by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Sep 12, 2016 | BLOG
A CVSA level one inspection has 38 steps and it is a full mechanical and driver inspection, where drivers would have to provide necessary documentation to the officer.
A CVSA level two inspection is a 31-step procedure, where the majority of the steps are repeated just as a level one procedure (checking HoS compliance, low-air pressure etc.) however, the inspector is not going under the vehicle.
A level three inspection is only a 13-step procedure that involves no mechanical inspection, just the presentation of documentation from the driver.
These levels are standardized, meaning that the same level one inspection you receive in Ontario is the same level one inspection you’d be getting in southern Mexico.
The purpose of an inspection is four-fold. The CVSA is to check to see if drivers are in violation, if they are out-of-service, if the vehicle has defects and if the vehicle is out-of-service.
For more information on the CVSA please follow this link :
http://www.cvsa.org/programs/nas.php
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Aug 27, 2016 | BLOG
I drive truck, a big truck. I pull trailers behind me. Sometimes they are empty and sometimes they are full.
When my trailers are empty, my rig weighs in at 19 and a half tonnes. When it is full, it weighs 63 tonnes. I drive as sensibly as I can, I have a family to go home to and I am sure that many of you do as well.
Here are a few tips to help us all do just that:
When you pass a truck and duck back in front, do not slow down. We are moving and usually building speed as we just came up a hill or just got some open room. When you cut in front and drop down to the legal limit right away, you are becoming a speed bump. So, please……leave about 40 or 50 feet between you and me, you and your family will appreciate you making it home.
If your road to turn onto is close ahead, do not pass me and then jam on your brakes. It takes a good distance for me to stop, especially if my trailers are full. If you do cut in front and decide to make a sudden turn, I will do everything in my power not to hit you. I will swerve, I will lock up all my brakes and if it is not too much of a slope, I will even take the ditch and roll my truck. But if I do end up hitting you, I can promise you that only one of us is going home to see our families, and it won’t be you.
When a truck does hit a car from behind, we do incredible damage to our units. First thing that happens is we climb your vehicle and rip out our front axle, we land on top of your car and now you become my steering wheels. You are probably dead at this point, so don’t trouble yourself trying to think of an out. There is none. The only problem is I go where you last pointed your wheels, I hope that was in the direction I wanted to go and not a sharp turn that could possibly flip my truck and hurt other people.
When a truck is slowing down for a light, you may notice a lot of room in front of them, that is not a spot that the nice driver reserved for you. It is a safety buffer for him to slow down without danger. It is also a zone that the driver will use to keep moving so he doesn’t have to burden other drivers with stopping and crawling up a hill or impeding the flow of traffic too much. When you think that it is a spot just for you, think again. If you look in your mirror, you know that thing that hangs in the middle of your windshield, you may notice a bumper that is inches from your car and bouncing up and down because you took the safety zone away and forced the driver of that truck to stop quicker.
When we are approaching a downhill grade, we do slow down. Especially in areas where some great politician decided that he did not like the sound of engine brakes. Yes, they can be loud. Yes, they can be annoying. But, when you see a big truck coming down a hill and he is having trouble slowing down and you see a busload of kids at the bottom of that hill, then the noise of the engine brake is something you should want to be hearing at that moment.
So, when we go downhill real slow into a town or city, it is not to annoy you or create a line up of pissed off drivers, it is for the kids at the bottom or your wife taking the dog for a walk. It is for safety. We would like to go down the hills and stop in 50 feet while talking on the phone, but we can’t. We plan every stop and every start to the best of our abilities to keep you and us safe.
I am not saying that all truck drivers are safe drivers, God knows that is far from the truth, and I am not saying that everyone driving a car is a bad driver, but they do exist. I am saying that we get into such routine every day that we sometimes forget that the laws of physics still apply to vehicles in motion. The bigger the vehicle, the longer it takes to stop. I hope I never have to look at a person and know that I was involved in the death of their loved one. I never want to see the face of a child that just lost his mommy or daddy to the crushing weight of my truck. I don’t want your death on my conscience.
I want you and me to go home to our families. Please, use some common sense. Look at the vehicle you are passing and give them room to keep you and others safe. Please
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Jul 25, 2016 | BLOG
The Women’s Trucking Federation Of Canada would like to welcome Highway Western Star as our latest sponsor. Thank you for supporting us and Women in the Trucking industry.
Jeff May ( Truck Sales Specialist) Shelley Uvanile-Hesch ( CEO WTFC )
Please be sure to stop around the Ayr,On location and say hello to Jeff May. He always goes above and beyond for his customers.
Contact Jeff at 519-740-2405 ext# 422 Cell : 519-589-8662 Email: jeff.may@hwstar.ca
The sales team, service & parts, and mechanics at both locations have been a pleasure to deal with. My truck gets excellent attention at
Highway Western Star ~ Shelley
2016 5700 XE
Highway Western Star has 2 locations to serve their customers
Ayr ON ( Main Branch )
1021 Industrial Rd
Hwy 401 & 97 exit# 268
Ayr,ON N0B 1E0
519-740-2405/ 800-487-7584
Guelph,ON
150 Regal Rd
Guelph,ON N1K 1B9
226-780-0119/ 800-487-7584
Parts Direct 519-740-3848
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Jul 18, 2016 | BLOG
Distracted Drivers
Many large trucks are now equipped with very sophisticated communications equipment that allows for the driver to receive instructions and for the truck to report back to the terminal on an array of technical aspects of the truck and its driver. This equipment makes driving safer and delivering goods more efficient.
Many passenger vehicles now come equipped with the latest technical devices to help people navigate, communicate and be entertained while they drive. It’s important that all communications devices add to safety rather than distract from it.
Professional truck drivers recognize the enormous responsibility that they have driving such large vehicles on the roadway. There are some hard and fast rules in the trucking industry for using communications technology in the truck’s cab – stay focused on the main job of driving and communicate at stops. Use technology wisely and don’t be used by it.
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Jul 8, 2016 | BLOG
Summer is here and the weather will soon be reaching scorching levels, it seems as though it would be a good time to talk about how to stay safe in the heat and humidity. Depending on where you live and your tolerance for the heat, it may already be reaching uncomfortably warm temperatures.
So, let’s start off by describing what heat stress is. Human bodies naturally maintain temperatures between 36° and 38°C. When the body temperature rises above this range, the body will react to get rid of the excess heat. However, if the body continues to gain heat faster than it can get rid of it, the body temperature rises to critical levels and a person will experience heat stress. Health problems that result from heat stress are known as heat disorders. Heat disorders occur most often when heavy physical work is done in hot, humid environments and when the body consequently loses too much fluid and salt.
Some examples of possible heat disorders include:
Heat Stroke
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Cramps
Heat Rash
Heat Syncope
The body can gain heat in two ways: it can generate heat itself through work activity, and it can absorb heat from the environment. Both work activity and the environment are important sources of heat.
Take a look at some of the tips below to help prevent heat stress:
Wear Light Clothing – Light coloured loose fitting clothes made from fabrics such as cotton allow air to pass through. Air passing over the skin will help cool the body by evaporating the sweat.
Drink Water – Sweating can use up a significant amount of fluid, which must be replaced continuously throughout the workday. If fluid is not regularly replaced, dehydration will result, increasing the risk of heat stress. Drink at least two glasses of water before starting work in a hot environment and one glass every 20 minutes throughout the day. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to replace fluids.
Eating – Eat smaller but more frequent meals or snacks when working in hot environments.
Take It Inside – If the work you are doing can reasonably be done inside where it is cooler, then speak to your supervisor about moving it indoors.
Recognize the Signs – Know the signs of heat stress and if you are feeling ill, report it to your supervisor.
Shiloh Schmidt
Corporate Health and Safety
