that
8 September 2016
allowable driving hours are not exceeded) and reducing potentially highrisk situations whereby drivers may operate in a fatigued state.” The sidebar table provides a summary of the Transport Canada findings and conclusions. A full copy of the CBA is available to CTA members by emailing ctaeldfeedback@ cantruck.ca. The net benefits will accrue to drivers, carriers and to government with the CBA suggesting that among the total benefits, savings to industry, including both drivers and motor carriers, account for 99% of the benefit. “The CBA provides a sound analytical basis that confirms the significant net benefit from an ELD mandate and dispels some of the myths about ELDs that are out there,” says David Bradley, CEO of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which has been championing such a requirement since 2005. “Now that the federal government has made its path clear, we call on all provinces to get onboard and extend the mandate to provincially-regulated vehicles as well.”
The compliance date for the United States’ ELD mandate is December 2017, with grandfathering provided for qualifying technology until December 2019. The exact phase-in period and dates for compliance with the Canadian
federal ELD regulatory proposal has not been established. In the CBA, Transport Canada says that it wishes to align with the United States to the extent possible. However, it also says “regulatory amendment is expected to come
into force in year three (2 years after publication of the final regulation)”. During the course of the CBA, a one-year transition period was considered but showed a significant cost increase. CTA supports the two-year phase-in,
plus an additional twoyears grandfathering for qualifying equipment. It is expected Transport Canada will kick off the formal regulatory process with a Canada Gazette Part 1 notice as early as Spring 2017.
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ASK THE AXLE EXPERT
How this Heat Wave is Affecting Your Axles
BY RUDY WOSING
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ot only is this heat affecting our crops, but warmer temperatures during the summer months are also presenting some extra challenges for maintenance in the trucking industry, affecting things
like the lifespan of our axles, tires, and more. When you have a summer like we have had so far, intense and prolonged exposure to heat creates an expansion of materials, which means many aspects of your axle can be affected. The first example off the top of my head would be torque of fasteners; the heat can make it harder to remove parts for maintenance or replacement due to tightening parts. A common part this can be an issue with is a bolt and nut. When it comes to the seal, the heat can make the seal dryer which will make it more brittle and can cause the illusion of a leaking seal.
Other things such as the oil in your hubs and tire inflation and pressure are also negatively impacted by the hot conditions. If you anticipate driving in extreme high temperatures it may be an idea to consider going with a slightly higher viscosity oil. Generally a thicker oil will withstand more abuse and take longer to break down in the hot weather. Another thing that people often forget is that tire pressure can be affected by heat, which can increase as much as 15 psi in weather like we have had recently. With these heat waves, your tires will expand and in turn will result in a change in your
tire pressure. Too much or too little tire pressure can have a very negative effect on your tire wear. If your tires are under inflated, you will end up with outside edge wear. Over inflation will put you in a position of having tires that are worn out in the centre. A tire that’s over-inflated and worn will jeopardize your safety and create issues with poor handling and braking. So remember, the heat isn’t only hard on us. Be sure to check your axle regularly and perform any maintenance that is required. Stay cool, stay safe and enjoy the rest of your summer!
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