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Robert D. Scheper
What Game Are We Playing?
If anyone is in business for more than 10 years they learn to “play the game”. The financial negotiating game. One of the poorest negotiating events I ever witnessed was when a Trucker walked into a dealership’s mechanics shop that was FULL of trucks being repaired and yelled “I don’t care what it costs, I want my truck fixed ASAP!” The guy left with an invoice recorded in the stars… for the dealership. He clearly didn’t know how to “play the game”.
If I had to buy a Condo and Donald Trump was selling one, I would first look to understand my environment. Is there anyone ELSE selling a Condo? If not, I need to know if Trump needs me to buy a Condo MORE than I need to own one? If I NEED a Condo more than Trump needs to sell one, I would have to accept who holds the power in the negotiations… Trump.
Common sense would then say… don’t piss this guy off… at least until AFTER signing the bill of sale. We have to admit that in the tariff negotiations, we started off with a pissed off seller. Trump didn’t like Governor Trudeau… but let’s be honest… Canadians didn’t like him either. But then, Trump’s 51st state “trolling” hit our collective pride right in the kidneys. He did it for a reason (I think). He was
expecting one of two extreme reactions: crumble like a ten-day-old cookie in the sun or flare up into an anti-Trump tirade. Either reaction gave Trump a better footing for a better deal. The anti-Trump “Elbows Up” response gave him the option to walk away… to not negotiate at all. Which, of course, he did.
Ford threatened to shut down electricity to some Northern States and got smacked down faster than Pee Wee Herman in the UFC. Without thinking, Carney tried to “impose” the Digital Service Tax on the US Tech giants and displayed what would happen if Steve Urkel also joined the UFC. Instead of understanding and maturely accepting the environment, Canadian politicians chummed the water with our blood, displaying how weak and vulnerable we really are.
The only thing these anti-Trump choices brought was more evidence that we don’t want to play the game in front of us. It linked us into a National Victim Mentality. We are “unified” in victimhood. It roused a collective support for our misguided and underqualified “politicians”. Instead of leading us through a perilous time, our elected politicians chose to garnish political support by jumping into the ring and fighting in the UFC on our behalf. We
went from most favored trade nation to least favored, all in a few months. I wonder how Carney will fare when the USMCA is renegotiated in 2026? I bet we can all collectively cry six inches of Lake Erie water and feel like a really unified country. Misery sure does like company.
Rockwell International (2 billion investment) will NOT be spending their money in Canada but will invest in their US plants. Both the tariffs and the lower corporate tax rate made the shift too much to ignore. They saw the game being played, knew who held the power, didn’t see a mature reaction to the power and decided to get out of Dodge City before the shooting started. This was an opportunity that Canada LOST. It certainly wasn’t the first, and it definitely won’t be the last. I’ve seen several reports that place the total of lost investments over the last decade now in the trillions. Counter that with Trump’s six months of leadership, bringing in between 15 and 20 trillion. Now, to be fair, some of that is Trumpian numbers… so it’s practically more like a 7-10 trillion total. But still, an investment of that magnitude translates into millions of jobs and much higher collective wage rates. It’s a builder move, not a political one.
So, Carney throws wood on the global tariff fire by putting a tariff on China steel. That’s a very significant Domino our PM just pushed over. After which China was motivated to put a 76% tariff on Canadian Canola. For a political party that is so
anti-gun, they sure know how to shoot our economy in the foot. If this continues, Canada will be swiftly heading towards a second-class world status (if there is such a thing). When we are all isolated and cold, for many, the thought of being a warm 51st state will be much more tempting.
Brace for impact… because next year the USMCA is to be renegotiated. Oh, how I long for the days when politicians did nothing.
About the Author:
Robert D. Scheper is a leading Accountant and Consultant exclusively serving the Lease/ Owner Operator industry in Canada. His first book in the Making Your Miles Count series “taxes, taxes, taxes” was released in 2007. His second book “Choosing a Trucking company” is the most in-depth analysis of the independent operator industry today. He has a Master degree (MBA) in financial management and has been serving the industry since he and his wife came off the road in 1993. His dedication, commitment and strong opinions can be read and heard in many articles and seminars. You can find him at www.makingyourmilescount. com or 1-877-987-9787.
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SAFETY DAWG
Chris Harris
Driver Appreciation Week - What Every Driver Needs to Hear
Alright, Drivers. It’s that time of year again.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is here, and everyone is going to be patting you on the back, telling you how “essential” you are, and probably handing out some free coffee and donuts at the truck stops.
But here’s what nobody else but me is going to tell you...
(And It’s Not What You Think)
A spotless record makes you MONEY.
Clean drivers get the premium loads. They get hired faster. They get better treatment. It is like having a golden ticket in this industry.
So, before you roll your eyes at that pre-trip inspection, ask yourself: “Is cutting this corner worth thousands of dollars over the next few years?”
Probably not.
As a trucking safety professional who has spent years in the trenches with Drivers just like you, I’ve got some straight talk that could literally change your career. And maybe even save your life.
Look, I could give you the same old safety speech you’ve heard a thousand times, but you are smarter than that. You know the basics. What you might NOT know is how the game really works behind the scenes.
So, buckle up. Here’s the real deal...
Your Record Is Your Paycheck (And Most Drivers Don’t Get This)
Here’s something that will blow your mind: Every ticket, every logbook violation, every roadside inspection ding doesn’t just disappear into some company file cabinet. That stuff follows you around like a bad smell.
I’m talking about YOUR personal record.
The same reports that keep your safety manager up at night? Yeah, those are attached to YOUR name forever. Insurance companies see them. Future employers see them. Even the good carriers who pay top dollar see them.
But here’s the kicker...
The 15-30 Minute Trick That Saves Careers
Want to know a secret?
About 90% of the violations I see during roadside inspections could have been caught in a proper pre-trip. I’m talking about the easy stuff; lights, tires, obvious brake issues.
But here’s what’s crazy...
Most drivers treat pre-trips like they’re filling out their taxes. Boring. Annoying. Something to get through as fast as possible.
Wrong approach.
Think of your pre-trip like this: It’s 20 minutes that could save you from sitting on the side of the 401 for 6 hours waiting for a service truck. Or worse, getting slapped with an out-of-service order that kills your whole week.
The math is simple: 20-minutes now vs. potentially losing thousands of minutes later.
You tell me which one makes more sense.
Why Your Safety Department Actually WANTS to Hear from You
Here’s something that might shock you:
We WANT you to “complain.”
Seriously.
You know what gives me nightmares? Finding out about a safety issue AFTER it’s already caused a wreck, a violation, or put someone in the hospital. But drivers keep quiet because they think they’re being “difficult” or “causing problems.”
Listen to me carefully:
Your voice isn’t a problem - it’s the SOLUTION. Every near-miss you report, every mechanical concern you flag, every time you speak up about something that doesn’t feel right... that’s gold to us safety folks.
We can’t fix what we don’t know about.
So, here’s your homework: Next time something feels off, pick up that phone. Your safety team isn’t the enemy. We’re on the same side.
The One Thing More Dangerous Than Speeding (And It’s Legal)
Pop quiz: What kills more drivers than speeding?
Fatigue.
And here’s the scary part - you can be 100% legal on your logbook and still be a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road.
I’ve seen the aftermath. I’ve read the reports. A driver who’s “within hours” but running on 3 hours of sleep and pure caffeine is a disaster waiting to happen.
Your body doesn’t care about your delivery schedule.
When you are tired, STOP. I don’t care if dispatch is breathing down your neck. I don’t care if the customer is screaming. A late load can be rescheduled.
You can’t.
You’re Not Just a Driver - You’re a Safety Leader
Here’s something most drivers don’t realize: Every decision you make on the road ripples outward.
When you slow down in bad weather, other drivers notice. When you set up your warning triangles properly, you’re setting the standard. When you resist that risky lane change, you’re showing everyone else what professionalism looks like.
You’re not just moving freight. You’re leading by example.
And that matters more than you know.
The
Bottom Line
Look, I could wrap this up with some feel-good message about how “appreciated” you are, but you’ve heard that before.
Here’s what I really want you to know:
Every safe mile you drive isn’t just about compliance or keeping the DOT happy. It’s about building a career that lasts. It’s about going home to your family every night. It’s about being the kind of professional that this industry desperately needs.
So, during this Appreciation Week, appreciate yourself enough to:
• Protect your record like it’s your retirement fund
• Take those pre-trips seriously
• Speak up when something is not right
• Choose rest over deadlines
• Lead by example
Because at the end of the day, nobody cares more about your safety than you do.
And that’s exactly how it should be.
Stay safe.
Chris Harris CEO & Top Dawg Safety Dawg Inc.
Chris@safetydawg.com www.safetydawg.com 905 973 7056
556 Upper Wentworth St. Hamilton, ON L9A 4V2
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