Happy New Year 2008

I did not update my English blog recently. The topics were mostly for the French speaking Canadians. I hope you will forgive me this time. In this time of the year, most of us take a step back to look at what happened in the last 365 days and what could be in store for us for the next 366, 2008 is a leap year…

2007 has surprised many with diesel fuel over the $3.25 mark in the USA while in Canada, the price of a litre of the same precious oil has closed over the dollar in Ontario. The manufacturing slow down had a toll on the trucking industry also. Many plants are either moving where the labour costs are cheaper, are cutting back on the shifts if not closing completely. Our governments are saying that every thing is going good. I wonder if they live on the same planet we are, especially in Quebec

Enough pessimism, let’s look at some good things that happened too. There is a rise in the solidarity among Owner-Operators and Professional Drivers. The associations that regroup them are picking up membership to voice their comments. Here in Quebec, we have seen the start of a new activity for drivers and their families with the Convoy for Special Olympics. The true Professionals are taking a stand and leaving their mark by their courtesy, respect and communications, not only within the driver’s community but also with the public and other road users. Many Medias don’t see it this way and are still showing trucks and truckers as nuisances on the roads with biased polls to sell more papers. To communicate our passion of trucks and lifestyle we have, this will help the general public to understand that without trucks, the economy comes to a screeching halt and if we keep on having restrictions and new regulations, the price of consumer goods is only going to go up.

What I see coming up for 2008.

Honestly, I would be a fool to say that fuel prices will go down. I see a little bit of relief with some more stable prices. I may not have a crystal ball but, I have a feeling that 2008 will see some funny merges among carriers, if not some unexpected closings. The battle to stop Mandatory Speed Limiters in Canada will go on and to stop this madness and we will need a strong voice represent us in all Provinces. The governments needs to know that there is more Owner-Operators then carriers in this country and we need to keep all the tools we currently have to keep up with the large fleets.

Since many laws in many jurisdictions are made that we can not stop to protest, I have a suggestion to make in the beginning of the New Year. Why not make it a habit to run compliant? This is the only way to show to every one that the rules and regulations we have to deal with every day are putting a burden on us. If we keep on hiding the facts, how can we show them!

The true secret is to stay informed. All public documents are available online to read. Staying ahead of the ball is more then ever important if we all want to succeed in this industry we love so dearly.

Happy trails and stay safe for 2008

Presentation at the Quebec Parliament

Friday November 30th, OBAC was at the « Committee on Transport and Environment » to represent you Professional Drivers. Yours truly was asked to do the presentation. I did my best to be as communicative of your concerns to the government of Quebec. OBAC has made some allies at this commission. I invite you to follow the links to make up your mind. I should comment on t shortly. . The links are to the presentation of OBAC, Quebec’s Road Controllers and the QTA. Quebec being a French speaking Province, unfortunately, all presentations are in French. If you are curious, go ahead and look them up

OBAC’s presentation
http://diffusion.assnat.qc.ca/video/cte/cte200711301221.wmv

Quebec Road Controllers
http://diffusion.assnat.qc.ca/video/cte/cte200711291709.wmv

QTA’s presentation
http://diffusion.assnat.qc.ca/video/cte/cte200711291556.wmv

We will talk about it soon!

Calculating Green House Gases (GHG)

If you go back on my blog in the month of May, I was sharing some apprehensions on the calculation by our Quebec civil servants and their researches on the GHG reductions
See: http://thetruckingblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/mandatory-speed-limiters-is-picking-up.html

I saw today a survey made by Statistics Canada on registered vehicles in Canada. The numbers leave me with event more questions and they should do the same for you.

The Green Plan 2006-2012 in Quebec expects that heavy trucks could reduce 330kt of GHG by a mandated speed limiter. I am still wondering how Ontario comes to 140kt.

It there is in Ontario 7,130,694 vehicles including 211,779 vehicles over 4,5tonnes, how can we in Quebec with 4,471,723 vehicles including 98,320 of these over 4,5tonnes and double the GHG reductions?

I suggest you ask the question to the concerned Ministers…

Source:
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/53-223-XIE/53-223-XIE2006000.pdf

A Strike! To Do or Not To Do?

Funny question as an opening title. Personally, I never was in favour of such a movement mostly because international and inter-provincial transportation are ruled by the Canadian labour laws. The only big losers are the drivers and the small business trucker. I am using the topic Jacques Plante talked about last week on his radio program. I wasn’t able to air my comments on his show.

Jacques also pointed out the rules of law in Bill 130 that puts a restriction to pressure tactics that can be used by truck drivers after the road blocks done in the past. Our governments being reactive administrators, they answered to drivers demands against load brokers in their protests by new laws to keep trucks rolling in the late 90’s.

What do we have left?

Many would say: “nothing!”

No, we still have a very powerful weapon and we use it every day. If we apply the proverb “The pen is stronger then the sword” we all have a pen, a ruler and a log book. The best way to beat the system which we are cheating with the lame excuse that we don’t make a profit is to run the system by the book. How can we prove our points if we continue to be creative and sweat at any scale that is slow to give the green light?

If written words meaningful, spoken one are lost in the air. We can complain until the cows come home, if we have nothing to support our sayings, these are only words. By taking action and with some good will, we have the possibility to slow down the economy without putting it to a screeching halt, without breaking any rules or laws and with no fines attached. We must deliver the goods and not use cheating to cover up an extended stop to shoot the breeze in a truck stop or to cover the expected traffic jam. We must assume the consequences of our actions too. This is the basics of professionalism in any field of work. If the demands of the customer are impossible to do, you must advise them from the start.

I once told a dispatcher that my job is to carry a load from point A to Point B in a safe and legal manner. We are not there to repair others mistakes. The road throws at us enough things unexpected already. After all, the first one blamed is the driver in many cases.

Why not take the resolution for 2008 to make things change by running compliant?