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Haunted trails on Canadian Highways

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Highway 3 is often called the Crowsnest Pass in this particular part of the mountain it covers a small part of the highway on the BC/AB border. The highway is officially known as the Crowsnest Highway it was the first mountain road I ever drove; being a prairie boy, I naturally thought this was a heck of a mountain road. But, after a few years of pulling super b and tandem loads through BC’s northern and central highway network. Many drivers like myself have had the chance to see some of the greatest natural beauty of the lower east Kootenays from a highway.

The challenges that come with this eastern section of BC’s Crowsnest Highway are vacationers, truckers, local commuters, and maintenance vehicles that meet up with each other that causes a lot of stress on drivers with heavy traffic, tickets, collisions, and fatalities.

I have heard many experiences on that highway, from pushing snow with the bumper of a truck, cars exploding on impact, rollovers, and jack-knife trailers.
To help prevent these accidents one of the top 5 general rules a trucker should follow is never be going so fast that, if something appears on the road ahead of you, you need to be able to stop safely before hitting it.

One evening, I heard a story of a truck driver cruising around a curve on Crowsnest Highway #3, and right in front of him was a life-changing sight. A small car had stopped half on the shoulder and half in their lane. It was an undivided two-lane section of road, so there was little way to get around them without the driver going into the oncoming lane. It seemed that the car belonged to a small family, most of which were out of their vehicle. One adult was helping a small child use the bathroom on shoulder. The other adult was standing in the center of their lane taking pictures of the scenery, facing away from the traffic, totally unaware of what was to come upon them. Fortunately, the driver was traveling slow enough that he had ample time to bring his speed down and blast off the air horn quickly, then re-focused his attention to the but the driver’s view was the reality of a crashing steel, rubber, and asphalt. There was little drama and a lot of luck and the driver was able to slow to a crawl as the family as they got back into their car. Although the trucker avoided the crash and was in complete shock as he missed the crash and as he looked into the mirror on the side of the truck he saw nothing. They were gone like the change of the air in the evening it swallowed them up and lifted them away in the evening air.

I love hearing of such stories and tales of Canada’s highways, it always takes me away from what is reality and puts me into the place where reality and stories mix into one.

Relaxing and de-stressing stretches after trucking all day.

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At the end of the day maybe the last thing you want to do is exercise….but, maybe this will let you have a better night’s sleep or destress your body a little. Even if you only do 1 or 2 of them it may help you a lot. With these easy stretches, you can do them in your truck or outside if you like, Just be careful not to overdo it.

Let us know if you have tried any of these at truckstopcanada.com We would love to hear from you, let us know any tricks you use to keep from having sore tired achy muscles at the end of your day!

1. Neck Stretches
Reaching over your head, grab the opposite ear and gently pull it towards the shoulder doing the reaching. This should relieve neck tension and upper shoulder tightness. Repeat with your opposite arm. The first time it may be hard but with time you will notice a bit of improvement

2. Hamstring Square
Facing your truck, press the heels of your hands against the truck, step back, and bend at the waist to form a right angle with your body and legs. You should feel a stretch in your hamstrings and your spine.

3. Wrist Bend
Bracing your fingers on the steering wheel, bend your wrists forward and backward—stretching your wrists and bringing life to your forearms. For an even deeper stretch, try lightly bending back each individual finger when your ready

4. Classic Lunge
With toes pointing in the same direction, take a large step forward with one leg. Bend your front leg at the knee and slowly sink your body down until comfortable, making sure not to let the front knee go beyond the front toes. Repeat, slowly, with the other leg, or try a walking lunge. For balance, try keeping your hands on your hips. If that is too much all at once take smaller steps

5. Arm Rotation
Standing beside your truck (facing the front or rear of the truck), place one palm, with fingers pointed up, against the side of your truck. With your arm extended and slightly bent, rotate your body away from the truck. You will feel the stretch in your arms and chest. Repeat with the opposite arm.

7. Chest Pull
Pressing both hands on your upper chest, bring your chin upwards and gently move your head away from your hands. You should feel a stretch in your upper chest and neck.

Until next time!

Volvo and Coke partnership for a Better Future Together.

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CAPTION: Volvo Trucks North America customer Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited acquired six Volvo VNR Electric trucks to service the fleet’s beverage delivery routes throughout greater Montreal.

VNR Electric trucks to Coke’s fleet, as part of a pilot program to service their iconic ‘Red Fleet’ customer delivery routes throughout the Greater Montreal Area.

The new addition of the Volvo VNR Electric trucks it is the first Class 8 battery-electric trucks in the beverage distributor’s fleet of 650 heavy-duty vehicles to service customers throughout the Montreal region. Coke Canada Bottling is the first Canadian food and beverage manufacturer to use zero-tailpipe emission trucks and all six Volvo VNR Electric trucks will be delivered throughout 2023.

Coke Canada Bottling’s Toward a Better Future Together environmental sustainability action plan, the 6×4 Volvo VNR Electric trucks will help Coke to reach their goal of reducing carbon emissions from direct sources and supplied energy by 46.2% by 2030. Coke Canada Bottling is going forward and trying to create better source of fuel in their fleet for a better tomorrow. Coke Canada Bottling has many light-duty electric trucks in the Greater Montreal Area and uses B20 biofuels on all trucks newer than 2012. To date this has led to a savings of more than 1500 tonnes of C02. Also, in addition to Coke’s new battery-electric fleet features a six-battery configuration that can cover up to 440 km (275 miles) on a single charge, as the trucks make several daily round trips of 150 km (93 miles) from the company distribution center in Montreal to customer locations. To support charging its battery-electric fleet, Coke Canada Bottling has also installed three 150 kW DC chargers with nine dispensers at its Montreal distribution center. The charging centers are to be complete in June 2023

 

The big Demo Day was held on April 13 at Coke Canada Bottling in Montreal distribution center for delivery drivers to test drive the new battery-electric trucks. During the exciting day the delivery personnel learned important ways to adjust to the Volvo VNR Electric’s range, such as leveraging regenerative braking benefits to add power back to the battery. (What does regenerative braking mean? – A battery-powered or a hybrid car, regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into chemical energy that’s stored in the battery to be used to power the vehicle. Like any other battery)

Peter Voorhoeve, President, Volvo Trucks North America addressed the press saying, “It was an excellent opportunity to mark this clean fleet milestone during Earth Month with Coke Canada’s employees and it is a tremendous honor to partner with them as they continue their electromobility transition.”

“Our ‘Red Fleet’ is iconic on the roads of Canada and, we want to strive to become the leading beverage partner in Canada, we are extremely proud to partner with Volvo Trucks to be the first Canadian food and beverage manufacturer to use battery-electric trucks,” says Todd Parsons, Chief Executive Officer at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited.

Coke Canada Bottling utilized federal and provincial incentives (Écocamionnage and the iMHZEV programs) for Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles funding to offset the cost of the six Volvo VNR Electric trucks.

 

To learn more about Volvo Trucks North America and the Volvo VNR Electric, visit volvotrucks.us/trucks/vnr-electric.  To learn more about Coke Canada Bottling’s environmental sustainability action plan, please visit CokeCanada.com/sustainability.

Secret Restaurant menu items at your favorite eating places!

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Secret Restaurant menu items at your favorite eating places!

This week featuring SUBWAY!

Subway’s Secret Menu!

Read on to discover your new favorite hand-held from my list of Subway secret menu items.

Pizza Sub: Pizza sub comes on the bread of your choice topped with tomato sauce, provolone and parmesan cheese, pepperoni, and any vegetable you want. Toasted to melt the cheese.

Chicken Cordon Bleu: Grilled chicken, thinly sliced ham, and Swiss cheese, add spinach and honey mustard.

 Meat Lover: Six strips of bacon, and a third layer of pepperoni, add Swiss cheese, a bunch of veggies, and Italian dressing to cover all the food groups.

Chicken Parmesan: Roasted chicken, marinara sauce, and parmesan cheese, toasted so that the parmesan melts with the marinara and creates its own type of breading around the chicken.

The Feast: BMT and the Club. A five-meat sandwich piled so high. Multiple slices of salami, pepperoni, ham, turkey, and roast beef with your choice of veggies, cheeses, and sauces.

Big Philly Cheesesteak: Three helpings of steak and double the cheese. I like white cheese and green bell peppers and white onions. Throw it all in the toaster.

Sweet and Sour Chicken: Grilled chicken in sweet onion sauce and red wine vinaigrette. Add Swiss cheese, spinach, and red onion to round out the flavors with an earthiness and salt.

Tuna Melt: Tuna, thinly sliced onions, and provolone cheese toasted to perfection for their rendition of a Tuna Melt.

Chicken Pizzaiola: Asiago cheese bread sub stuffed with chicken breast, topped with pepperoni slices and mozzarella or provolone cheese, then drench it with marinara sauce and toast it. I add parmesan cheese, olives, mushrooms, and onions because that’s my usual pizza order.

 Spicy Nacho Steak: The Spicy Nacho Steak sub contains grilled steak, shredded Monterrey jack cheese, onions, and bell peppers dressed with Chipotle sauce and sprinkled with Doritos nacho cheese chips before heading to the toaster.

Footlong B.M.T: It comes with eight double meat and cheeses of your choice, 9 strips of bacon, and every vegetable, plus extra bread to boot

Tuna Bomb: ( My personal favorite) add an additional half portion of tuna to your sandwich with extra bacon, on the bacon add bar b que sauce , onions, a bit of lettuce, black olives and mayo….Yummy!

Don’t forget comment down below! Tell us your favorite way that you make your sandwiches. All the bacon, sauces, and even chips added to your sandwich.

5 Foods, Snacks, while driving for a living.

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Chet

 

Chet

5 Foods and Snacks while driving for a living.

No matter who you are, trying and stay healthy is an important part of our daily life. Truck drivers are constantly looking for ways to keep the seat belt from becoming too tight. Many truckers and their partners are now prepping their meals before jump into the cab of their trucks. Some even actually cook in their truck instead of stopping at truck stops for a meal, although many restaurants have included in their menu a healthier selection, but they are normally very limited and sometimes tasteless.

Basically, there are 5 general recommendations while planning a good menu to keep you satisfied while on the road.

  • Lean Meat – Meat is a popular meal for many truckers. Try picking a meat not too high in fat. We all love a good steak but making chicken and switching up for a favorite type of fish (not too smelly) is a great alternative.
  • Fresh Fruit and Vegetables- It’s been proven that truck drivers that snack on fresh fruit and veggies have better immune systems. Oranges and citrus fruit boost your vitamin C that keeps you healthy and strong, and blueberries are an excellent example of antioxidants keeping your heart healthy.
  • Fibre Rich Foods – While no one will benefit from too much fiber (you do have a delivery to make on time…right) so, a little goes a long way but, Fibre does keep you focused, and your stomach from being hungry. Keeping you on the highway longer, Ex: Changing white bread to whole wheat.
  • Healthy snacks – Nuts like almonds, granola, power bars, yogurt, trail mix and popcorn. Having hard-boiled eggs on hand or a personal favorite prepared tuna and crackers
  • Water – We all know how important water is.

All in all, some small changes can make a lot of changes for you your waist and your wallet.

Combating isolation and jealousy: advice for my trucker friend

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Image : Betterteam
Image : Betterteam

Dear friend,

I know that your career as a truck driver requires you to spend a lot of time away from your partner, and that must not be easy. I am aware that distance can cause feelings of isolation, loneliness, and uncertainty in a relationship, which can be difficult to manage. That is why it is important for you and your partner to work together to overcome the challenges that distance can present.

I understand that maintaining regular and meaningful communication can be difficult, but it is essential that you achieve it to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. Distance can also make it harder to solve problems and make decisions together, which can lead to a loss of trust and respect in the relationship. To overcome these obstacles, it is important to communicate regularly and openly, to plan quality time together, and to find creative ways to maintain your connection despite the distance.

I know that jealousy can be a problem in a long-distance relationship, and it can be due to loneliness and insecurity. However, it is important not to let jealousy destroy your relationship. To overcome this, it is crucial to communicate honestly and openly with your partner. Talk about your feelings clearly and without judgment, and listen with empathy and understanding. Establish clear boundaries by discussing your expectations and needs, which can help build trust and reduce jealousy. You can also work with a counselor or therapist to develop communication and conflict resolution strategies.

Finally, I know that life on the road can be lonely, so don’t forget to surround yourself with people who support you and bring positivity. Don’t hesitate to connect with your fellow truckers during stops to feel accompanied. And finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself and enjoy your days off to relax and discover new things. Whether alone or with your partner, these moments can be very beneficial for your overall well-being. And always remember that you are loved.

Take care of yourself, my friend.

Ideal Food Service Corp acquires Distribution en Route as part of its growth strategy

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Ideal Food Service Corp has acquired Distribution en Route as part of its development strategy focused on acquisitions and organic growth. This acquisition will allow the company to strengthen its presence in the market and leverage its leadership.

Led by Petros Louladakis since 2018, Ideal Food Service Corp has managed to multiply its sales sixfold with a qualified team of 45 people, including key members from its acquisitions.

With this acquisition, Ideal becomes the largest independent full-line foodservice distributor on the island of Montreal. According to Petros Louladakis, this acquisition reinforces their presence in the fast food sector in Quebec and brings them closer to their long-term goal of becoming the largest distributor in Quebec.

Ideal Food Service Corp is a family-owned business that believes professional relationships are built between people rather than companies. The company is proud to offer the best national brands, including Viandor, Rendo, Nina, and Pronto.

How to minimize injury risks in trucking

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Image : Fleet owner
Image : Fleet owner
Image : Fleet owner
Image : Fleet owner

Trucking is a profession that exposes drivers to many injury risks. Here are the most common risks they face:

  1. Road accidents: Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, increasing their risk of accidents. Truck accidents can be very serious, resulting in injuries or even death. Additionally, night driving can be more difficult due to reduced visibility and increased fatigue.
  2. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs): MSDs account for about 40% of all work-related injuries in the transportation industry. Truck drivers are at increased risk of developing MSDs due to long periods of sitting and loading and unloading cargo.
  3. Injuries related to loading and unloading: Truck drivers can be injured while lifting heavy objects, slipping, tripping, or getting caught in the cargo.
  4. Lifestyle-related illnesses: Truck drivers spend long hours on the road, often eating unhealthy foods and sleeping poorly, which can lead to health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
  5. Stress: Truck drivers can experience significant stress due to the pressure to deliver goods on time, heavy traffic, and long hours of driving. Stress can have negative consequences on the mental and physical health of drivers.

It is essential for truck drivers to take measures to minimize injury risks. Here are some ways to do so:

Take regular breaks: Truck drivers should stop regularly to rest, stretch their legs, and exercise. It is important not to drive for long periods without a break, as this increases the risk of fatigue and accidents.

Recognize signs of fatigue: Signs of fatigue include drowsiness, frequent yawning, difficulty concentrating, and itchy eyes. Truck drivers should be aware of these signs and stop to rest if necessary.

Manage stress: Truck drivers can manage their stress by practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. They can also find ways to distract themselves during the long hours on the road, such as listening to music or audiobooks.

Eat healthily: Truck drivers should make sure to eat healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and avoid fatty and sugary foods. They can also pack healthy meals and snacks to avoid eating junk food on the road.

Stay in shape: Truck drivers can maintain their physical fitness by regularly practicing stretching and strength exercises to reduce the risk of MSDs. It is also important to take the time to do cardiovascular exercise, such as walking or running, to maintain overall health.

Receive safety training: Truck drivers should receive safety training to learn best practices for driving, loading, and unloading cargo. Employers should also provide adequate safety equipment to reduce the risk of injury.

By following these tips, truck drivers can reduce injury risks on the road and maintain their overall health. It is important to remember that safety should always be the top priority when driving a truck.

Truck driving: a surprising and exciting career choice for you, young adults!

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Photo : NACS
Photo : NACS

Hey there, young folks! Did you know that truck drivers are the unsung heroes of the economy? They play a crucial role in delivering goods and materials across the country and keeping businesses and consumers supplied with the resources they need to operate.

Being a truck driver may sound tough, but it’s also a thrilling and rewarding career with many opportunities for personal and professional growth. You get to enjoy the freedom and independence that comes with the job, traveling to different places, exploring new cities, and meeting new people. Who knows, you might even become the next travel influencer!

And the earning potential is also very interesting, with many truck drivers making good money. In fact, some drivers can even earn six-figure salaries, especially if they have specialized skills or work in high-demand areas. This means that truck driving can be a well-paying profession that provides financial security and stability.

What’s more, there are many opportunities for advancement in the trucking industry, with drivers moving up the ranks and taking on more responsibility, such as becoming a trainer or manager. Some even start their own trucking companies, which can be a lucrative and exciting career path. Imagine being your own boss and cruising down the road in your very own rig!

But it’s not just about the money and freedom. Truck drivers also take pride in delivering goods to customers and playing a vital role in the economy. If you’re the type of person who enjoys helping others and being part of something bigger than yourself, then truck driving can be a fulfilling and meaningful career choice.

And don’t worry if you’re new to the industry, as many trucking companies offer training programs and support for new drivers. Plus, they often provide good benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans, which can provide additional financial security. You’ll be well taken care of while you’re out there on the open road.

In conclusion, being a truck driver is a challenging but exciting profession that offers many benefits and opportunities for personal and professional growth. So, if you’re looking for a career that offers adventure, financial security, personal satisfaction, and independence, truck driving could be the perfect fit for you!

Join the industry today and become a part of the rock star team of truck drivers that helps keep our country moving forward!

Life on the road

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Whether you’re new to the trucking world or you have been hauling for 20 plus years maintaining a good relationship with your partner, friends and family is much harder than non-truckdrivers.  

While on the road there are many things that run through our minds like, money problems, relationship insecurities and like Alan Jackson sings “Who’s Cheating Who?”.  Sometimes, time can become long and repetitive just because you cannot talk to people in person. You get caught up in small details and that leads to a lot of worry and can consume you, and your world can become very small. 

Keeping peace in your household is sometimes hard, but trying to keep an open line of communication open is key. Luckily, now with new technology, it’s much easier to keep in touch by Facetiming and Messenger. It makes the end of a long day easier and helps with all the little worries. Nothing like a video chat with your loved ones, family, favorite pets to make you feel more relaxed and appreciated. 

If ever worries pile up and you feel like there is no solution, there are always ways to talk to someone who can help sort out your worries Crisis Service Canada at 1-833-456-4566. 24/7. Yes, its cliché and many do not talk about it out loud, but many people can benefit from reaching out for help, there’s no shame, only help! 

Having something to look forward too is also another great coping technique, make plans to go on a date with your partner. Even if it’s watching a movie and sharing snacks or discovering a new place to eat or go over to your best buddy’s place and play cards. On your time off just don’t sleep or hang around the house. Try something new, it will give you plenty to think about on the road. 

Stay safe! 

Editors Pick

Sleep Apnea and Driving Semi Trucks!

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One thing for sure is that it is better to be diagnosed and treated than do nothing at all! With the newest studies, one out...