Top 10 stories of 2014

TORONTO, ON  –  We’ve designed this web site to be a reference tool for the Canadian trucking industry… and, happily, that’s how it is being used. Here’s what caught your eye over the last 12 months.

 

 10Want a CVOR in Ontario? Do the test.

In Ontario, you have to prove that you know something about the industry you’re getting into when you decide to get into trucking. Our link to an online primer to make sure you’re ready for the Commercial Vehicle Operators Registration (CVOR) test was among the most popular pages on our website. Curious about the test? Read more here.

 

 

9Daimler launches a revolution

Daimler Trucks has a radical vision of the near future based on a truck that drives itself. It’s not driverless… but the driver can give almost complete control to the truck on the highway. And then turn his seat 45 degrees to the right while using his tablet to check the dinner menu at the next truckstop. Or organize his next load. The only thing he can’t do is leave his seat. Sound crazy? See it here.

 

 

 

8Walmart’s futuristic ‘Jetson’ tractor-trailer

Peterbilt Motors, Capstone Turbine, and Great Dane Trailer are among suppliers who assembled a slick, futuristic truck design, all smooth curves to maximize aerodynamics, made of strong, durable but lightweight material, carbon fibre. Walmart showed off the concept truck at a sustainability conference. Take a closer look here.

 

 

7T. Rex travels by FedEx, a first for dino fossils

The National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., took delivery of a nearly complete fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur. And it got there on a FedEx tractor-trailer. The T. Rex bones travelled 3,700 km from Bozeman, Montana to Washington in a semi. The nearly 65-million-year-old dino is one of the largest and most complete T. Rex skeletons ever discovered. So how do you pack a dinosaur? Read about it here

 

 

6 Our Road Test videos

It’s been a busy year for our Road Test team. Most recently we’ve taken Mack’s MP8 505 C+ MaxiCruise out for a spin. Before that, there was the New Western Star 5700XE, a surprising Cummins-Peterbilt SuperTruck, Freightliner’s 122SD, and the Kenworth T680. We’ve also taken a look at Daimler’s collision mitigation system, assisted braking, and how to get better MPG. Check out all the videos here.

 

5Cost-per-mile for dummies

It’s not what you make; it’s what you keep. How much you keep depends on how much you spend, and knowing how much you spend is key to knowing how much you need to charge for your service. Jim Park calculates how much it costs to run a truck… and how you can use that formula to make sure your operation is profitable. Read on.

 

43 Easy ways to prevent cargo securement violations

What you don’t know could hurt you… and that’s never been truer than when it comes to securing cargo. Common sense isn’t enough. These days you need established procedures and a trained eye to ensure that not only are you safe from the whims of inspectors but also safe from the dangers of loose cargo. Jim Park looks at three ways to make sure you and your freight get where you’re going safely. Read the story here.

 

3Hours of service: Canada/U.S. comparison

To help keep the rules straight between Canada and the U.S. – especially as the U.S. regulations transition into new rules – we’ve created a side-by-side chart that compares the Canadian hours-of-service regulations with the U.S. regulations. The Canadian rules shown are for drivers south of the 60th parallel and the U.S. regulations reference property-carrying vehicles only. Here’s the story.

 

 

2Canada’s top 100 carriers

Every year there’s a lot of movement on our annual list of the Top 100 carriers in the country. It’s no surprise to see that Transforce topped the list this year. Check out the details here.

 

 

 

1The 50 best trucking songs of all time

No one is more surprised by the popularity of this list than we are! It was first posted in 2011 and has continued to enthrall readers ever since. From “Roll on, 18 Wheeler” to “Truck Driving Man,” the music world’s tribute to trucking has something for everyone. Link to the list and the YouTube videos here.

 

 

 

 


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