The Break is Over

Now that the Convoy is over, (see www.qcconvoy.blogspot.com), I have to get back to my press releases and pick up the issues where they were left.

The speed limiter issue is picking up the pace and your participation is required in many ways. You can sign the online petition by using the link in the upper right corner of this blog, by writing to your MP to let him or her know what impact a government mandated speed limiter can impact more then GHG's or road safety or leveling the competition.

There is also all the public meetings that the "Table de Concertation de Securite Routiere". Your voice is needed, so you can go with family and friends. Talk about it with customers where the "Just in Time" is very important. They also have a word on it. To help you find your MP, on the right side of thisblog there is links to the National Assembly of Quebec and with a few clicks you can find your elected official, the email, the phone, the fax and share this with others so they can help too.

No time to loose. Accordinly to some of my sources, the proposed changes to the "Code de la Route" could be up as early as December.

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

C.R.A.S.H., P.A.T.T. And Other Citizens Groups

Last week a D.C. Court of appeal has leaned towards the lobby pressure groups that think we are working too much. These groups have not seen the light at the end of the tunnel yet. When in the USA, we could drive 10 hours without any time limit to do so under the old H.O.S. rule. Today the 11 hour rule has a time limit of 14 hours.

This group of three judges may have not looked at all sides of the issue and this shows how disconnected from our industry some high ranking individuals are.

I am a compassionate person and when fatalities happen in wreckage involving a heavy truck, I get affected and try to look at every factor before I blame either driver. A law suit can never replace the lost of a loved one but on the other hand, the same persons may be the ones whining about the missing goods on the shelves of the supermarket or the retail store. These same groups, judging on an industry that is safer by the mile, also forget that the great majority of accidents involving a professional driver, the responsibility is on the other driver.

Should we demand that manufactures to also work on a 70 hours on 8 days cycle too?
To not start a new week of work after a few days off?
A recent study in Ontario has shown that many automobile drivers did nod off frequently in the last year.

We can not generalise on a group as a whole but, recently a judge has been caught with an alcohol level over .20, so these groups can not generalise on the safest drivers on the road on a few incidents.

It may be time for us to start our own pressure groups.

T.A.T.R.U.: Truckers Against Tired Road Users
S.H.U.T. on Docks: Shippers Holding Up Drivers on Docks
S.H.I.T.: Safer Highways Involving Truckers

We finally had hours of service in both countries that were almost compatible. The ATA and the CTA has every thing to gain by joining in with OOIDA and OBAC to straighten up the issue in an industry that is pressured by the “Just in Time”.

Owner Operators Business Association of Canada, OBAC

I already know what you will say

-It’s only for O/O’s
-What is there for me?
-What can they do to help me if I have an issue with my employer?

For a long while now, I often hear drivers and owner-operators complain that nothing is done, nobody can represent us, and only large carriers have their way in Canada. I say Canada because transportation is federal and laws are applied by the Provinces.

We need a strong representation across the country and in all Provinces. By looking south of the 49^th, there is over 150,000 active members with OOIDA and there is over 330,000,000 habitants in the USA. Often the 10% proportion is valid to compare and if we are 35,000,000 here in Canada, OBAC should count more then 15,000 members and it is not the case.

Rome wasn’t built in one day and since 2002, this association if fighting for the rights of the Canadian truckers. One thing I can tell you, even if I am an owner-operator, I am still a driver. Over 10% of OOIDA’s members are company drivers that have understood that the power is in the numbers. The more we will be united under one professional association, the more weigh our voices will have with all levels of governments. Currently, after 3 failed referendums (I include Meech), Quebec is still part of Canada. We have a seat waiting for us at the Forum des Intervenants du Transport in Quebec (Transport Representatives Forum) but, if that seat stays empty, our voices won’t be heard.

OBAC, like OOIDA, is a Professional Association that represents the drivers just like the Canadian Trucking Alliance does for the carriers. It is a lobby group that represents Professional Drivers interests. This is not a disguised union local. Even unions have their seat at the Forum and if you are not unionised, nobody can speak up for you.

The cost of the membership is less then most union fees paid in the industry and you will have a voice. Instead of starting a new organisation in our distinct society that will die by lack of vision, like many in the past, why not strengthen a group that is already there and that will keep up the work in progress.

Yes I am a supporter. I am a member of both association and I believe in them.

The power is in the numbers. We, Professional Drivers, need to regroup to get respect from our governments.

Jean Catudal