In 1987, in the hit movie “Wall Street”, Michael Douglas announced that Greed is Good. About the same time, Michael Jackson announced that his new album was Bad. And five ambitious Ontario men, Jim Glionna, Tony Hohenadel, Wilson Smith, Phil Knox, and Rolf Lockwood, told the Canadian trucking industry that their new magazine called Today’s Trucking would be fantastic.

Twenty five years on, and Today’s Trucking continues to live up to its billing. In fact, this month not only marks the magazine’s Silver Anniversary, it’s also the first time we can celebrate, on the cover of our print edition, the fact that Today’s Trucking has been named Best Business-to-Business magazine in Canada, by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors.

But what a 25 years it’s been. Between that first issue in August, 1987, and today, the world has seen:

• The dissolution of the Soviet Union;
• The rise of China and India as major consumer powers;
• The virtual disappearance of European borders;
• The blurring of trade barriers among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico,
• The ascension of environmentalism as a major force in politics and business;
• The escalation of a global war on terror;
• A general rise in the standard of living across the globe; and
• The birth of the Internet.

To say this issue of Today’s Trucking is being published in a world that’s vastly different than the one it was born into is a redundancy. But to even hint for a nanosecond that the magazine isn’t doing the same service to the trucking industry that it did prior to those game-changing events would be dishonest.

In fact, while doing the research for this special issue, it became clear that many of the stories that the magazine addressed over the years simply have not changed. Some of the terms of engagement have; but others remain the same. Our first cover story was about how Reimer Express managed so successfully. Although it’s now part of the American company YRC, Reimer still manages as well as ever.

As the economy expands, so does the trucking industry. Truck driving is one job that cannot be sent offshore. And no matter how vociferously rail advocates suggest we replace trucks with trains, your industry will continue to be ranked up there with hewing wood and drawing water.

Until somebody finds a way to run a train to the oil patch to supply a crew or up a Coastal Mountain to fetch trees; or until they figure out how to fly iron ore out of the open-pit mines of Northern Quebec, Canada’s going to need her trucks. Until hospital supplies get delivered by, say, email or until fires can be doused by first responders arriving in…in…who knows what?... the trucking industry will remain vibrant and competitive. From local delivery guys to giants like TransForce who all work together to keep our houses happy, our outposts fed and our businesses thriving, the Canadian trucking industry continues to be complex, fascinating, and challenging.

Under-appreciated, too.

So, we at Today’s Trucking promise we will continue to inform, encourage and entertain the people in it. We also rely on your opinion. So as much as we hope you enjoy reading us, we also hope you let us know what you think.