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Articles of Interest
Trucking Safety Continues Improving
A Cautionary Maintenance Tale
TRUCK NEWS DAILY NEWS Dec 22, 2011 2:38 PM
Fairness at last, for senior drivers in Ontario?
TORONTO, Ont. -- The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says it's encouraged by comments from Ontario Transport Minister Bob Chiarelli that acknowledge the licence renewal process for senior drivers in Ontario could be less onerous.
Chiarelli said that "commercial driver licence renewal can be made less onerous for senior drivers (drivers 65 years of age and older) without compromising safety" and has asked his parliamentary assistant Vic Dhillon to determine what amendments to the renewal requirements are needed and to develop a plan to implement them, according to the OTA.
"The minister is sending the signal that the government is willing to make some changes and given the discussions we have had with the ministry to date, we don't think we are very far apart in terms of what should and can be done," said OTA president David Bradley. "We are eager to work with Mr. Dhillon early in the New Year to help establish the policy. We recognize there will be a regulatory process that has to be followed and that implementation will require system changes and the like, but we hope that by this time next year senior truck drivers in Ontario will be subject to a much fairer and less burdensome licence renewal process."
Ontario is the only jurisdiction in North America that requires commercial drivers aged 65 years and older to take an annual road test to retain their A/Z licence. Over the years, the policy has caused many experienced professional drivers to leave the industry in frustration. It is also a major cost for owner/operators who must take their truck off the road to undergo the road test or for company drivers who in some cases have to rent a truck in which to take their test.
Industry associations including the OTA, Private Motor Truck Council of Canada and Owner-Operators Business Association of Canada have been unanimous in their criticism of the current requirements.
Truck News
NY 'Move Over' law expanding
Dec 29, 2011 10:39 AM, By Deborah Whistler, contributing editor
New York's "Move Over" law, originally requiring motorists to change lanes and take caution on the road when approaching a vehicle with flashing red lights, is expanding to include vehicles with flashing amber lights as well, effective Jan. 1.
Construction vehicles, tow truck drivers and other roadside assistance vehicles will be now also included in the law.
The change in the law comes in the wake of the November death of a tow truck operator who was struck and killed in Syracuse while attending to a broken down vehicle on the highway.
"That's one of those things close to home and you know it does happen more than any of us would like to see. But it's one of the dangers of the job," tow truck driver Bryan Rinwalske told WETM News.
Rinwalske said expanding the law to protect tow truck drivers is a relief for him and his workers. "If we have to keep watching our backs for passing traffic, that slows our process and it's scary at times, very scary."
Although New York State Police hope the expanded law will slow drivers down and penalties for noncompliance are steep. If you don't slow down and move over you could be fined up to $275, get 3 points on your driving record and jail time is also possible.
Letter To The Editor
Motor Carrier Early Intervention: Warning Letter
Auto Manufacturer Fined $850,000 After Workers Killed
May 25, 2010 4:00 PM
Burlington, Ont. - Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited was fined $850,000 today for violations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after two workers were killed in separate incidents.
On January 31, 2008, a worker was fatally injured at Ford's Oakville assembly plant after being crushed between two forklifts. The worker was standing beside a forklift when a co-worker reversed another forklift into the worker. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the forklift operator did not keep a clear view of the vehicle's path of travel while reversing.
On January 14, 2009, a worker driving a lift truck carrying an unsecured pallet was killed at Ford's Bramalea parts distribution centre. While the worker was driving the lift truck down a narrow aisle, the pallet struck a storage rack. The worker was crushed between the pallet and the vehicle. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that Ford's material movement policies and procedures were not adequate.
Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to take all reasonable precautions in the circumstances to protect the safety of the workers.
The fine was imposed by Justice of the Peace Jerry Woloschuk. In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
Driver Training
Backing Injury
Fighting High Fuel Costs
Hiring the Right Driver
Thinking of a Trucking Career?
Drivers Must Be Responsible For Their Actions
30-Second Count During A Lightning Storm Can Help Save Your Life
Credit: The Waterloo Regional Record, Date: Friday June 26,2009, Section C, Page 5
 
2009 Central Ontario Regional Truck Driving Championship Winners
Straight Truck:
1. Place: Joe Kuntz Koch Transport Cambridge
2. Place: Rob Marshall Maple Leaf Foods Kitchener
Single Axle Tractor/Single Axle Trailer:
1. Place: Rick Dobie Conway Freight Hamilton
2. Place: Clary Ward Conway Freight Hamilton
3. Place: Jason Ryckman Conway Freight Hamilton
Single Axle Tractor/Tandem Axle Trailer:
1. Place: Ryan Teskey Blue Water Milk Transport London
2. Place: Bryon Winfield Home Hardware Stores St Jacobs
3. Place: Max Valkenier Conway Freight Hamilton
Tandem Tractor/Tandem Trailer:
1. Place: Larry Ruoho Challenger Motor Freight Cambridge
2. Place: Shawn Matheson Home Hardware Stores St Jacobs
3. Place: Don Lascelles Transfreight Inc Woodstock
B-Trains:
1. Place: Wayne Burnett Maple Leaf Foods (Rothsay Div) Moorfield
2. Place: Pete Rashke Linamar Transportation Guelph
3. Place: Wayne Ballagh Home Hardware Stores St Jacobs
Rookie Award: Max Valkenier Conway Freight Hamilton
Safety Award: Pete Mosher Maple Leaf Foods Kitchener
Grand Champion: Rick Dobie Conway Freight Hamilton
Past Truck Driving Championship Results Click Here
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