John G. Smith
John G. Smith is the editor of Today’s Trucking. The award-winning journalist has covered the trucking industry since 1995, when he was named the editor of our sister publication Truck News. Since then he has been a contributing editor to industry publications across North America, served as a frequent speaker on industry topics, and been honored for his coverage of business and technical matters alike.
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Mind the Paper Trail: Track driver files or face the consequences
February 9, 2018Kevin James Hickson has built a career on delivering metal. It began with local deliveries and a pickup truck before a co-worker told him about the job opening for someone with a Class AZ licence. All it took was training […]
Tick, Tock: Electronic Logging Devices are coming
January 9, 2018Canadian regulators didn’t waste much time. A U.S. mandate for Electronic Logging Devices (ELD’s) was just a few hours old on December 18 when federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced similar plans for Canada. The rule that applies to federally […]
Musk Matters: Tesla Semi light on details, but is sparking conversations
November 25, 2017The recent reveal of the Tesla Semi was like none other – and not simply because it offered the first look at a prototype of the company’s electric Class 8 truck. If anything, there were still plenty of unanswered questions once the lights dimmed and fog machines were stowed away.
Electric Dreams: Are engineers dreaming of electric sheep?
October 17, 2017Elon Musk’s dream of an electric semi has yet to become a reality. A rollout that was first expected to take place in September has been pushed back to November, while Tesla looks to address production delays with its Model 3 cars.
Traffic Unjammed: Off-peak deliveries can make a difference
September 12, 2017Suppose they had a rush hour and nobody came.
As strange as the concept sounds, this essentially describes the ultimate goal of off-peak deliveries – the route planning strategy that schedules shipments at times when there is less traffic on the road.
There are significant savings to be realized by those who embrace the idea.
Printed to Go: 3D printing will transform your access to truck parts
August 9, 2017Distribution centers and jobbers couldn’t possibly afford to stock every single part that a truck owner might need at a given point in time. The massive inventory would tie up far too much space and capital. The best they can do is play a numbers game, focusing on parts used in the widest volume of vehicles, and trying to limit investments in the components that are likely to gather dust on a storage rack.
Uber Struggle: Uber disrupted taxis, but trucking will be harder
July 5, 2017The role of a road warrior on the Today’s Trucking editorial team takes me across North America, and at times these stops don’t include a personal car. If I want to keep moving, the options have been limited to the kindness of companies I visit, shoe leather, or taxis.
Until I uploaded the Uber app on my phone.
All Together Now: Manufacturers have growing say in vehicle spec’s
June 27, 2017It is impossible to talk about engine oils without tapping into the benefits that have emerged with new CK4 and fuel-efficient FA4 formulas. The story was no different when Total invited members of our editorial team to visit a blending facility in Montreal, where the world’s fourth-largest oil company prepares and bottles lubricants for a wide variety of industries and applications.
Fight the Good Fight: It turns out you can fight city hall, and should
May 3, 2017If the signs are any indication, municipalities would rather find a way to live without trucks. No parking. No idling. No Jake brakes. No trucks on this street or that. It’s like we’re living in the midst of a song by the Five Man Electrical Band. Remember the lyrics? “Do this. Don’t do that. Can’t you read the sign?”
Clear the Way: Bypass programs perfect carrot to offset enforcement stick
March 30, 2017I was introduced to the concept of a hospital triage by watching episodes of MASH in the 1970s and early ’80s. Centered around the happenings of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, the show’s TV doctors were regularly seen moving through the latest batch of wounded soldiers, deciding who could wait and who needed immediate attention. (They also looked for new ways to torment Frank Burns, but I digress.)
It’s Howie Time: Football hero makes it into a trucking magazine
March 30, 2017If there’s one rule that I have for the pages of Today’s Trucking, it’s that every word needs to focus on trucking. It’s the reason we exist, and why the word “trucking” is splashed in bold letters across the front of every cover.
Dear @realDonaldTrump: No #FakeNews here, but we have worries
January 18, 2017Dear Mr. U.S. President-Elect,
Would it be better to refer to you as @realDonaldTrump? It seems Twitter is your favored way to communicate.
So let’s do this 140 characters at a time. Re-tweet and comment as you see fit.
Trucks and Terror: Recent attacks reinforce the value of sound security measures
January 9, 2017Security protocols are nothing new to well-managed fleets. It’s why trucks come with keys, fences enclose yards, and procedures track drivers and loads alike. The threat of cargo and equipment theft is all too real, and there is a price […]
The year in review … and preview
December 23, 2016The year in review … and preview It has been a newsworthy year in Canada’s trucking industry – and many of the stories of 2016 will also play out in the year to come. Look no further than oil-related topics […]
Diesel Dilemma: Are the days of our favorite fuel numbered?
December 2, 2016Rudolf Diesel must be rolling in his grave. The 19th-century inventor gave birth to the engine that bears his name. Now the country where he did the work is looking to bring the technology to an end. German legislators recently passed a resolution that calls for a ban of all internal combustion engines as early as 2030.