It’s been just over a year since the Insurance Bureau of Canada announced a successful cargo theft reporting program operating in Eastern Canada would be expanding to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC.

In an annual meeting in December, the Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Policy highlighted the many efforts achieved and/or underway that tie in with the Canadian Trucking Alliance’s (CTA) SMART approach to GHG regulations, reported the CTA.

In its commitment to reducing the trucking industry’s carbon footprint, the Canadian Trucking Alliance thinks there is more Ottawa can do to help carriers reach their goals for greener initiatives.

Between Calgary and Edmonton, this year’s 18 Wheels of Christmas – a fundraising campaign of Rosenau Transport – collected more than 32,000 pounds of food and baby items, and more than $15,000 for their local food banks.

Did you know:

Carriers can obtain an extended wheel-base tractor permit for $15.

According to the Government of Alberta, the permit only applies to:

Released by the Canadian Trucking Alliance December 21, 2016:

Tell Ottawa Green Trucking Doesn’t Include Scrapping Excise Tax Rebate

An agreement is now in place between Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to harmonize requirements for long combination vehicles (LCVs). The move will allow intra-provincial carriers to transport goods more easily and efficiently across the four provinces while reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

In an appearance before the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, the Canadian Trucking Alliance called on the federal government to broaden its oversight powers under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) similar to those contained in the US Clean Air Act to prevent tampering of mandatory emission control devices on heavy trucks.

While pundits debate whether President-elect Donald Trump will in fact build a wall between America and its NAFTA neighbours, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is reminding politicians in both Canada and the U.S. how escalating costs and redundant fees imposed by governments at the border can be just as stifling as any physical barrier.

“Trade between our two great nations is the number one source of exports for 35 states,

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is calling for greater fairness and the use of “volumetrics” in the AMPs (Administrative Monetary Penalties) system used for Advanced Commercial Information (ACI) compliance.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is accepting applications for its third annual International Driver Excellence Award (IDEA), an award that recognizes the extraordinary careers of professional commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and their commitment to public safety.

Applications are now open for Trucking HR Canada’s 4th annual Top Fleet Employers program, which recognizes fleets who demonstrate a commitment to going above and beyond in their human resources practices.

Applications and online submissions will be accepted at www.truckinghr.com until close of business on January 31, 2017.

Westcan Bulk Transport has been named the National Gold Winner in the Transportation category of Canada’s Safest Employers 2016. The winners were announced at a gala dinner in Toronto, ON on October 24.

The Van Horne Institute is hosting a workshop on November 25 to discuss key trends in education and the future of talent in transportation and logistics from the perspective of the millennial generation.

Occupational Health and Safety has published best practices documents for employers and workers to use in their OHS System:

Small Business Toolkit

Hazard Assessment & Control

Supervisors Roles & Responsibilities

Leading Indicators Guide

Worker’s Guide to OHS

Employer’s Guide to OHS

18 Wheels of Christmas is launching its 14th season of working together with the transportation industry and the community to support food banks in the community

Although it’s likely the job of the over-the-road truck driver may evolve somewhat, it will not be eliminated or disappear in the age of autonomous vehicle technology, Canadian Trucking Alliance President David Bradley wrote in a letter to federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who was reported as saying certain occupations – namely trucking – would disappear in the future as a result of automation.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has signed the first-ever memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two organizations.

Top Fleet Employers at Gala Event

Trucking HR Canada’s 3rd annual Top Fleet Employers program shined the spotlight on thirty-nine of the best workplaces in Canada’s trucking industry at their gala awards dinner this month. Of the five awards presented, three – Westcan Bulk Transport, Triton Transport and Ken Cross of SLH Transport – went to members of AMTA.

By: David Bradley, Canadian Trucking Alliance

The federal government has pledged to introduce legislation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana (I’ts already available by permit for medical use) sometime in 2017. This is a much more complicated issue than meets the eye and perhaps more than the government bargained for.