The Trans-Canada Highway has been reopened in Kamloops, after two people were injured in a truck fire on Friday morning.
The fire broke out after a pickup truck rear-ended a tanker truck around 5:30 a.m. PT.
Highway 1 was closed from the Summit Drive exit to the interchange with the Yellowhead, Highway 5.
Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to B.C. Ambulance.
The fire is now out and both lanes have reopened
“Welcome to My Cab” is an online video series we started to highlight the most spectacular and customized trucks on the planet. We’ve done three installments so far, and each one has been uniquely fun and rewarding. Words can’t describe how cool it is to meet and hear stories from professionals who have been driving our trucks for decades. It’s an honor to play a role in both their personal and professional lives. For the latest installment, our production team flew into Green Bay, Wisconsin to hang out with Kenn and Beth Zelten, power couple and trucking industry veterans. As soon as we saw their custom VNL model, we knew we were in for a good time.
The pair met back in 1988 at a racetrack in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. They got married, got a Volvo truck and have been driving one since 1989. Their new VNL 730, dubbed “Kermit” after the famous Sesame Street character, represents their love for nature with unique graphics, a 2014 GHG-certified engine and aftertreatment system that puts out air as clean as it takes in and all the bells and whistles needed to make life on the road comfortable. It’s more than a truck. It’s a lifestyle. The Zeltens and their long-haul home are living, driving proof.
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The incident happened at 118th Avenue and 96th Street shortly before noon, when the truck drove into a Petro-Canada store and hit four people inside.
Edmonton police spokeswoman Anna Batchelor said the driver of the truck, a man in his late 30s, was taken into custody after a short altercation. Charges are pending. She said two people have injuries that are considered serious, but non-life-threatening. She said the condition of the other two injured people is not yet confirmed.
An unidentified driver of a tractor-trailer was killed Tuesday night on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near mile marker 302 in Morgantown. The vehicle caught fire and was reported to be fully involved when emergency crews arrived. Twin Valley Fire and Glen Moore Fire Company responded to the incident. The fire caused a road closure on the westbound lanes of the turnpike between Morgantown and Downingtown. The Immaculata University women’s basketball game against Lancaster Bible College and Downingtown East’s state semifinal field hockey game were each postponed due to the traffic delays. No further information was immediately available Tuesday night.
TORONTO, Ont. – It seems like the trucking industry has tapped every possible underrepresented demographic of late to deal with the driver shortage. The industry is desperately trying to recruit the younger generation because it knows it could benefit from replacing the old hands that are turning in their keys. And it’s also trying to recruit women because it knows it needs to change stigma of being an old boys’ club.
But there’s another pool of employment seekers who are qualified and trained to be safe and loyal employees and are used to being away from home for a long time: Canada’s military veterans.
Canada’s military veterans haven’t really been looked at as a resource before, mainly because most of them have been serving actively, but with a new Liberal government, and changes in Canada’s military direction, thousands of military people will be looking for new careers and be transitioning back into civilian life.
Fortunately, Canada Company has been ahead of the curve and has created a program where veterans and those looking to get out of their military positions can connect with military-friendly employers. Canada Company is a charitable, non-partisan organization and its goal is to ensure that the men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces receive the support and recognition they deserve. To further prove its mandate, in the fall of 2013, it introduced the Military Employment Transition (MET) program, now known as the Canada Company MET Employer Coalition, which was designed to assist Canadian Armed Forces members, reservists and veterans who are looking to find jobs in the civilian workforce.
According to Canada Company its goal is to help the workforce hire 10,000 veterans by 2023 with help from its more the 100 military-friendly employer partners. Employer partners work with Canada Company to hire skilled, disciplined veterans and help them transition into civilian life and work as easily as possible.
Among more than 100 employer partners is a handful of transportation companies who see the opportunity with Canada Company to not only solve the driver shortage, but to give back to the men and women who serve our country. Canada Company recently hosted a National Transition Symposium at the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto, where approximately 70 of its employer partners were on hand to provide military attendees with information about the positions available within their organizations.
Recruiters from Kriska were there and said the event provided the opportunity to add even more veterans to their company. To date, Jonathan Wahba, chief operating officer at Kriska, said the company has hired approximately 50 veterans. It has been an employer partner with Canada Company for two years.
“The vast majority of vets that work for Kriska today are behind the wheel,” he said. “Part of the reason we’re here today (at the symposium) is to connect more with folks who want to join us in the office environment because that’s an area where we see a lot of potential but we haven’t really gotten into. We’re looking for people who want to join us in operations, in IT, and in planning and strategy.”
Wahba said Kriska is eager to hire more veterans because, in its experience, veterans make excellent drivers and employees because of the similarities between the transportation and military ways of life.
“We are anxious and eager to grow that population because we find veterans to be some of our hardest working and most dedicated associates,” said Wahba. “They’re used to working under difficult operating conditions, they’re used to being away from home, many have been around heavy equipment in adverse conditions…so they turn out to be outstanding associates in transportation. And I think they do well because in many ways (the transportation environment) is similar to the environment they’re coming out of. An over-the-road driver is away from home often, they don’t sleep in the same bed every night, they operate large pieces of equipment, they have to deal with situational problems in the field, so if they have a breakdown, or a problem with Customs while crossing the border, these are all issues they have to figure out in real time, largely on the road. And with their background, many of these (veterans) have done this for many years. So the transition for many seems fairly easy.”
One of Kriska’s biggest military success stories has been JJ Mercer – a former major with the Canadian Air Force who began driving for Kriska in June of 2014.
Mercer had a full career with the military that lasted 35 years, but when he got out, he decided he wanted to continue working to save up some extra cash for retirement. He did some research and found that the transportation industry would be one he could get into without a number of years back in the classroom.
So far, Mercer said the driving gig is great and he especially likes the Kriska environment.
“I love driving,” he said. “I’m on the road seven days and I’m home for three. This is one of the great things about Kriska. Essentially if you’re willing to work, and you can work unsupervised – without them having to babysit you – as long as you can do that, they pretty much leave you alone and allow you to do your own thing. Which is really great. It allows you to set your life up the way that is most convenient for you.”
He agreed with Wahba that his skills from the military were transferrable to his current job as a driver.
“I was a combat operations officer. I led thousands of troops in the field so I bring a lot of organizational skills to the job,” he said. “And I certainly like working independently and I work in isolation very well. I’m also a very skilled planner and I’m very articulate. I like being alone in my truck. I wasn’t really prepared, as a new civilian, to go into a large office setting. I couldn’t take that.”
“Kriska tries to make trucking a very structured environment when there isn’t really structure,” he said. “And that’s something that military people like, we want you to make a rule so we can stick to it.”
On why he thinks Kriska considers him to be one of their military to civilian transition success stories, he said: “I think I’m very focused. And I’m here with a focus. I know what the industry is about and what Kriska is trying to achieve and I’m not here trying to fight the system.“
Bison Transport and Challenger Motor Freight are also partnered up with Canada Company.
Stephanie Fensom, manager of safety and compliance with Bison said the company is excited and eager to hire more veterans through the program because it knows what kind of employees the military produces.
“It really it comes down to the fact that we recognize the skill set that those in the military have learned and it can be transferable to what we have to offer in driving and non-driving applications,” she said. “We also recognize the fact that the military really develops leaders and strategic thinkers. We can look further and say they also really care about safety, which is something Bison is very proud of and invests a lot of time in. We look at veterans as a talent pool that can bring a lot to our organization, whether its non-driving or driving, because they have that strategic thinking ability. We know they can also be useful outside of the driver’s seat as a mentor or driver-trainer.”
To date Bison has hired only a handful of veterans but is actively working with Canada Company to expand that number.
Fensom added that hiring veterans, and putting those respected people in the seats of trucks will not only benefit Bison from a profit perspective, but it will help to improve the image of the truck driver among the public.
Challenger Motor Freight is a recent partner with Canada Company, only joining earlier this year. So far, it hasn’t hired any veterans through the MET program, but is anxious to grow its veteran population said Geoff Topping, its director of recruiting and retention.
“We have hired some veterans that came in through the normal channels,” he said, adding that most of them have been drivers.
He echoed Fensom and Wahba’s observations that veterans make great employees because of their training and safety focused skills, but said the main drive to hire veterans is to give back and thank them for their service.
“I think it’s very important to support those people who are looking for their second career,” he said. “One of our recruiters is an ex-military person and he has a lot of background in training and safety. And so we really are trying to work to expand the number of military hires in our company and we want to do that out of all of our offices in Ontario, Quebec and B.C.”
With the launch of the TMM (Truck Mounted Mast) in 2014, Manitou has a complete range of truck-mounted forklifts and solutions to cover all the requirements of transport professionals. 20 years of experience means that the leader in all-terrain materials handling has sound expertise in the sector.
Reliability and performance
The TMM is available in 4 models: 2T or 2.5T bi or multi-directional.
The TMT includes 5 units from 2.5T to 2.7T with different versions offered depending on the applications: Industrial, All-terrain (with stabilisers), and Poultry. These specifics closely meet the requirements of these different working environments.
Manitou has designed the truck-mounted forklifts with the aim of simplicity and reliability. The mechanically-welded monobloc chassis, the numerous protective devices for the hydraulic and hose components, and the paint, with a primary anti-corrosion layer, ensure the longevity and reliability of this equipment, which is particularly exposed to bad weather. This robust design enables these trucks to be used intensively.
Manitou truck-mounted forklifts are distinguished above all by their performance. During 
operations involving handling very heavy loads, the TMM and the TMT show great stability. The Kubota stage Euro 3A naturally-aspirated engine delivers constant power, even at a low speed. This gives the driver flexible and constant steering, while ensuring his productivity.
Concerning attachments, the TMM can be fitted with telescopic forks, an extender or both combined.
As for the TMM itself, the telescopic boom moves laterally by 135 mm for greater usage flexibility without adding any attachments. The inventor of the telescopic boom on the truck-mounted forklift, Manitou offers the best telescopic arm for optimum efficiency with minimum maintenance. Using this boom, the TMT can unload a platform from a single side without any additional equipment. Time saving guaranteed.
The driver also benefits from all necessary comfort and the safety that is essential to his material-handling operations.
The strength of a network and the service
Manitou, which positions itself on the truck-mounted forklifts segment, has an entire local network which applies all of its experience in materials-handling products. This network also provides its customers with its 20 years of expertise in truck-mounted forklifts.
1,400 dealers throughout the world provide support to customers, which is crucial in the Transport environment. The driver can count on the nearest dealership to provide him with the service that is necessary to properly complete his material-handling operation.
Before the purchase, the dealership carries out a load distribution study, to determine the maximum load capacity available on the vehicle. The driver can choose between 2 attachment systems (delivered with a clear usage manual). For specific requirements, the Manitou research department analyzes the requirement to create an appropriate solution, while ensuring the safety of the system.
The quality of the after-sales service and the availability of Manitou spare parts are recognized throughout the world. To facilitate their activities, transport companies can also count on the contracts for maintenance, financing or equipment rental that are offered by the dealership.
Julien Hiltzer, Product Manager for truck-mounted forklifts: “our range is capable of covering the essential requirements of our transport-company customers. The launch of the TMM range last year consolidated our position on a segment where we have been present for many years.
The essential advantage of this range is the network. The Manitou network is concentrated and very well-trained in its products. Transport companies know that they have all necessary support, wherever they are at any time. In a sector where dead time is very costly, this is reassuring.”
Investments for trucks that are “made in France”
The Manitou truck-mounted forklifts distributed in Europe are manufactured at Beaupréau (49). This unit also produces all-terrain masted trucks for the entire group.
Created only 15 years ago, the Beaupréau site has about 120 employees in a surface area of 8,000 m².
In order to support the growth in sales of truck-mounted forklifts, Manitou Beaupréau doubled the production line in 2015.
More than 200 truck-mounted forklifts are assembled each year.
The operators oversee the quality of each truck, carrying out numerous checks at all stages of manufacture. Their commitment is also a guarantee of success in the development of the Manitou range of truck-mounted forklifts.
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Coteau-du-Lac (Quebec, CAN) – November 13, 2015 – Representatives from C.A.T., U.S. Venture Gain Fuel Canada, and Gaz Métro, along with local and regional dignitaries, celebrated the grand opening of the first GAIN Clean Fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) public station in Quebec. The GAIN station, located at 4 Transport Street in the industrial park of Coteau-du-Lac, will provide the North American carrier with alternative fuel to support C.A.T.’s growing fleet of CNG trucks.
“The fight against climate change pushes us to innovate and rethink the way things were done in various sectors, including the transportation sector which emits close to 45% of total greenhouse gas emissions in Quebec. The Government supports Quebec businesses in their transition into this carbon constrained world. The Ecocamionnage program gives businesses the necessary leverage to contribute, in their own way, to reducing their GHG emissions, and thus, take steps toward more sustainable practices” concludes Mr. Robert Poëti, Quebec Minister of Transport.
“I appreciate the efforts of the Canadian trucking industry to be environmentally responsible”, said Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport. “Our transportation system is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, so investments in energy efficiency and more efficient fuels not only help to save money but will also improve the environment for Canadians.”
“We’re proud to be a leader in the industry in utilizing CNG to reduce emissions,” said C.A.T. Inc. President Daniel Goyette. “We’ve made an investment in our future with the conversion of more than 100 trucks to CNG. It’s been a very positive move by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and creating fuel price stability. We couldn’t be happier with our partnership to make this facility a reality.” Nearly a third of C.A.T.’s fleet of 350 tractors operates on CNG. The partnership involves U.S. Venture Gain Fuel Canada – which owns the GAIN Clean Fuel brand and builds and operates the station, and Gaz Métro – the supplier of natural gas to the facility.
“We’re excited for the opening of the first GAIN Clean Fuel station in Quebec,” said David Vincent, Director, Business Development and Renewable Energies at Gaz Métro.
It’s great to see C.A.T. take a leadership role in helping to get this station built. They have definitely embraced alternative energy and we hope that other carriers follow C.A.T.’s lead and take advantage of the many benefits CNG offers.
This is the second of five GAIN Clean Fuel station locations to open in partnership with C.A.T. The first station opened in Mississauga, Ontario on October 26, 2015. The other three stations locations include Laredo, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina and Scranton, Pennsylvania. These stations are finishing up on construction and will be opening soon. U.S. Venture GAIN Clean Fuel Canada is continuing to seek new partnerships to locate GAIN Clean Fuel CNG stations in Canada and the United States.
“We’re thrilled to have our second location in Canada open for business,” said GAIN Clean Fuel Business Development Manager, Marc-André Paquin. “This is one of the most heavily traveled trucking corridors in all of North America (A-20/H-401) and we look forward to serving not only C.A.T., but other carriers seeking to take advantage of the benefits. We hope this station will encourage other U.S. based carriers to seek new opportunities in Canada.”
The Coteau-du-Lac location, like all other GAIN Clean Fuel stations, will provide easy-access, fast-fill capabilities and will be open for use by other fleets and the general public. They will also have fleet card acceptance capabilities for trucker convenience and provide reliability to ensure that fleets have a consistent fuel source.
A complete list of GAIN Clean Fuel stations can be found at www.gainfuel.com
For over 60 years, U.S. Venture has been recognized as an innovative leader in the distribution of petroleum and renewable energy products, lubricants, and tires and parts for the automotive aftermarket. Guided by its company vision, “To be the very best value-adding distributor of products that vehicles consume in North America,” they deliver unconventional, creative solutions that give their customers a competitive edge. Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, the company’s business divisions are U.S. Oil, U.S. AutoForce®, U.S. Lubricants and U.S. Gain/GAIN clean Fuel.
C.A.T. Inc. was founded in 1978 and offers a blend of transportation, and logistics services. Their core market is truckload service between Canada and the USA and are one of a handful of carriers serving the Mexico market on a regular basis. For more information visit their website at www.cat.ca
With more than $7 billion in assets, Gaz Métro is a leading energy provider. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Quebec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves more than 300 municipalities and more than 197,000 customers. Gaz Métro is also present in Vermont, producing electricity and distributing electricity and natural gas to meet the needs of more than 310,000 customers. Gaz Métro is actively involved in the development and operation of innovative, promising energy projects, including natural gas as fuel and liquefied natural gas as a replacement for higher emission-producing energies, the production of wind power, and the development of biomethane. Gaz Métro is a major energy sector player that takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its Partners (Gaz Métro inc. and Valener) and employees.
Dedicated Ride Trucking Peterbilt 379 and spread-axle reefer is seen at the Truckin’ For Kids Truck Show in Irwindale, California on Saturday October 4th, 2014.
The 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree made its first tour stop in the Lower 48 states Saturday with a community event visit to Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) and Lake Union Park.
The crowd gathered to see the 74-foot Lutz spruce from Seward, Alaska, chosen as the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree; Kenworth T680 76-inch mid-roof sleeper tour truck; and specially designed tour trailer.
The tractor-trailer combination will travel 3,000 miles together in the next few weeks to visit community celebrations en route from Seattle to Washington, D.C. The tree will be lit by newly elected U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Dec. 2, outside the U.S. Capitol building. House Speaker John W. McCormack began the Capitol Christmas Tree tradition in 1964.
The new Kenworth T680 was made available for the tour by PacLease, which provides customized full-service lease, rental and contract maintenance programs featuring Kenworth trucks. It is the second consecutive year that PacLease has generously provided a Kenworth truck for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour.
The T680 76-inch mid-roof sleeper is equipped with a fuel-efficient combination of the PACCAR MX-13 engine and the Eaton Fuller Advantage® 10-speed automated manual transmission. The truck also features the new Kenworth TruckTech+ designed to enhance vehicle diagnostics and to help optimize truck uptime and productivity.
Lynden Transport driver John Schank has logged more than 5 million miles on the treacherous Dalton Highway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska – has received the special honor of serving as the tour driver for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
The Kenworth T680’s distinctive decal design features the Chugach Mountains and the U.S. Capitol beneath a northern starry sky with the words “From the Northern Lights to Capitol Lights.” It includes the 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree official seal, a map of the tour route across the United States, and the Alaska state logo of Lynden Transport, a long-time Kenworth customer based in Anchorage. Lynden Transport driver John Schank – who has logged more than 5 million miles on the treacherous Dalton Highway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska – has received the special honor of serving as the tour driver for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree driver John Schank of Lynden Transport is shown in the driver’s seat of the new Kenworth T680 mid-roof sleeper transporting the tree to Washington, D.C.
“For the next few weeks, the Kenworth T680 with the 76-inch mid-roof sleeper serves as ‘America’s Truck’ as it transports ‘The People’s Tree’ across the country to Washington, D.C.,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director. “This new Kenworth configuration provides excellent fuel efficiency and driver comfort with inspirational graphics for those seeing the truck on the road or at the community events.”
During the Seattle event, visitors also signed banners on the sides of the trailer to wish the Tree well on its journey, explored the Chugach National Forest Service and Choose Outdoors exhibits, and listened to the Alaska bluegrass band Blackwater Railroad Company traveling with the tour.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is shown in one of the viewing windows on the special trailer.
In addition, Lynden Transport’s 1954 Kenworth (nicknamed Old No. 27) was connected to a 40-foot Aero Liner trailer that serves as the company’s traveling museum. Inside MOHAI, visitors could see a 1924 Kenworth Logger built just blocks away in Seattle near the start of Kenworth’s 92-year history.
During a brief ceremony, remarks were made by Leonard Garfield, MOHAI executive director; Jered Post, Lynden Transport vice president of operations; Mona Spargo, Capitol Christmas Tree coordinator; Bruce Ward, founder and president, Choose Outdoors; and Kurt Swihart.
Upcoming stops open to the public during the 51st annual Capitol Christmas Tree tour’s are: Nov. 9 – Bozeman Public Library, Bozeman, Mont.; Nov. 10 – Holiday Inn Convention Center, Sheridan, Wyo.; Nov. 11 – Main Street Square and Veteran’s Day Parade, Rapid City, S.D.; Nov. 12 – Cabela’s, La Vista, Neb.; Nov. 15 – Downtown South Bend, South Bend, Ind.; Nov. 16 – Court House/Municipal Building and Chamberlin Hill School, Findlay, Ohio; Nov. 17 – Mount Logan Elementary School, Chillicothe, Ohio; and Nov. 18 – Joint Base Andrews, Md.
Shown is the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree-cutting ceremony in Alaska.
The tour will also make a brief stop on Nov. 16 at the Kenworth – Chillicothe assembly plant, where the truck was built by Kenworth employees earlier this fall.
For more information, visit the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website (CapitolChristmasTree.com). The public can track the truck’s progress at TrackTheTree.com.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is loaded onto to a Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) Maritime Alaska ship before departing for the Port of Tacoma.
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best® heavy and medium duty trucks.
