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55 Years of business for Noël Parent, a trucking legend!

By
sophie
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0

Noël Parent is a true trucking legend in Québec. With a career spanning 55 years, he has done much more than just cover miles: he has written history on every road he took, in the potholed asphalt, as he puts it! His journey began behind the wheel of a one-year-old six-wheeled Inter, followed by a twelve-wheeler – more than just trucks, they were companions.

In the fall of 1968, Noël launched his trucking career with Les Huiles Pelchat in Saint-Anselme, Qc a developing period where he learned the ropes of the trade. For eight years, he faced countless challenges, driving trucks with basic comforts – imagine a hard seat that spanned the width of the cabin, with no possibility of adjusting the backrest! These tough conditions reflected the times.

Before settling in at the wheel for this company, Noël also gained valuable experience in mechanics, learned on the job, and in towing, which helped him understand the nuances of these vehicles.

After his time with Pelchat, Noël embraced a new challenge: for two years, he was a school bus driver. This experience, quite different from trucking, notably helped him develop an important skill for truckers… patience! “It was no longer comfortable, and it was even harder on the ears!” he exclaims with a laugh.

Subsequently, he joined the team at Paul Lemelin’s garage in Sainte-Claire, Qc then at Prestofix in Saint-Henri, Qc where he spent 22 years. Noël traveled through four Canadian provinces, extending his horizon from Ontario to the Maritimes. “I really liked going to the Maritimes, even though I didn’t speak very well in English. They were beautiful trips.”

This period coincided with the era of the CB radio, during which he was nicknamed “Western,” sharing the roads in brotherhood with his fellow truckers. His brother, known as “Sunkist,” joined him on these adventures, although without the Florida oranges suggested by his nickname! “It’s because his truck was orange…”

Over time, the CB radio fell silent, but Noël maintained his love for the road. He witnessed the evolution of his profession, from air suspensions compared to leaf spring suspensions and other technologies. However, the deregulation of transportation didn’t disrupt his routine, as he mostly delivered for specific companies.

At Réal Brochu, still in Saint-Henri, his last 20 years were dedicated to local bulk transport, like sand and stone. “We are far behind (in terms of salary), but as the boss said: ‘if I had the price, it’s worth, I could pay you more.’ When I started, we didn’t earn much, the salary has tripled,” he tells us, recalling his early wages, about $2/h.

Noël has seen many colleagues leave and numerous companies disappear and/or merge. He even decided to retire with the arrival of electronic logbooks, preferring to preserve his memories of the road as he knew it.

His son tried trucking for six years before having to give it up for physical reasons. Noël is aware of the sacrifices of the profession, especially the time spent away from family. “It isn’t easy when the children are young.”

He advises future truckers to love responsibilities and be ready to manage the unexpected. He concludes that it’s a beautiful profession that allows one to see the country and have great experiences.

After a 55-year career, covering more than five million kilometers, Noël Parent is a source of inspiration. A local celebrity. He made the front page of “La Voix du Sud,” testifying the impact of his journey. His retirement marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new, quieter adventure on the roads of life.

And why not, a few trips here and there, when beautiful opportunities arise!

Hats off, Mr. Noël Parent, happy retirement, and happy upcoming 77th birthday!

Five years in prison for a truck driver who killed two children

By
sophie
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7

Jean-Philippe Giroux, a mourning father who lost his children Émerik, 7 and Maélie, 3 in an accident involving a truck driver, distracted by his phone, expresses his dissatisfaction with the five-year imprisonment sentence given to the driver. The accident, which occurred on April 18th, 2022, on Highway 401 near Belleville, ON, also took the life of Chantal Dendooven-Legault, 68, the children’s grandmother. Anik Legault, mother of the children, and their uncle Érik, survived with minor injuries.

Mehakdeep Singh, truck driver, collided with the Giroux family’s vehicle while he was preoccupied by his phone, unaware of the slowing vehicles in front of him. Surveillance cameras recorded the moments leading up to the accident, revealing that Singh did not notice the slowing signals and continued to use his phone.

Singh, who had falsified his logbook and shouldn’t have been on the road that day, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death. Despite a five-year sentence, considering his remorse and clean criminal record, Giroux points out that his own sentence is perpetual, having lost his family in an instant.

Small Trucking Company Hit with $16K Bill for Box Truck Breakdown

By
sophie
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0

A small trucking company in Georgia received a $16,000 towing bill for a broken-down box truck, according to a recent report. On December 20, a box truck owned by Elshaddai Truckers and Logistics broke down on southbound I-75 at mile marker 227 in Henry County, Georgia, due to a broken brake line. As the box truck blocked traffic, the police called for a tow truck. Under Georgia’s Towing and Recovery Incentive Program (TRIP), Wrecker 1 from McDonough was dispatched to respond.

TRIP, in place since 2008, aims to alleviate traffic congestion by providing financial incentives to tow companies for promptly clearing commercial vehicle accidents. The program is activated for all commercial vehicle accidents that obstruct traffic, with dispatch managed by law enforcement or transportation officials. It rotates vetted tow companies to respond to commercial vehicle accidents, requiring them to have two heavy-duty recovery trucks and a support truck as part of the program.

The initial towing bill came to $12,345, with a 25% discount if paid the same day. However, a second bill of $16,515 was issued later. The company states that they lack the funds to cover the towing bill and still have freight to deliver in the box truck. According to Georgia officials, there is no fixed rate tow companies must adhere to when the tow is initiated by law enforcement.

ATA Survey Reveals Major Safety Spending Surge in Trucking

By
sophie
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0

The trucking industry is dedicated to enhancing and preserving safety on the roads, consistently demonstrating this commitment through substantial investments in technology, training, and various other measures aimed at improving highway safety.

Recent data released by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) from their Safety Spend Survey indicates a significant increase in safety-related expenditures. In 2022, the industry reportedly invested around $14 billion in safety initiatives, marking a substantial 40% rise compared to the previous survey conducted in 2015. This considerable financial commitment underscores the industry’s dedication to ensuring safer highways.

In the survey conducted by ATA, a wide range of motor carriers, encompassing fleets of various sizes, were polled. The respondents represented a significant segment of the industry, with nearly 160,000 trucks and 170,000 drivers. The investments made by these fleets were categorized into five key areas: onboard safety technology, training programs, incentive schemes, safety-related maintenance, and compliance-related expenses. This diversified approach reflects a comprehensive strategy to bolster overall road safety.

ATA’s President and CEO, Chris Spear, emphasized the trucking industry’s unwavering commitment to safety. According to Spear, safety is not merely a slogan within the trucking community, but a core mission. The industry, he notes, is actively engaged in enhancing safety through the adoption of advanced technology and rigorous training programs. Spear’s statement highlights the industry’s proactive and dedicated efforts to protect drivers and the general motoring public, setting a standard for safety commitment in transportation.

The Electrification of Trucks in California: An Uncertain Future

By
sophie
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0

California is at the forefront of truck electrification in the United States. However, a recent report by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) suggests that the state may not be fully ready for this major transition. ATRI’s analysis highlights major challenges, including the fact that the state’s main electricity producers are facing uncertainties that could affect the future availability of electricity.

A concrete example of these challenges is the situation of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, the last in California, which contributes 8.5% of the state’s electricity production. Initially scheduled to close in 2025, California is now considering extending its operation. This decision underscores concerns about the state’s ability to meet increasing electricity demand.

(Although nuclear power plants like Diablo Canyon have low greenhouse gas emissions during operation, they present other environmental concerns, including the management of radioactive waste and the impact on local ecosystems. Its carbon footprint is relatively low compared to fossil energy sources, but higher than some renewable energies.)

ATRI’s 2022 report reveals impressive energy consumption data: in 2019, road users in the United States consumed more than 136 billion gallons of gasoline and nearly 44 billion gallons of diesel. Replacing this energy with electricity would require a significant increase in electrical production. Moreover, trucks, especially long-haul heavy-duty ones, would become major electricity consumers.

For illustration, the electricity consumption of American trucks would amount to 553.5 billion kWh per year, representing 14% of the total electricity consumption of the United States in 2019. Long-haul trucks alone would consume 417.4 billion kWh, or 10.6% of the total consumption.

If all light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles in the United States were electrified, this would require an increase of 1,593.8 billion kWh of electricity per year. This represents a 40.3% increase in the country’s annual electricity consumption, a major challenge for the electrical grid.

In California, where the average electricity rate is already the second highest in the country, this transition will have a significant economic impact. Electric trucks, costing more than $425,000, more than double the price of a diesel truck, will increase supply chain costs. ATRI estimates that the operating cost of a heavy electric truck could reach $1.21 per mile, taking into account equipment, installation, utility upgrades, and electricity.

 

TFI International Announces Acquisition of North America’s Largest Flatbed Company

By
sophie
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0

TFI International, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, announced on December 22nd an agreement to acquire Daseke, the largest flatbed and specialized trucking company in North America, for an impressive sum of over 1 billion dollars. This acquisition, marking a major turning point in the transportation industry, positions TFI International as a dominant player in the market, significantly expanding its reach in the specialized trucking sector.

Daseke operates approximately 4,900 tractors, 11,000 flatbed and specialized trailers, and includes the following companies:

  • Smokey Point Distributing
  • E.W. Wylie
  • Central Oregon Truck Company
  • Lone Star Transportation
  • Bulldog Hiway Express
  • Hornady Transportation
  • Big Freight Systems
  • The Steelman Companies
  • The Roadmaster Group
  • TSH & Co.
  • The Boyd Companies — Boyd Bros. Transportation and WTI Transport

According to Alain Bédard, President and CEO of TFI International, this significant acquisition greatly enriches their current operations and elevates their road transport segment to the rank of a leading transportation and logistics company in North America. Daseke’s deep expertise in serving a wide range of specialized and industrial markets, such as the transportation of high-security cargo, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, is considered essential in the face of current evolving dynamics in the specialized market. Their immediate goal is to improve Daseke’s financial results, as part of an ongoing strategic approach.

The news of the acquisition by TFI International defies the current economic challenges influencing the trucking sector. “You buy when the news is bad and you sell when it’s good,” says Alain Bédard. “We must not forget that infrastructure, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges need major investments. This benefits the trucking industry and even more so the flatbed trailer sector.”

In the medium term, this acquisition is expected to generate annual revenues of $3.6 billion USD. The acquisition is expected to be concluded in the second quarter of 2024.

TFI has made 125 acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies in the United States and Canada since 2008.

 

Clean Air Act Violation: Historic Fine for Cummins

By
sophie
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0

Cummins Inc., a giant in engine manufacturing, recently found itself at the heart of a major environmental controversy. The company has reached an agreement with the U.S. federal government and the State of California to settle charges related to its emission certification process for certain engines used primarily in pickup trucks. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Cummins will have to pay a fine of 1.675 billion dollars for violating the Clean Air Act. This violation involves the installation of so-called ‘defeat devices’ on hundreds of thousands of engines.

Emission defeat devices, used in certain vehicles like RAMs equipped with Cummins engines, are sophisticated systems designed to bypass environmental standards. Cummins has stated it has fully cooperated with the concerned regulators, claiming to have already resolved many of the issues raised.

The DOJ accused Cummins of installing defeat devices on 630,000 RAM 2500 and 3500 engines, models 2013 to 2019. The company also allegedly installed undeclared auxiliary emission control devices on 330,000 engines of 2019 to 2023 models. In response, Cummins has already recalled the 2019 model year RAM 2500 and 3500 and initiated a recall of 2013 to 2018 models, having already set aside 59 million dollars for the estimated costs of these recalls and other related actions.

Cummins plans to record a charge of about 2.04 billion dollars in the fourth quarter of 2023 to resolve these and other related issues, concerning approximately one million pickup applications in the United States. Of this amount, about 1.93 billion dollars would correspond to planned payments for the first half of 2024.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that the 1.675 billion dollar fine is ‘the largest ever obtained under the Clean Air Act, and the second-largest environmental penalty in history.’ He added that the incriminated devices have a significant and harmful impact on the environment, causing notably excessive emissions of nitrogen oxides and potentially leading to long-term respiratory problems. Garland concluded that this penalty should clearly show that the Department of Justice will be firm in its efforts to hold accountable those who seek to profit at the expense of the environment, impacting the health and safety of people.

Vancouver Trucker Found Dead: Unanswered Questions

By
sophie
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0

Farah Ali Mohamud, a 34-year-old truck driver, was tragically found dead shortly after arriving in Winnipeg for a delivery. Departing from Vancouver, he had been missing since the previous Friday. His disappearance had sparked significant concern, leading to the issuance of a missing person alert.

His truck was discovered in a parking lot of the Sherbrook Inn, on West Broadway. Mr. Mohamud’s body was found in a house near this location. The police, who are conducting the investigation, have provided few details about the circumstances of his death.

Sayid Ahmed, a close family friend, shared the shock and deep sadness of the Mohamud family. He emphasized that Mr. Mohamud, described as a happy man devoted to his family, had no mental health issues, making the situation even more incomprehensible for his loved ones.

Mr. Mohamud, a father of three, had immigrated to Canada in 2011 from Somalia. He resided in British Columbia with his immediate family, while his extended family lives in Edmonton. The return of the body to Edmonton for the funeral is planned.

The Somali-Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization expressed condolences on Facebook, requesting that thoughts and prayers be directed towards the grieving family. Reef Trucking Enterprises, Mr. Mohamud’s employer, stated that the matter was in the hands of the police and declined to provide further information.

This tragedy leaves a family in mourning, seeking answers to numerous unanswered questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of Farah Ali Mohamud.

Dates of the next International Roadcheck 2024

By
sophie
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0

The International Roadcheck, an annual three-day event dedicated to the safety of road transport carriers, will take place from May 14 to 16, 2024. Sponsored by the CVSA with the support of several government agencies, this program is the largest of its kind, aiming to inspect about 15 trucks and buses every minute in North America for 72 hours. Since 1988, over 1.8 million roadside inspections have been conducted during this event. It serves not only to ensure compliance and enforcement of safety standards but also to educate the industry and the public on the importance of safe operation of commercial vehicles.

As part of the CVSA’s 2023 International Roadcheck Inspection and Enforcement Initiative, which lasted 94.5 hours, 59,429 commercial vehicles were inspected in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from May 16 to 18. 19% of the inspected vehicles, or 11,270, were put out of service following the discovery of at least one violation. These vehicles were removed from circulation until the violations were corrected. In total, there were 17,479 out-of-service vehicle violations.

Moreover, 5.5% of the drivers of inspected vehicles, or 3,256, were restricted from driving due to at least one out-of-service driver violations, in accordance with the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. These drivers were prohibited from commercial travel until the violations were corrected, totaling 5,280 out-of-service driver violations.

In summary, 116,669 violations were identified during this operation, including all driver and vehicle out-of-service violations, as well as those that did not result in an out-of-service status.

Thump, Thud, Quack Who’s out there?

By
Truck Stop Canada
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0

I pull into a duck processing plant and drop my empty trailer, then park my truck for the night right next to a nice little pond. My pick-up was in 12 hours so I do my EDL and lay down in the bunk.

At about 3 am I heard something outside my truck’s passenger side door. I got up and looked out expecting to see someone or something. I quickly thought that maybe I wasn’t allowed to park there for the night. But, there was nothing there!

I must be hearing things. I started to lie back down. But, as soon as my head hit the pillow I heard the tapping again except this time it was on my driver’s side.

The same thing happened as before, I jump up and look out my window but nothing was there. I then double-lock my doors just in case and open my side hatches so I can hear what’s going on outside.

After about 15 minutes, I hear a very light splat splat splat passing on the driver’s side of the truck.

I slowly get up and try to look out my window at the exact moment whoever is knocking on my door. And then I hear a thud coming from the roof of the cab.

I stop grab my tire thumper off its hook and ready myself for whatever the hell is going on.

Then thud! A duck falls off the top of the truck and lands on my hood. It stands up, waddles back and forth, and looks at me.

The moment the duck and I made eye contact the tapping at my door started again. Then I threw open the driver-side door and there was another duck waddling away in a hurry honking like a 5-year-old who just found the horn on his new bike.

The pond I parked next to had a ton of them just ducking around. Needless to say, It was hard to sleep that night because every couple minutes the duck would peck at my door or land on the cab and then jump off and waddle away!

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