19 | March | 2020 | Trucker Tom’s Podcast

Daily Archives: March 19, 2020

Addressing driver mental health during Covid-19 crisis
EDMONTON, Alta. – As the world stays at home to curb the spread of Covid-19, truck drivers continue under greater pressures and isolation both inside and outside the cab. Under normal circumstances, professional truck drivers suffer from mental health issues more so than most other occupations. And during a worldwide crisis like Covid-19 pandemic, the […]
War Room: How the CTA developed its Covid-19 strategy
TORONTO, Ont. – The response to Covid-19 is often described in the language of battle. It’s a fight against the virus. We’re mobilizing resources. It’s a wartime strategy. It’s only appropriate that the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has come to refer to virus-related meetings of trucking executives and association managers as a War Room. It’s […]
Ministers rally behind truckers
TORONTO, Ont. – Two senior Ontario ministers issued a joint statement Thursday, supporting truck drivers during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. “In these extraordinary times, we have extraordinary heroes. Our truck drivers are these heroes,” said Christine Elliott, deputy premier and minister of health, and Caroline Mulroney, minister of transportation. “They are working long […]
Transport Canada releases Covid-19 guidelines for fleets and drivers
OTTAWA, Ont. – Transport Canada has unveiled a series of recommendations to help commercial vehicle operators prevent the spread of Covid-19 – including a focus on proper handwashing techniques, social distancing, and detailed steps to clean vehicles before and after a trip. The recommendations emerge in an April 1 document called Federal Safety Guidance to […]
Quebec refuses to delay truck registration fees
MONTREAL, Que. – Quebec’s Transport Ministry refused to give the province’s trucking industry a reprieve in registration payments that were due April 1, despite a call for help in the fight against Covid-19. “We asked for some oxygen to help keep our fleets complete. Certainly there is a reaction of not understanding our industry,” said […]
STA urges fair treatment of drivers during Covid-19 crisis
REGINA, Sask. – The Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) released a statement today calling for the fair treatment of truck drivers during the Covid-19 crisis. As drivers frantically continue to transport essential goods to communities across the province, and entire country, governments at the same time are implementing further restrictions to help curb the coronavirus pandemic, […]
Armour’s Susie De Ridder is Female Driver of the Year
PLOVER, Wis. – Susie De Ridder, a company driver with Armour Transportation Systems in New Brunswick, has been named the winner of the first annual Female Driver of the Year award. The award was announced Wednesday at a virtual ceremony by its organizer, Women In Trucking Association (WIT), and sponsor, Walmart. The other finalists were […]
United Steelworkers join in call to give truck drivers washroom access
TORONTO, Ont. – The United Steelworkers (USW) union is the latest group to call on businesses to offer washroom access to commercial drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Provinces and municipalities should be mandating businesses to accommodate these drivers. At this time, these drivers are essential workers, so they should be treated accordingly,” said Steven Hadden, […]
Canadian dealers take home PacLease awards
BELLEVUE, Wash. – PacLease has recognized its top franchises of the year, and two Canadian locations have made the prestigious list. Inland PacLease out of Burnaby, B.C., and Excellence PacLease from Sainte-Julie, Que., took home awards for being the Kenworth and Peterbilt Franchises of the Year for Canada. “These winners all had phenomenal years, working […]
Truck drivers encounter plunging traffic at Canada-U.S. border
TORONTO, Ont. – Just a couple of weeks ago, Shandex truck driver Mike Corkery rolled to a stop at the Canada-U.S. border. The Ambassador Bridge linking Ontario and Michigan was packed. “It took three hours to cross,” he recalls. “I ran out of hours. I pretty much got across and had to go to sleep.” […]
Free meals for truck drivers at three locations in Western Canada
SASKATOON, Sask. – Starting today, Bell International Trucks will show how much they care about drivers by handing out free meals at three locations across Western Canada. With the Covid-19 pandemic making it difficult for drivers to track down food and other essential services while on the road, the Saskatchewan company is looking to make […]
Rising to the challenge
CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – For Terry Van Ooyen, a professional driver with Challenger Motor Freight, the biggest concern on the road these days is picking up the Covid-19 virus and bringing it home to his family. But he’s also thankful to still be earning an income, and is doing everything possible to ensure his rig is […]
Association calls on equipment manufacturers for Covid-19 supplies
OTTAWA, Ont. – The Canadian Transportation Equipment Association (CTEA) has put out a call for supplies that could be used by medical professionals and others on the front lines in the fight against Covid-19. “We know that many members use nitrile or latex gloves, face shields, and N-95 masks in their painting and other operations,” […]
IFTA relief available in Ontario
TORONTO, Ont. – The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has received clarity from the provincial Ministry of Finance on who qualifies for recently announced International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) relief measures. “The five-month penalty-free and interest-free period applies to tax reporting and remittance deadlines occurring between April 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2020. Unpaid, underpaid or […]
Peterson rehires Anderson as VP
GRANDVIEW, Mo — Peterson Manufacturing has appointed Al Anderson vice-president of sales and marketing, the company announced Tuesday. A former corporate director of heavy duty sales at Peterson, he has extensive experience in the transportation, trucking and railroad industries, it said. “Peterson is pleased to have Al back on the team. His involvement was crucial […]
Pilot project to provide drivers access to food during Covid-19 crisis launching this weekend
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – What started mere days ago as an idea to get commercial drivers better access to food has quickly turned into a pilot project that will launch this weekend in three B.C. locations. Just last week, a group of concerned Kamloops, B.C., residents were looking for ways to get food into the bellies […]
Port employee with Covid-19 would not have interacted with truck drivers
MONTREAL, Que. – An employee at the Port of Montreal has tested positive for Covid-19, the Maritime Employers’ Association (MEA) has confirmed, but the individual is a longshoreman who would have limited interaction with truck drivers. The employee was already in self isolation, says association spokesman Louis Aucoin, and a related statement says necessary hygiene […]
Manitoba eases spring road restrictions in the interest of Covid-19 relief
WINNIPEG, Man. – The Province of Manitoba is easing this year’s spring road restrictions in an effort to help the continued transportation of essential goods during the Covid-19 crisis. “In order to allow vehicles to more easily transport essential goods during the current Covid-19 pandemic, we are easing spring road restrictions in certain circumstances,” said […]
How will Covid-19 affect truck driver demand?
TORONTO, Ont. – There will be layoffs during the economic downturn brought about by Covid-19, but Trucking HR Canada continues to sound the alarm about a truck driver shortage. In a briefing prepared for Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the organization cites anecdotal reports of aging truck drivers who are leaving jobs because of […]
Daimler using 3D printing to produce Covid-19 medical supplies
STUTTGART, Germany – Mercedes-Benz, a Daimler AG company that produces a variety of vehicles including the Sprinter van, is manufacturing medical equipment to help with the fight against Covid-19. With the aid of 3D printers, the company started producing individual components that are urgently needed in the medical field. “With our highly competent team and […]

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Feb
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31