Happy(?) New Year 2009

I have not taken the time to write in the past few months. For the ones that have the habit of visiting once in a while, I am happy to see there is still some traffic and I owe you an apologie. I can not rely on the Medias to help to promote this blog, but only on the words that are passed by you and the search engines on the web.

Since this morning, here in Quebec and in Ontario, laws are in effect to mandate the activation of the speed limiter chip of the ECM on heavy trucks built since January 1995. The limitation of the speed has to be set at a speed no greater then 105Km/h (64.5mph). A soft enforcement of six months is planned for all to comply.

Since July 2005 I have been talking about the subject on many tribunes. I have talked about it on XM satellite radio when I was co-hosting with Jacques Plante “Entre les 2 lignes”, on TSQ when this program started up on the web, on this blog since almost 2 years. I have put online a petition, I have asked for your support, your conscience to join the associations that represents the right of truckers, not only owner-operators. What have you done?

When OBAC did call you to meet for discussions and get your ideas, it’s only a handful of persons that showed up. During the eleven months that I had the online petition, it didn’t even go over the 1000 signatures. Many of them where not even from people in the industry but persons that travel with us on the roads of America and that know the industry.

When Ontario revised the highway safety code, there was a proposal to raise the age to get a drivers licence. Within a few weeks, over 150,000 persons joined in to turn around the issue. You can say that we are not that many in the industry across Canada but, these are the ones who benefits of our hard work.

I must also bring up this point, very important in the debate. Never have I encouraged speeding of trucks or did the associations that I represented. We are pushing the “Run Compliant” message to all. Not only speed limits but all regulations we have to live with and obey by.

The laws on speed limiters have passed by many ways and reasons to be sold to the governments and to the motoring public. Safety and environment have been the two most popular. The true reason was to level the playing field as stated in the OTA’a press release http://ontruck.org/news/releases/2005/prel_2005_07_07_143206_r.php3

Ok it’s done, I spilled my marbles out this morning. Can we still do something about it? Yes I do think so but, it’s all together with a strong voice that we can, just like the large carriers do. Why don’t you make yourself a gift to start the year? A gift that is under $60 if you do it this way.

Join with over 160,000 other members of OOIDA to represent you on the US side of the border. It will cost you only $25.00USD if you give my member as a referral 557033. https://www.ooida.com/Secure/membership_form.htm

Then, you can join OBAC to have a representation on the Canadian side of the border http://www.obac.ca/Web/JoinOBAC/fullMembershipPg1.asp and by saying you are an OOIDA member, the membership is waived to $25.00CDN. The power is in the numbers. If the Canadian Trucking Alliance can say they represent the trucking industry, they only represent the interest of companies that have 6 trucks or more. We are more then them and we probably operate more trucks then they do but, our representation is not representative of that. Make your share to have a strong voice too!

Even if the current situation is tough, I wish that 2009 is a year of prosperity for all of you even if that means to restructure the company, streamline the expenses. But most importantly, make it a healthy one. Take care of it no one can do it for you.