by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Dec 18, 2016 | BLOG
I’d been trucking close to 30 years . Always considered myself a safety conscious guy. Until 1 day 3 yrs ago.
I was traveling I90 in Washington , the weather was starting to get rough. But I thought to myself if I can just make it to North Bend I’ll call it a night .
Wouldn’t you know it, chains were required for the Snoqualmie Pass . So I pulled into the chain up to go sling some jewelry . At this point all I could think of was let’s get this done so I can get moving.
I got 1 set on no problem but the other was giving me grief. I wasn’t paying attention to anything but the task at hand . When I woke up I was in a snowbank about 20′ from my truck. It took me a few minutes to get my thoughts back , I couldn’t move my legs. I was starting to feel the pain.
A car had hit me and thankfully they’d stopped . A wind gust had caused a white out, temporarily blinding them. Had I had on safety reflective clothing maybe they would of seen me, or maybe not. I’ll never really know for sure.
But what I do know. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Spend a little extra and get the reflective gear. It just may save your life. I never leave home without it now.
I got lucky and suffered with just my leg broken in 2 places. Every day I’m thankful to still be here.
So whether your stopped on the side of the road or in a yard PLEASE put your safety gear on , it just may save your life.
” Keep on Trucking and stay safe my brothers and sisters of the highway ”
Submitted and written by M. Brand
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Nov 30, 2016 | BLOG
Becoming a Professional Driver isn’t an easy decision. Some have personal or financial issues to deal with to obtain their goal. They are often scared of the unknown , yet excited to start a new journey in life.
I’m going to share a recent email I received . I’m leaving out names to protect the identity of the sender.
I researched the Trucking Industry in Canada as a possible career choice, after about 10 years I decided that it was the right choice and fit for my current circumstances . Since I have no spouse ,children , or family commitments to impede on my ability to work long haul.
Since I graduated at the end of October with my full license , I have been in contact with many different Carriers via phone or email in the BC area. Many companies stated they required 1 to 2 yrs mountain experience . Sadly for an industry that is saying they have a driver’s shortage it’s a hard one to enter. Only 3 so far offer a training program for a Novice Driver . 1 stating they don’t train in the winter month’s but feel free to call back in the spring.
BC has some of the largest and steepest mountain highways , with bends and curves of the terrain . I feel this is the perfect training area for a Novice Driver to gain valuable skills and experience . If a Novice Driver can be trained with a trainer in the winter months ,they will gain improved skills prior to the following winter season . It is vital that Novice Drivers gain winter driving skills with a trainer as opposed to spring,summer or fall. Why complete training and send them out on their own with no winter experience.
It is the worst feeling for someone like myself to spend $8000 to $10,000 on training and been successful in obtaining my license . To ultimately get trapped in the never ending funnel of ” experience required “. Hearing this over and over again becomes very emotionally defeating experience to a Novice Driver . As a Novice Driver I believe that my skills as a driver will weaken over time as I wait to find someone to train me.
This is 1 of a few emails or phone calls we’ve received from new drivers. I decided to share this in hopes that we as a whole in the Trucking Industry can find a solution to this problem . This isn’t just a West coast problem, it’s across the country problem .
Drivers if your interested and willing to train please go to your company and let them know. Not sure how or what to teach ? Ask them to send you for a training seminar . Even if your company doesn’t have a program in place, go talk to them…you just maybe what they’ve been waiting for !!
Carriers have you asked your driver’s if their interested in training ? Are you offering a paid training course ? Have you gotten feedback from your driver’s on your training program ?
Some food for thought ….
I quite often hear we only put Women with Women and Men with Men. I know of 1 carrier who introduced the trainer/spouse to the trainee/spouse in an informal social setting a few times prior to the 1st trip. So they could talk and get to feel comfortable with each other . Another carrier puts the trainer in a hotel room and the trainee sleeps in the truck. Another asks the trainers spouse how they feel about it and answers any questions they may have.
This isn’t about pointing fingers , it’s about finding a solution to an area of concern within the Trucking Industry .
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Nov 16, 2016 | BLOG
My name is Sheryl and I’m 44. I have been driving since 2007. I came to trucking later in life when I needed a way to support my kids and be independent.
My mother told me that when I was 12 and I saw a big truck go past us, I swore that was what I wanted to do. Then when I got my license at 16 I got freaked out on a narrowed road and believed that if I was scared in a car I had no business being in a truck.
I had kids, got married and tried a variety of jobs.
I spent a fair bit of time working for Russell A Farrow as customs broker supervisor.
One young girl came into my shift and her parents owned a truck training school.
I took that as a sign to jump in and do it. I knew I was never going to be independent on $13 per hour.
I did it part time and am proud to say that at my school not one of the male trainees thought I could do it. (I was the only girl).
When I got my license on the first try, they all said it must be easy if I could do it.
Two of those men had to take the test twice.
I started out with a big company as no one wanted to take on someone new especially in the winter. I spent only 7 months there and I really learned a lot. I don’t think a day goes by that I am not thankful for all those slow maneuver courses they put me through.
After that I found a smaller company that was willing to take a chance and for almost 7 years I was part of the Flash Freight family.
I had gotten remarried and my husband and I wanted to try driving as a team so we found a different company that could accommodate us. Three months later and with next to no sleep we moved on to another company as solo drivers.
I tried my hand at training and was stunned at what passes for driver training. This student had never seen the inside of the engine compartment!
That one week gave me HUGE respect for the trainers who put their lives and heart on the lines to help new drivers find the love of the job.
I learned quickly that driver training was not for me. I can do my job, but I could not explain from the ground how to back up. I am so happy I got the chance to try and learn about another role in the driving industry. I hope that some of the wisdom I shared with her (the trainee) helps her along the way.
I think the hardest things for me in all of my job aspects is trying to feel like I belong out here. My perception has been that it is very hard to earn the same respect men get, without going way above what they do. I have also had to “grow a thicker skin”. I am still having to work on that.
I think my favourite dumb question from a man about me driving my truck was “Did you really drive that big truck all the way here by yourself?” I smiled nicely and informed him that driving it was much easier then pushing or pulling it all the way.
After a couple years of shuffling around, my husband and I have returned home to Flash Freight.
If I could pass on knowledge to a new driver it would be to be very careful who you trust out here. Remember to make time for family and friends… Don’t let this career be your life. That gets very lonely.
And never stop challenging yourself. There is such a huge feeling of pride in myself when I successfully back in where that seems impossible. Speed isn’t the key to a successful backing up. No damage to anyone or anything and getting into the dock is success no matter if it takes 5 minutes or 30.
Put yourself in the Drivers seat !!
Flash Freight Systems is a family owned and operated company located near Guelph, Ontario. If you are looking for consistent freight, lots of available miles and home time configured to your needs, give Heather a call at 1- 877-392-3171 ext# 249
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Nov 13, 2016 | BLOG
As the weather gets colder (although as I write this column it is a humid 26 degrees on October 17th), and the leaves continue to change, the thoughts of winter and the weather that could come with it begins to creep into our heads. That also means that some of the calls we receive from potential students include concerns about training in winter. For some people these are just concerns, but for others, they are wanting to know about class dates for the spring and refuse to listen to why training during the winter can actually benefit them. For the individuals who decide to participate in training over the winter months, there are some definite benefits.
One of the biggest benefits to training during the winter months, where one could experience some inclement weather, is that the student doesn’t have to experience driving a tractor trailer in snowy or icy conditions on their own. They have the benefit of an experienced instructor with them who has no doubt dealt with similar conditions before and is able to educate the student on how to properly deal with the different situations that arise. These instructors are able to pass on their experiences and provide best practices to the students which is invaluable as they deal with winter conditions for the first time.
Another benefit of training during winter comes with the fact that students are able to first learn to operate the tractor-trailer unit in potentially difficult weather conditions in a fairly low stress environment. They are not on the clock, pulling a load worth thousands of dollars from Point A to Point B. They are in a somewhat controlled environment, with no time constraints or need to rush. They can take their time, first getting experience with snowy conditions on rural roads and lower traffic areas before progressing up to towns, highways, and cities. This makes it possible for the student to feel comfortable with the conditions and surroundings as they progress through their training modules.
Once a student has gone through their training and passed their road test, hopefully they go to work for a reputable carrier or private fleet that has a training program in place for entry level drivers. If this is the case, the student now has the opportunity to learn from an experienced trainer/mentor performing day to day duties of the job during winter weather. To me this is very valuable to any student. They get to learn the specifics of their new job in the toughest season to operate while receiving daily tutorials and guidance from a professional driver who has seen and experienced the situations before. Students who graduate from AZ training and pass their tests while the grass is still green could be done with mentorship programs well before snow flies which could mean the first time a person operates a tractor trailer in snowy or icy conditions is with a live load in situations they have never dealt with before. Don’t get me wrong, many good companies will provide more training to entry level drivers before and during the winter months, but there are a number of companies who will not which puts the driver in a difficult position.
Aside from the educational benefits that come from training in the winter months, not putting training off until the snow melts allows students to start their new careers quicker. Think about this; if a student decides to put their training off until the end of March or April when they could have started in December, they have lost 3-4 months of work and training experience. In that amount of time they could have completed a six-week training program, passed their MTO road test, passed a company road test at their employer, completed anywhere from a 4 to 8 week finishing/mentorship program and be out on the road with a long term sustainable career.
All seasons provide different learning opportunities and scenarios that are valuable to individuals training to operate a tractor trailer unit, however training in the Winter has some major benefits as compared to the others.
Matt Richardson has been in the trucking industry all his life. Currently he is the Sales & Operations Manager at KRTS Transportation Specialist Inc. (KRTS). A graduate of the University of Guelph, Richardson spent 5 years attending school and playing varsity football for the Gryphons. Since graduating in 2012, he has worked in numerous roles at KRTS and is also heavily involved with the PMTC Young Leaders Group. Matt resides in Caledonia with his wife Julie.
by wtfcanada2015@gmail.com | Oct 28, 2016 | BLOG
Larway Transportation had the fantastic opportunity to host a tour, luncheon and open discussion with a group of diverse, dedicated, determined, and confident woman who are currently enrolled in the new ‘AZ Women in Transportation (WIT) Program’.
The goal of the Women in Transportation is to assist women to develop marketable skills that enable them to achieve or maintain economic independence. This program prepares women for driving jobs within companies that are involved with distribution of goods or public transportation in North America.
What an amazing experience and eye opener it was for Susan Bois/Director of Safety and Catherine Labatt/ CEO of Larway Transportation! We had a preconceived idea of what we thought these women would be looking for. We have been EDUCATED…. many of these women are well educated professionals looking at trucking as a second career. Here are some highlights of the messages we heard loud and clear; they love to drive, they are looking forward to being out on the road, one/two/three weeks at a time in both Canada and the U.S. experiencing both these great countries. They want to be viewed as hard working dedicated professionals that have a lot to offer the transportation industry. Many of them entered the program with a wide variety of driving skills, mechanical skills, customer service skills, teaching skills, and of course embrace technology.
We look forward to receiving a few applications from these women for our newly launched Driver Training Program. YOU GO GIRLS, THIS IS YOUR TIME!
We would like to thank Shelley Uvanile-Hesch from WTFC (Womans Trucking Federation of Canada) , Rodica Lefter and Corrina Leblond of Community MicroSkills Development Centre for inviting Larway Transportation to be a part of their fleet tours. We would like to encourage all fleets to explore and embrace the untapped resource that these women represent as Professional AZ Drivers!