Drivers Appreciation Week in North America

This past week from August 24^th to 31^st was the Drivers Appreciation Week across North America and mostly in the USA. To thank us of our efforts, the FMCSA pushes full steam ahead the start of the pilot project to allow Mexican based carriers in the southern border starting on September 6^th while on the south side of the border they are getting ready for September 1^st. Even I couldn’t think of a better sarcasm to make it happen on Labour Day Weekend.

What kind of reaction will the Canadian Government will have? They will welcome them. This in the name of respect of NAFTA. Who will take advantage of this low cost transportation? Who will be left to buy the goods transported this way if nobody can’t afford it any more at home?

A company has no hearth and must show a profit to the shareholders. It’s having a very short vision to think it is a positive situation. On the long term, if nobody is can afford to buy their products carried at a cheaper rate, what will happen?

I leave you with this thought.

To what standard of living must we lower ourselves so the Mexicans have a standard equal to ours?

Jean Catudal

A little slow down

During the next coming weeks, I will publish a fewer amount of texts on this blog. Being involved with the organizing committee the first World’s Largest Truck Convoy for Special Olympics in Trois Rivieres September 22^nd, we are in the last straight before the finish line.

I give you a rendez-vous for what will become the social event for all of our industry. An event where company owners won’t be afraid that their equpement will be abused or over used and that all of us keep a memory of the day all year long.

Like in the W.C. McCall song: “Come on join our convoy, oh what a beautiful sight!”

Distinct Society or Ministries Without a Backbone?

I was recently reading the July-August issue of “Transport Routier” that informs us on the new hours of service for the intra-provincial drivers in Quebec that took place on June 15^th and that until November 1^st, no fines will be given to erratic drivers. The delay is explained by the elections in March. Initialy the law was to be enforced April 1^st. However some pressure groups made the S.A.A.Q. give until November 1^st to issue the first fines

This brought to me the question on the headliner. Accordingly to the Gazette of Canada of November 16^th 2005 the implementation of the new H.O.S. law has been published. Also the same Gazette shows that the modifications passed by the Parliament in 2001 takes effect on January 1^st 2006. This adds up to a 22 month delay before full enforcement to delinquents that are not still aware that the law has been changed.

The majority of other provinces have given a 90 day grace period to drivers before full enforcement. Ontario has lead the way starting a smooth enforcement on January 1^st 2007. We are the last ones to do so and over 135 days of clemency is allowed without counting almost 6 months of delay where the law was implanted elsewhere in the country.

Make your own idea but, mine is made and we are not a so distinct society

Source

http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2005/20051116/html/sor313-e.html

Tragedy on I-35W

I won’t come back an all the details, in the past few days all medias did it and are still talking about it. I was blown away when I heard it on Fox News via XM Radio when the voice of Shepard Smith replaced Bill O’Reilly. I shared the news with my friend Toto that was following me on I-94 in direction of Detroit.

I have no new information, no scoops but what I ear from all the experts on the radio and TV leaves me questionable remarks. Of we take the time to read or listen in Quebec the reports of the Johnson Commission on the collapse of the De La Concorde viaduct last September, what the American channels are giving us is almost a translation when it comes to the Minneapolis bridge collapse.

Without being able to say exactly when, or what happened to it, a bill was proposed in Minnesota to put in a minimum percentage of the taxes revenues from any taxes relevant to cars and trucks in the state, to the Highway Trust Fund to repair and improve the highway system in that state. This is just to show you that not only in Quebec the revenues are not allocated to the purposes they are collected.

Coincidence that such an event happened in that state, during rush hour traffic? Many Medias have made comparisons with other bridges, not viaducts, which fell over the years. I think only one can be comparable in the cause of a structural defect not a collision from a boat or barge.

In June of 1983, the Mianus River Bridge that collapse in Connecticut after an anchor in the structure broke and took a section down killing 3 persons.







May 1980, The Sunshine Skyway that runs across the Tampa Bay was the site of another tragedy. The main span over the boat canal was brought down after a freighter struck the base of the bridge. A commercial bus with 26 persons and 7 other vehicles dropped with it. One man survived.





Another bridge, in Oklahoma, had a similar story. On I-40 a bridge was taken away by an out of control barge. This time, 3 persons died in the tumble.








Forced to admit that some structures have failed to stand the test of time over the years but, the risk they fall resulting from an accident is greater then an unpredictable collapse like the I-35W Bridge or the Mianus River Bridge. Let’s hope the statistics don’t change in a short term and this will be a wake up call to the authorities.

Jean Catudal