Over the Road September 2020

FOR

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September 2020

Stay healthy, stay safe!

Light Speed Logistics achieves Platinum Status in Industry Best Practices of Safety Management with Northbridge Insurance

Your Safety is Our #1 Priority Keep this magazine in your truck...you never know when you’ll need it! /OverTheRoadMagazine

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H E R E

F O R

T H E

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H A U L

Professional Driver?

Come on board!

Are you a professional driver with two or more years of tractor-trailer experience in North America? There’s room in Transam Carriers for drivers to use LTL and FTL routes across the USA and Canada. Come on board and enjoy our friendly and healthy working environment, solid pay, great benefits, and frequent home time!

If you are interested to work at our company as a COMPANY DRIVER A-Z or OWNER OPERATOR A-Z, D-Z, please, contact us today.

ALL JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE

ON OUR WEBSITE transamcarriers.com/

careers

James Taylor: 416-907-8101 x5 Toll-Free: 877-907-8101 Address: 205 Doney Crescent, Concord, ON L4K 1P6 Email: hr@transamcarriers.com 2 www.transamcarriers.com • OVER THE ROAD

@TransamCarriers

@Transam_Carriers

September 2020

NOW HIRING

U.S. CROSS BORDER SINGLES & TEAMS AND CANADIAN TEAMS

Our Family Welcomes Yours | | | |

U.S. Singles – Dedicated Truck Desirable Lanes to the U.S. U.S. Teams – New Dedicated Truck Canadian Teams – New Dedicated Truck | Comprehensive Company Benefits | Flexible Work Schedule

Light Speed Logistics achieves Platinum Status in Industry Best Practices of Safety Management with Northbridge Insurance

LIGHT SPEED HAS YOU COVERED Steve Hunt O 905.696.0700 x7224 C 905.229.9011 E shunt@lslinc.com L5T 1S8

6015 Kestrel2020 Road, Mississauga, ONTARIO September

www.lslinc.com

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 3

18 Parkglen Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 3G9 1.800.416.8712 • 613.224.9947 Email: otr@otrgroup.ca 1189694 Ontario Ltd. C.O.B. as Over The Road

www.overtheroad.ca Publisher Peter Charboneau

Account Executive Earle Madden

General Manager Ed Novoa ed@otrgroup.ca

Graphic Design & Advertising LKDesign

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peter@otrgroup.ca

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lennykuiper@gmail.com

estela@otrgroup.ca

Office Manager

Mary Charboneau mary@otrgroup.ca

All advertisements, and/or editorials are accepted and published by Over the Road on the representation that the advertiser, its advertising company, and/ or the supplier of the editorials are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser, its advertising company, and/or the supplier of the editorials will defend, indemnify and hold Over the Road harmless from and against any loss, expense or other liability resulting from any claims or suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or suits that may rise out of publication of such advertisement and/ or editorials. Press releases are expressly covered within the definition of editorials.

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QUALITY PEOPLE THAT CARE. THAT’S A CARMEN DRIVER.

A Special Thank You for the Hard Work of All our Drivers during this Uncertain Time.

Steady Miles, Top Rates & Paid Dwell Time Health, Dental & Life Insurance Plans Pension Plan Friendly Atmosphere Ongoing Training & Support

In-House Repair Facility Employee Parking Secured Yard Pre-Pass Transponders In-House Truck/Trailer Wash

CONTACT RECRUITING AT

1-866-857-5166 EXT. 256

4 • OVER THE ROAD

September 2020

September 2020

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 5

MAKING YOUR MILES COUNT Robert D. Scheper

Living with the Uncertainty of Fraud At the time of writing this article, CRA just announced another breach of accounts (see below). The report stated that 5,500 accounts were compromised which means that personal information stored at CRA sites were accessed by hackers. They know what the CRA knows. Since they can do it, they will most likely do it again and that is very scary for most citizens. It requires serious contemplation of our future. How does that potentially affect our credit score? Does it affect our banking? What should we be doing to protect ourselves from future conflict?

It should first be understood by all Canadians that digitized personal information is not and never will be, completely safe in the world of high technology. We cannot rely on encryption or even double encryption to protect us from having our information “out there”. Sooner or later, bad guys will get our personal information. They will know our SIN, address, employer and even names of family and friends. It is not that people are not doing things to safeguard their information and in fact, there are many things that are extremely proactive in the defence of hackers and identity thieves. However, our information is out at so many locations that we must assume that not everyone has adequate proactive defences (including CRA).

One of the best explanations of our situation is a one-hour talk by Frank Abignale at Google (look it up, it has millions of views and is easy to watch). The “Catch me if you Can” movie origin lays out our situation very clearly. We must first assume that our information (or 6 • OVER THE ROAD

much of it) is out there in the hands of the bad boys. Our primary defence is three-fold: monitor, structure and defend.

Monitoring of our liabilities is first. First, find out if anyone is using your name. Are there cards and loans out there under your name that you have never initiated? This requires a careful look at your credit records and what activity there is on it. This should be done regularly, at least once every six months or when something strange occurs.

Structuring all our public financial activity through a credit card is Mr. Abignale’s primary push. This means the virtual elimination of writing checks (which has all critical information clearly printed on one piece of paper including a copy of your signature).

Operating a business requires a checking account but exposing oneself to paper checks too many times increases long term risks.

Learn to pay using methods that are more safe than easy (if my father can learn… who refuses to provide CRA with his SIN... anyone can). Personally, I have only one credit card for internet purchases only. I never deviate from that formula. There are NO exceptions!

This means when my card information is hacked/stolen (which I ASSUME WILL happen), it is only one card, and everything is insured.

Finally, there is the defending of our financial and personal lives. This is probably the most critical of all protection activities. Defending is the mindset of “NON-Gullibility”. It is having a constant skeptical attitude towards September 2020

releasing personal information beyond the basic “Name and possibly address”. If anyone asks for banking information over the phone, proceed with extreme caution if you dare proceed at all. No credible organization will ever ask for your banking information over the phone (or email, text, etc.). We must understand what information is critical to your financial and identity security and what information is not. Andy Grove (Intel’s prior CEO) wrote a book with a great title: “Only the Paranoid Survive”. Everyone should hold to this mantra. Every citizen must be vigilant in individual self-protection.

Being safe requires continual, non-stop scrutiny of every transaction and liability.

I suggest listening to Frank Abignale’s 1-hour lecture at Google. It is well worth your time and builds a great foundation for further understanding. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ canada-revenue-agency-cracyberattack-1.5688163 About the Author: Robert D. Scheper is a leading Accountant and Consultant to 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 firm exclusively serves Lease/Owner Operators across Canada. His second book “Choosing a Trucking company” is the most in-depth analysis of the operator industry available today. He has a Master’s 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.

The key to building a great defence is wisdom. Become a wise person in the society we live in. Understand your personal vulnerabilities and learn the art of technological self-defence. See a punch coming at you before you are hit; always know the environment you are walking in. If you are buying something online… follow the rules you have made for your own safety. Keep only trusted relationships open and close all others.

At our firm we do not have signing authority or access to clients’ accounts.

Though we have pre-authorized withdrawals, they are secured by a contract with the financial institution. If we are accused of fraudulent activity, we could lose our contract with the institution and have our entire firm’s finances shut down.

That is a great example of a system that keeps someone accountable. I am much more impressed with PAW than I am with some of the new “secure” ways of transferring money… yes, they are easy (and even secure) … but there is virtually no accountability in the relationship. Once your money is gone… there is no way to hold someone accountable for it.

September 2020

You can find him at www.making yourmilescount.com or 1-877-987-9787.

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 7

Moving the industry forward.

One kilometre at a time.

Get on the road to success with the world’s largest retailer.

THANK YOU Walmart Canada would like to thank all our drivers, supply chain associates and store associates for such an incredible job during this pandemic.

We are proud of our associates for stepping up during this unprecedented time to make sure our communities have the necessary food, medication and personal supplies to keep people safe and healthy.

8 • OVER THE ROAD

September 2020

NOW HIRING for Full Time Local and Long Haul

Apply online at walmart.ca Send your resume, CVOR and Driver Abstract.

We offer * Competitive wages * Benefits including: Health & Dental, RSP, Company matched Pension Plan * Walmart discount program

Terminal Locations 261043 Range Road 292 Rocky View, September 2020AB

1505-7th Street Nisku, AB

6800 Maritz Drive & 1501 Industrial Park Drive 7295 West Credit Ave Cornwall, ON

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 9 Mississauga, ON

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE Ray J. Haight

Changes Needed or Turnover Will Begin Again Have you ever reached a point in your life when you had to pony up? A time when you had to muster up the courage to just go for it? If so, how did you respond when this happened?

Any long-haul driver knows what I am referring to here. I am now considered an old-timer, but when I was 18 years old, my father said, “You have been trained and you have your license, so I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t take this rig to Waco, Texas.” That was 40 plus years ago.

I believe the first time each of you drivers went solo, you felt a rush! You might have been scared senseless but the feeling of being in charge was incredible. The sense of independence was priceless. Can you think of any other job where you could get this rush?

I can’t! I immediately loved the feeling. From that point forward, I was hooked. It was a Friday night when the old man threw me the keys and said, “Be there on Monday morning, and don’t be late.” When Monday morning rolled around, I was there, and I was early. More importantly, I felt I was now part of a community of great truck drivers. Man, that was cool, and I felt it.

I drove for 10 years and in those days, there was a Code of the Road which, unfortunately, is missing today. When I drove, if a driver saw a broken-down truck, he or she stopped and lent a hand. No questions asked! Maybe some of you are still doing this but sadly, the gesture is becoming less frequent. In my case, I picked up a driver on the 401 whose truck had broken down. The guy was at least three-quarters of a mile from his rig. I am sure dozens of trucks whizzed by this driver before I stopped. My old man would have rolled over in his grave if he thought I was one of the truckers who had rolled by. Had I done that when he was alive, he would have given me a major butt-kicking. Simply, you did not turn your back on a fellow driver in need! No how, no way and at no time.

10 • OVER THE ROAD

I do not mean to broad stroke the entire industry this way and, of course, there are exceptions.

TCA’s Highway Angel Program significantly highlights the heroic actions of many drivers.

Other associations and individual trucking companies reward similar actions. Now, having recognized these folks, I wonder how many of those drivers had to break company policy to do the right thing? I also wonder if management called some of them on the carpet once they were out of the spotlight.

I feel empathy for association leadership, on both sides of the border, who try to solve this problem. TMAF (Trucking Moves America Forward) is a program driven to heighten exposure and is overseen by my good friend Kevin Burch, past Chairman of the American Trucking Association. There is also the slogan of the Ontario Trucking Association, “If you got it, a truck brought it.” These great programs and slogans are an attempt to change the image the public has of our industry. I have often wondered how frustrated leadership must be when large amounts of money continue to be spent trying to create a positive image, especially when you consider, that due to COVID, Driver and Owner-Operator turnover rates are currently under control. However, when things get back to normal, I predict we will fall back into our old ways. While we are spending millions of dollars to improve the public’s image of the industry, we should also be trying to correct the internal image we have of ourselves.

Consider the individual who drives long haul for a living. When you take this driver’s annual income divided by the hours spent driving, the individual is probably working for minimum wage or less. The exception to this would be those top carriers, regardless of size, who adequately reward their workforce.

September 2020

look. Maslow professes that there are five levels which each of us instinctively tries to reach. It is just part of our DNA to do so. The first level is physiological meaning, food and drink. In today’s world, that translates to drivers’ wages.

Without this level being satisfactory, coupled with no sense of community, nothing else matters. Until adequate wages and a sense of community are achieved, drivers will continue to look for greener pastures.

As we all know, COVID has revealed the vital role the trucking industry plays in the daily lives of the public. As a result, truck drivers are receiving the accolades they rightly deserve. However, I question how long this new-found respect will last once COVID is under control.

How did things get to the way they are today?

I am not going to try and analyze it but, in a nutshell, I think it is the changing face in our industry. We have drivers who are good technically but know nothing of the “soft side” of trucking. Why? Because they have not been taught. That being said, I don’t believe looking back and finding bad guys is ever helpful.

Instead, let’s look ahead and see if anything can be done to change our current situation. Let’s start by implementing a “sense of community; a Code for the Road and improved wages for deserving drivers.”

Safe trucking.

Ray J. Haight Ray Haight TCA Retention Coach ray@tcaingauge.com www.tcaingauge.com

While building a program called the Driver Retention Masterclass, I researched Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If you are not aware of the thoughts published by Abraham Maslow back in the ’40s, it is well worth your time to have a

September 2020

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 11

DRIVER TURNOVER IS A PROBLEM THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT Learn how to determine WHY your drivers are leaving.

Learn how to FIX these reasons.

ENGAGE your staff to follow the tried and tested DRIVER RETENTION PLAN.

Regular CONSULTATIONS to keep you on track.

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION rhaight10@gmail.com 12 Reach • OVERout THEto ROAD

and let’s discuss your options.

September 2020

• • • • • • •

Great Pay Package All Miles Paid Weekly Permits/Tolls/Heavy Tax Paid General Insurance Paid Fuel Cards & Border Cards Pick Up & Delivery $50 Flexible Fuel Surcharge

29th Fleet Safety Council Annual Educational Conference 2020

Date: Friday October 2nd, 2020 Time: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Cost: Free!

@fleetsafetyconf

September 2020

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 13

Index AYR Motor Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Ray Haight Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Carmen Transportation Group . . . . . . . . . . 4

Robert Scheper Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7

Chris Harris – Safety Dog . . . . . . . . . . . 16,17

Speaking from Experience . . . . . . . . . . 10,11

CNTL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

TRANSAM Carriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Fleet Safety Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

TransWest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Genesis Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Travelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Keystone Western . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Walmart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,9

Light Speed Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

NOW HIRING AZ DRIVERS & OWNER OPERATORS 1-800-265-8789

www.travelers.ca

Great work/home life balance Small family environment Pet/Passenger Program Health Dental Benefits Day 1 EZ Pass/Bridge cards/ Scanners in Truck

Over 7 Locations: Brampton* Midland* Wallaceburg* Prescott* Fergus* Hamilton* Carignan PQ A CANADIAN CARRIER SINCE 1985 14 • OVER THE ROAD

September 2020

THE BEST IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO

IT’S TIME TO MAKE YOUR MOVE! Driver planned home time | Full load dry van – No touch Freight Steady year-round miles | Group benefits and pension plan | Paid weekly Mostly warehouse and industrial area deliveries in US CTpat and FAST approved Carrier and Loads F E AT U R E D M I L L I O N M I L E D R I V E R

Working at AYR MOTOR is a family. When you have a major problem , you can talk to an Owner who is on site 7 days a week. If you need administration, there is always a friendly face available. If you like to stretch your legs, you can run all 48 states and 10 provinces. You have a choice on home time; out 2 weeks home 3 days or out 3 weeks or more. You can also be home weekly, with 36 hours to reset and go. ALL the miles an ELOG can handle. YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD LIVING! Hugh McLaughlin, Truck #924

HIRING RECRUITING DEPARTMENT

September 2020

DARTMOUTH Yard MONCTON Yard

WOODSTOCK Head Office DORVAL Yard

BRAMPTON Terminal WINNIPEG Terminal

1-800-668-0099 | ayr.recruiting@ayrmotor.com

ayrmotor.ca

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 15

SAFETY DAWG Chris Harris

Recruiting Safely During a Pandemic Has the process of applying for a truck driver position changed because of the pandemic? Did you ever imagine in your wildest dreams that something like COVID-19 would strike the world?

And did you foresee how it would affect everything in our society and turn it upside down?

Recently I have been wondering about the recruitment of new truck drivers and how those drivers are applying for open positions (and there are openings!) Has the way that trucking companies recruit drivers changed?

Has the application process become different? How are you, the drivers, and the companies, getting together?

The trucking company has an obligation to keep their staff safe and that protection needs to extend to you, the applicant. So, has anything changed? What has been your experience?

16 • OVER THE ROAD

Are recruiters still asking for you to come into the office for an interview?

If that is still the situation, are there protections put in place? For example, when entering a building, is your temperature being taken? Are you the applicant being asked a list of what are now standard COVID-19 questions?

During the interview, is there a “social distance” being followed or a plexiglass screen separating you and the interviewer? If the answer to the above questions are no, did you feel uncomfortable? Were you feeling like the company was taking the necessary precautions to protect both you and their recruiting employee?

How is the interview/recruiting process affecting your decision on choosing a new company to drive or operate for?

After all, if they do not take your safety seriously now, isn’t that saying an awful lot about their “safety culture?”

September 2020

Safety culture must start at the top of an organization and flow out to everything that the company does.

And that certainly includes the recruiting process. Recruiting is the first experience that you are receiving from the new company. Is it a good experience? Are they doing everything that you expect them to do during this COVID pandemic or are they not taking things seriously? If they are protecting everyone, then what is that saying about the culture of the company? If they are not protecting you during the application process, how will they treat you after you start driving for them?

with my questions, then you might be better off to keep looking for your new home.

I would love to hear your comments about the hiring process as it is now.

Please send me a note to my email address found below. Please stay healthy and safe and remember that school is back for many so watch out for our children.

Stay Safe!

Chris Harris Top Dawg, Safety Dawg Inc. 905-973-7056 chris@safetydawg.com @safety_dawg (twitter)

These are essential questions.

The recruiting process is usually a foreteller of what it will be like working with dispatch and the maintenance department. Because a “Safety Culture” is driven from the top down and it does flow into every department. The recruiting process is a beautiful predictor for your time at the company. Watch and observe the complete process. If you are getting the right signals and positive feelings, then this could be your home for many years. But if I am making you nervous

September 2020

JOBS FOR TRUCKERS • 17

CNTL HAS OPENINGS FOR TRUCK OWNER OPERATORS IN

Calgary, Moncton, Montreal and Quebec City

If you are an Experienced, Safe, Owner Operator, now is the time to look at CNTL! CNTL is CN’s Trucking Subsidiary, the continuing growth of Intermodal freight means we always have the moves available that meet or exceed your revenue objectives.

Keep more of your earnings with your fuel price capped at 35 cents per litre. Take advantage of our Tire, Bunk and Engine Heater programs, and Group Truck Insurance.

Ask about our Safety Bonus, and Safety Awards!

If you would like to talk about joining our team please contact us Email cntljobs@cn.ca Fax 1-866-803-2702 18 • OVER THE ROAD

CNTL.ca

September 2020