TruckNewsTalk

A NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING STANDARD WITH JOHN DEGROOT Just when you thought that everything that needed to be said about the Red Seal Certification plan for trucker driver training was already said, we discovered that there is more to learn. Jim Park and Stan Campbell talk to one of the most passionate people behind the Red Seal Certification process, John DeGroot. We thought we had heard it all, but this week we learn some new details. Is the answer is a standard driver training course from coast to coast, through Red Seal?  It's already beginning in one province. Thanks to Howes Products makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent

Rollover Avoidance Remember when CB radios were the main communication system between truckers? There was an entire lingo between drivers…but maybe the most popular one was "Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down."  CB radios aren't as popular as they once were, but it seems that these days, keeping the shiny side up is also not as popular as it once was. Hardly a day goes by when we don't hear about another rollover or see one on social media. In some cases, lives are lost. What are we going to do about that? Well Jim Park will have a conversation with Brian Bullock, Principal of RoadAware Safety Systems. Mr. Bullock has a Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering. Thanks to Howes Products… makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent We also have an upcoming conversation about carrier integrity…and we are also scheduled to talk to another player in the Red Seal certification plan…in fact, a brainchild of the plan who has his own questions.

Fuel Tools You Can Use We have come down with the crude oil blues. Thanks to Donald Trump's adventure in Iran and the subsequent closing of the Strait of Hormuz, we are feeling the pain at the pumps. Diesel is at an all-time high in Canada and the USA, and it may get worse before it gets better. We aren't left with many options, except to moderate our driving habits, in an attempt to cut down on diesel fuel expenses. Our TNT co-host, Jim Park, a driver for twenty years, understands the challenges. As a journalist he has also been involved in several fuel saving studies, where he learned a great deal about how to cut back on your fuel expenses. He shares his suggestions with us on this Truck News Talk podcast with Stan Campbell Later in the podcast, we make it official. Jim Park is the new co-host of the TNT -TruckNewsTalk podcast. Listen as we talk about our mutual experiences that got us here. We both have colorful backgrounds. Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent

Andy's Red Seal Questions With all the buzz around Red Seal designation for truck drivers, even turning truck driving into a designated trade, some skepticism remains. Most industry stakeholders, including us here at Truck News Talk, believe the objectives are solid, and worth pursuing. But ... Driving school owner Andy Roberts wonders, if schools are interested in training to a Red Seal standard, why aren't they already delivering that level of training to their current clients? He wonders why many are leaning toward Red Seal when MELT and the old Earning Your Wheels course had limited success? Will Red Seal be the silver bullet?  Andy doesn't have the answers, but he has some questions that will bring the Red Seal debate into clearer focus.  Andy Roberts, owner and president of Mountain Transport Institute of Castlegar British Columbia joins Jim & Stan on the Truck News Talk Podcast. Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender - a diesel fuel lubricator and injector cleaner with advanced IDX four detergent.

DRIVER ABUSE  According to the authors of a recent report on labour abuses in the Canadian trucking industry, one of the worst problems drivers face is wage theft -- which they frame as uncompensated work. Think, waiting time, inspections, layovers, etc. While the report deals primarily with the Driver Inc. environment, many of the problems they highlight exist in traditional employee/employer relationships too.   The Driver Inc. discussion is often framed in the context of its impact on the marketplace.  It distorts fair competition, and creates safety risks that affect carriers, shippers, and the motoring public. But there's a human side to it as well. Drivers can be abused and taken advantage of by unscrupulous operators, and there are few mechanisms in place to protect them.   In February, a group called Labour Community Services of Peel released a report called "Running on Empty: Truck Drivers in Canada are Underpaid and Overworked." It outlines those abuses and calls for reforms to the way truck drivers are treated and paid in Canada. Data in the report was derived from survey of over 400 drivers and owner-operators. It was produced in conjunction with driver-driven groups Justice for Truck Drivers, and the West Coast Trucking Association, and Parkdale Community Legal Services. I have two guests on this episode, Navi Aujla is the director of the Labour Community Services of Peel, a non-profit truck driver advocacy group. And, Karan Singh, a driver currently seeking restitution for $40,000 in unpaged wages.  The discussion begins right after a message from Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender - a diesel fuel lubricator and injector cleaner with advanced IDX four detergent.

Driver Inc – The Epitome of Evil Driver Inc. The epitome of evil? A scourge on the trucking industry? Or, is this the new way in the gig economy, the future of trucking employment.  Driver Inc. is a label that describes a tax-avoidance scheme in which truck drivers are treated as independent corporations rather than employees - even though they function as employee drivers. Instead of being paid wages with source deductions such as income tax, CPP, and EI, the driver is paid as a corporation. No payroll deductions are withheld by the carrier. Carriers avoid paying employer portions of CPP and EI, workers' compensation premiums, vacation pay, and other statutory benefits. Drivers receive higher gross pay because no deductions are taken at source. It also offers an opportunity to defer or reduce taxes. It's becoming alarmingly popular. Recent data from government and other independent agencies suggest almost 65% of carriers in the province are now using the Driver Inc. model. Should you be too? This week's guest, Rick Morgan of Links Consulting has few words of caution for any driver considering this alternative.  Be sure you stay right to end. We'll show you what happens to your lifetime earning potential under this pay scheme. Here's a hint. Four Hundred Thousand dollars. Thanks Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender - a diesel fuel lubricator and injector cleaner with advanced IDX four detergent.

The Red Seal in the Hot Seat Over the past couple of months there have been any number of questions being raised about the feasibility of a Red Seal certifications for truck drivers. We know that many truck driver schools are supportive, but I know of a few that question the probability that such a project will ever happen. Many have other questions about how such a high-minded project will solve the problem of the quickie schools, and what are we going to do about governance and enforcement of current laws? One thing we can agree on is that something needs to be done to raise the bar for graduated truck drivers to make our road safe again. We have questions for the guy who leading the Red Seal camapain, the chairman of the Professiona Truck Training Association of Canada, Don MacDonald. You might say that Jim Park and I are putting him in the hot seat. Jim Park is both a truck driver and journalist and former broadcaster. I'm and outsider looking for the past 20 years. I have a vested interest to ensure that my kids and may grandkids and my wife and family can feel safe on the highway. Right now they don't. We expect better of the trucking industry. Thanks to Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent.  

Driver Inc -The Transformation Driver Inc…a phrase that sends chills through the hearts of legacy fleet carrier owners everywhere. But…come on, is the Driver Inc way of doing business really that bad? Could there be such a thing as Driver Inc Lite?  However, I'm sure that anything other than the rules and the long-held traditions of legacy carriers is unacceptable. But not so fast. There are new kids on the block, and they are getting noticed, and even, praised by the Truckload Carriers Association. This week, on the TNT podcast, I talk to a lady who I view as somewhat of a magician, performing a transformation in company considered by some to follow the evil Driver Inc model. She came out of retirement to work for them. Her name is Lisa Arseneau. Listen to her story.  Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent.

Over the past several TNT podcasts we have talked about the campaign to create a Red Seal level of training and certification for truck drivers. I have spoken initially to Mike McCarron, who is probably the most outspoken voice in the Canadian Trucking industry and then Don MacDonald of the PTTAC, then journalist Jim Park, and this week Jim Park is back with me to talk to Guy Broderick, former Highway Star of the Year and now Safety & Training Supervisor at Kriska. We will discuss and maybe debate the Red Seal campaign and truck driver training standards in general. Personally, I have my own opinions. Jim Park and I will join Guy Broderick on the TNT Podcast thank to our friends at Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent. On the next TNT a Driver Inc miracle.

The Pilot Program Good quality truck training schools are not doing as well as they once were, thanks to the budget quickie so-called schools. A good quality school can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000. It's tough for a young guy or girl to come up with that kind of money.  But this is interesting…did you know that there is no shortage of young people showing up to fork out around 20 thousand to become a pilot…and $80,000 to become a commercial pilot.  Yet, it's interesting that, unlike in the trucking world, there a no bad or crooked quickie pilot schools. Well, I thought I should talk to some pilot training schools and a pilot to see how they train and how they are monitored and learn about the training testing licensing. I have a flight instructor on with me from Manitoba, and after that, I will talk to a pilot who is known to you all.  Let's see if we can learn anything from how they do things under the eagle eye of Transport Canada. You'll never see a 737 flying next to school bus, or a family in an SUV. So why is safety in trucking less important than flight? 

The Enforcement Province There seems to be a lot of handwringing and anger about the scourge of bad poorly trained and sometimes fake licensed truck drivers on our highways…and the suggestions and strategies to fix the problems. There have been, as usual, plenty of disagreements about what needs to be done to make our highways safer.  The one seemingly logical simple solution that obviously evades us is… ENFORCEMENT. Enforcing minimum training standards and enforcing verifiable testing and licensing. It's a bigger problem in Ontario than just about anywhere…but there is one province where it's not nearly as huge an issue. I talked to my friend Benoit Therrien about how Quebec's system works to make highways safer. Benoit is a 20-year veteran driver and the owner and main host of the hugely popular Truck Stop Quebec radio station, on air and on line 24 hours a day. Listen and comment. 

Slightly Revised Trucking journalist Jim Park and podcast creator Stan Campbell will discuss the proposed Red Seal idea for truck drivers on this TruckNewsTalk podcast. Anything that cleans up the crooked schools and suspect testing and licensing would be a move in the right direction. However, other ideas have been tried and failed. Are there options? We have a lot of questions. In addition, Stan has a crazy idea he thinks would solve the bad schools and suspicious licensing problems forever. It's sure to get dismissed by just about everybody. Let's just say...control is hard to surrender. We invite you to please comment. We will pass on your comments and suggestions. Send email messages to [email protected].

Safety Sam Lately there have been far too many stories about crooked driving schools and unsafe drivers on our road.  In the big move lately to rid the trucking industry of quickie budget schools, we sometimes forget that Canada is a long list of excellent driving schools from coast to coast.  Schools that can almost guarantee a good career with a reputable fleet. New and prospective drivers assume that truck driving schools teach you how to drive a big rig.  Unfortunately there is an assumption that if you how to handle a truck with a load on the highway and streets, then, you're good to go. What prospective students may not get is how among top fleets, there is a laser focus on safety. It seems to be one of the areas that the El-Cheapo schools ignore. However, workplace safety not only applies to the trucking industry. I talked to lady who well connected in the transportation industry and works for a company that is all about safety….and not only about trucking. The company is NATT Safety Services.  My guest's name is Samantha Clark. I took the liberty to call her "Safety Sam" because Sam knows safety probably better than anyone. Listen to my conversation with Samantha.

Ace and Red Seal Truckers What the hell is going on in the trucking world? ·         Unsafe equipment operating on our highways. ·         Fake safety inspection decals? ·         In a recent highway inspection, a third of trucks were placed out of service. ·         Truckers' licences suspended after uncovering dishonest testing and training ·         Quickie Driving Schools and driving tests being approved for unqualified drivers Finally, maybe good drivers have had enough. For example, in Quebec, truckers staged a slowdown protest on highways to demand action. After all, the growing number of dangerous drivers is impacting the vast majority of good professional safe drivers. Now, the four-wheeler public is beginning to notice.  So…who is going to fix this mess? Well, I reached out to one guy who is not afraid the speak his mind and maybe ruffle some feathers….Mike "Ace" McCarron.  We keep asking the government to step up, but maybe we need to look in the mirror.  Listen to Mike "Ace" McCarron. Download it.  What do you think of the Red Seal idea? Obviously from what Mike says, not everyone is on board. If you disagree, then what's your idea? Doing nothing is not an option. [email protected]  

The Best Fleets to Drive For This may sound like a repeat TNT Podcast. Yes, we do this every year around this time but this year there are some differences. According to the trucking industry, there is still and shortage of "qualified drivers" so the competition among companies is fierce. Of course, fleets want to attract the best drivers…and if you are a recruiter, you should be able to brag that your company is listed as one of the best fleets to drive for. If you are driver, naturally you want to work for a company that pays well, offers great benefits but most of all, listens to you. It's time for drivers to nominate their companies and help create the list of the Best Fleets to Drive For.  In this TNT Podcast, I will talk to Carriers Edge CE,  Jane Jazrawy about how drivers can nominate their employer, and about who qualifies and who doesn't, and how the Best Fleets to Drive For list is credible. To nominate your company…do as I did. Just Google it. Best Fleets to Drive For. May the best fleet win!   Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent.  

I was a teenager in the mid 50's. I remember weird stuff, like dimmer switches, fender skirts, milk delivered to our door, adjusting the TV rabbit ears and crazy rules, like…women were not allowed in taverns and pubs. I remember once, when my buddy Howard and I saw transport truck pass by, driven by a woman. Wow! Look at that! A woman driving that big truck! We have come a long way since the 50's and 60's…but obviously, not far enough. Slowly, a few women ventured into truck driving, but it was a tough life…not because of the driving but because of sexual harassment and verbal attacks from male drivers who believed that women had no business in the trucking business. A few truckers today still believe that. It was in the late 70's and early 80s' that things began to change, thanks to efforts of a tough yet personable lady, Ellen Voie, along with her best friend, Char Pingel. It was the birth of the organization we know today as Women in Trucking. Ellen was a visionary as she knocked down closed doors. Over the years, her dedication became notable when one sees the awards and accolades, she received. After resigning from the Women in Trucking Organization two years ago Ellen decided to write about the events in her life that lead up to the formation of the Women in Trucking organization. Her autobiography is entitled, "Dispatcher to Disrupter". One woman's journey to drive gender diversity in the trucking industry. My conversation with Ellen right after a message from Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent. By the way, Ellen Voie was the very first inductee in the Howes Hall of Fame in 2020.

Thank you President Trump! We appreciate what you have done for Canada. Thanks to you, we are becoming stronger and more self-reliant. (this is my attempt at sarcasm)  One of the positive results of your bullying and tariffs is that we have begun to eliminate some of our own tariffs.  Okay, we don't call them tariffs but there have been restrictions on trade within our own country and they have existed for years. We call them trade barriers…and for the purpose of this podcast, it's about how those trade barriers negatively affect the trucking industry. However, getting rid of the roadbocks  will take time, involving the usual government bureaucracy and foot-dragging. In this TNT podcast, I am talking to someone who has been a strong voice in breaking down those provincial barriers. He is Mike Millian, President of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada. Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent who help make this TruckNewsTalk Podcast possible.

TRUCKING FAKE NEWS BREAKING NEWS!  Donald Trump has just resigned the Presidency of the United States. In other news, Prime Minister Mark Carney has just announced that all trucks in Canada must be electric by the end of 2026. Unbelievable?   Well, just as believable that what we read and see on the internet…on Facebook, Instagram, X, Telegram, podcasts, and the hundreds of questionable news outlets?  Remember that old joke, "if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you." Some people don't trust the Toronto Star, or the New York Times because they are too left-leaning…or others didn't trust the National Post or the Wall Street Journal because we saw them as too right leaning, but that was simply because their biases…but now we see and read outrageous stories that are outright lies masquerading as truth…and thanks to AI they even include video that looks so real and convincing that they fool thousands, and then those thousands share it. I'm normally no conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if it's a scheme to cause us all to mistrust everything, including mainstream media. I know…there are many who claim that the mainstream media are just as deceptive. It's true that the mainstream media can be biased…very biased…but I don't believe that they create untrue stories. Plus, we know who they are, and we can therefore call them out. Meanwhile, most of those basement-dwelling nefarious fake news sites hide under assumed names. The rise in fake news has even affected people in the trucking industry. Truck News Magazine contributor Jim Park has an example of a story that caused mild panic in Canada's trucking world.  In this TNT Podcast I will talk to Jim about that story.  Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent

2020 was a scary year and we didn't know if this was the way it was going to be forever. People were dying by the thousands, riots broke out, and truckers were heroes, bringing us everything we needed in spite of the disease raging throughout the world.  Listen to our Trucker Radio news and talk segment from back then, which later morphed into what is now the TruckNewsTalk (TNT) podcast.  www.trucknewstalk.com

HARRIET TUBMAN AWARD TO TRUCKERS I've doing some history reading lately, and discovered an event in US history that may sound very familiar in 2025… and there is a connection to Canada. In 1850, something called the Fugitive Slave Act was passed which penalized police and other officials who did not arrest someone who had allegedly escaped from slavery, even in northern states where slavery was outlawed. Habeas corpus was declared irrelevant. No day in court or jury was permitted and the alleged fugitive from slavery could not testify. The law resulted in the kidnapping and conscription of free Blacks back into slavery, even from free states. There was one woman who stood out and fought to free slaves and escort them to freedom though the underground railroad. Her name was Harriett Tubman. She risked her life in some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including her family and friends,  using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known collectively as the Underground Railroad. During the American Civil War, she served as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army. In her later years, Harriet Tubman was an activist in the movement for women's suffrage. So how does this fit in a Truck News Talk Podcast? Well, I happily support all organizations that are active in the front lines in the fight against human trafficking…otherwise known as slavery. One of those we all know well as Truckers Against Trafficking…aka  T.A.T.  TAT!   The people at TAT, in an effort to reward observant and caring truck drivers, have developed something called the Harriett Tubman Award. I think it an award befitting a brave woman who fled abusive slavery and violence to save others from the same fate. My guest is Heather Fry, Director of Industry Training at TATnonprofit.org.

The Microbiologist Truck Driver I want to tell you a bedtime story. Once upon a time there was a microbiologist. Her name was Myrna Chartrand. Naturally she was highly educated. After all she was a scientist who studied microscopic life forms and processes including the study of the growth interactions and characteristics of microscopic organisms, but one day Myrna turned in her chair and walked away from it all to become…a truck driver! My TNT podcast preambles are sometimes lengthy so this time I will simply introduce Myrna Chartrand and let her tell you her story right after a message from Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent  

In the past 18 years since I got involved in hosting a trucking show, I've met hundreds of interesting people and made a few friends along the way. One of my friends wears a closet full of hats. I knew him when he was about to give it all up, but then…something happened. If you listen podcasts, then I'm sure you know him. He creates a podcast too…but a whole lot more. A LOT more! His name is Bruce Outridge.  I invite you to listen to my conversation with Bruce. What's he really all about?

Kim and the School Rules Remember MELT. Kim Richardson says it MELT has MELTED. A few weeks ago, I talked to Andy Roberts, the owner at Mountain Lake Transport Institute about the their problems attracting driver students in a world where some questionable schools are offering driving courses at half price or less and graduating them in half the time, which allows dramatically poorly trained people behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound vehicle on our highways…and in western Canada, that could mean on icy mountain roads. Nowhere is this as big a problem as in southern Ontario…the epicenter of trucking in Canada. There are now around 300 truck driving schools.  How does a wannabe truck driver know which ones are good and lead to a good paying job with a great company, and which one will take them down the alley to a bad unsafe trucking company and maybe eventually to a catastrophic crash. Advice to anyone who wants to drive professionally…do your homework!  You have to know that if the training school is offering a deal that seems to good to be true and shorter hours than everyone else…you are destined for eventually failure…or worse. Enough about my view from the outside. I talk to a guy who knows about trucking schools better than just about anybody…and not only about the schools but the companies that hire the unsafe, uneducated driver. It's my old friend Kim Richardson, the co-founder of Kim Richardson Transportation Specialists with his wife Lisa in 1989. We know it as KRTS. Thanks to our friends at Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent.

Donald, the Prophesy & Crap Okay, there is no simple way to describe this TNT podcast. It begins with a prophesy then segues to an interview with trucking journalist and driver, Jim Park about Music City, the Trump tariffs and saving trucking costs and the earth with cow crap. Yes, we are all over the map on this one. You just have to listen.

Fabiana – The Rescue Lady "Disaster and Pandemonium on the highway."  Big rigs off the road and trailers upside down. Who you gonna call? Rescue 51 and Fabiana! It can be a mess out there and it's not getting better. Much of the carnage is due to the growing number of unsafe poorly trained drivers released onto our highways. Some drivers churned out by crappy driving schools have never driven on ice and snow….so, they end up in the woods, sometimes rolled over and in worst case scenario, injured or killed, not to mention the damage and/or loss of the vehicle and cargo. So who is going to get them back on the road again. Well, at least get the truck back on the road. The driver is another issue. My guest is Fabiana Quinteros. To be more exact is it Fabiana Quinteros Ireland, along with his partner husband they own Rescue 51 Towing & Recovery just outside Barrie Ontario. Fabiana is not just a pretty face in the office…she gets out there in the ditches and the weeds in the cold winter nights with guys hauling a tractor trailer out trouble.  Fabiana did not grow up with wintery nights. She is originally from Uruguay in South America.  I will talk to Fabiana. Thanks to Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent.

Bon School-Bad School   There has been a lot of talk and deep concern within the trucking industry about the rapid growth of quickie cut rate trucking schools releasing poorly trained drivers onto our highways. It is not only a concern to the trucking industry, but it should be a concern to every driver whether a trucker or four-wheeler. Those poorly trained drivers are often hired by equally shady trucking companies operating unsafe equipment and therefore offering rates far below standing rates…meaning unfair competition. Some shippers and receivers don't care as long as they get their stock quickly and a good price. There is now another victim…the reputable truck driving schools. Young potential truckers and often immigrants just want to get their license as quickly and cheaply as possible. They make a choice between a $3500 school versus a 10,000-dollar school, one that gets you in and out the door and to your license on less than half the time. Meanwhile, the reputable school's classroom size drops dramatically.  In fact, some classes had to be cancelled. Talked to one very reputable school in western Canada. It might the best school in Canada. It's the Mountain Transport Institute. They even have students come from the US to train there. The owner is Andy Roberts. Thanks to by Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent.      

LUCKY CHUCK'S SCHOOL OF TRUCKING Are you impressed by that unbelievable chance to drive a tractor trailer up and down our highways without having to deal with all those pesky rules and regulations? And safety? What's the big deal with safety when the load just has to be there, and you make a decent dollar.   Okay, maybe I am being a little over dramatic…or maybe not. Back when we produced the Trucker Radio Show, we invented a bogus crooked driving school, we called, "Lucky Chucks School of Trucking."  Well, it might have been a make-believe trucking school, but it was pretty close to reality. Lately, there has been an increased concern regarding the number of shady fly-by-night driving schools turning out unqualified drivers onto our highways, often resulting in injuries and loss of life, not to mention loss of equipment and cargo. Especially in the Mississauga and Brampton area in Ontario, unscrupulous truck training schools are offering cut rate truck driver training courses to get a prospective driver just enough info and training to pass a test.  While the Torontoland area is in the epicenter of these scam schools, it does happen elsewhere across the country. The one possible exception seems to be in the province of Quebec, although a small handful of shady schools exist. There is a good reason why crooked truck driving schools are almost non-existent is Quebec. That difference between Quebec and the rest of the country raises an important issue…sorry…question.  I wanted to find out more about what makes Quebec different, when it comes to professional driver training and why the whole country doesn't follow. I talked to Steve Bouchard. He is an Editor at Newcom Media's Transport Routier in Montreal.  That conversation is coming up right after this message from Howes Products, makers of Diesel Defender, a diesel Fuel Lubricator & Injector cleaner with advanced IDX4 Detergent

THE GHOSTS OF TRUCKER RADIO The Trucker Radio Show was a syndicated program that combined music, news, information, interviews, and entertainment, airing for 17 years on radio stations across Canada and the USA. What was its mission? Did it truly benefit truck drivers and the trucking industry, or was there a strategy that was misunderstood? Did we waste our time? Absolutely not! Above all, we enjoyed ourselves for most of those 17 years. Our guests included truckers, fleet owners, critics, and supporters, each bringing their unique perspectives. In this TNT Podcast, we will showcase some of the voices from our guests. Some were serious, many provided valuable insights, and a few were quite entertaining. Perhaps you were one of those voices. Join us as we present a medley of familiar voices from the years since 2006. You might hear their thoughts for the first time. We extend our gratitude to Howes Products for being our longest-standing supporter, almost from the very beginning.

Sex Investors. Want to end sex trafficking? Stop investing in this multi-billion-dollar illegal industry. It's simple. No buyer means no victim which means no sex trafficking. Yes, it's simple, but it's not easy. Most sex buyers are men, yet only six percent of men purchase sex. That means that there is an opportunity for the other 94 percents of us men who do not buy sex to speak up. sychology.  He has spoken to groups all over North America on the subject of human trafficking.On this podcast, we focus not so much on identifying victims and traffickers, but the men who provide the money to keep sex-trafficking a growing ilIn this TNT TruckNewsTalk Podcast I chat with Dylan Wecht, TAT Public Sector Engagement Specialist, and Field Trainer. Dylan is well qualified to speak about human trafficking. Not only is he a lawyer but holds a degree in criminal justice and plegal industry. No Buyer = No Victim = No Sex Trafficking. For more information on the buyers: https://tatnonprofit.org/addressing-demand/

SEVEN BRAVE WOMEN IN A MAN'S WORLD There appears to be a symbiotic relationship between adventuruous women looking for a challenging career and an industry that needs them…and for reasons that I won't go into here, they can't seem to connect. Women make up about 50% of our population yet in the US, only 9% are professional drivers and in Canada, that percentage is even lower at about 4%.  When you consider that there is an alleged pro driver shortage, doesn't it make you wonder, why isn't there are a huge recruiting strategy to attract women?  They're not just going to walk into the H&R department and say, "I wanna be a trucker." So, because trucking fleets are probably not going to place ads in Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Elle magazines or Thrive Magazine, maybe hearing directly from seven happy, successful women who are professional truck drivers. They are all smart, educated and articulate. They are from the US and Canada. They are Carol Nixon, Caroline Carter, Susie DeRidder, Claudia Winterhalter,  Sherry Mukelston, Kellylynn McLaughlin and Stephanie Klang

Who's old enough to remember this hit song from 1966 by the Bobby Fuller Four, "I Fought the Law and the Law Won"  The law usually wins…but they need all the help they can get, especially when it comes to human trafficking, otherwise known as sex-trafficking.  We know a guy who can help. He is a Public Sector Engagement Specialist at TAT…TAT an acronym for Truckers Against Trafficking. His name is Dylan Wecht and although Mr. Wecht has a long title that may not at first describe what he does. Dylan assists and educates law enforcement; he is eminently qualified. He is an attorney based in Washington DC and holds a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Dylan Wecht speaks throughout the United States and Canada about TAT's mission and trains law enforcement on human trafficking, the victim centered approach, and how to identify human trafficking at routine interdiction and inspection stops. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law and previously worked as an immigration attorney in the Washington, DC area. The fact that Dylan is former immigration attorney allows him to have a front row seat into the area of cross border sex trafficking and domestic servitude.  That's Dylan Wecht Public Sector Engagement Specialist at TAT. If you would like to have Dylan speak to your organization, get in touch directly with him. His email address is [email protected]. or just email TAT at  [email protected] Just recently, Dylan spoke at a TAT coalition build in Dartmouth, Nova Scota a few weeks ago on September 11th, an event attended and co-hosted by the Atlantic Trucking Association and CN as well as local law enforcement. That half day event agenda included Human Trafficking prevention and awareness training, training resources for the trucking, truckstop, bus and energy industries, a survivor presentation, a law enforcement panel and Q& A discussion.

We've been talking to Jane Jazrawy about the Best Fleets to Drive for competition for several years but this time I have some probing questions. Questions like, who benefits? Just how many questions do you ask? Who cheats?  What if you're a driver and you hate your company? What about women drivers? Where do they fit in? If the trucking industry is going to attract drivers…and not just any driver, but great professional drivers…you have to demonstrate how professional you are as company.  Well, there is a way to do that…all least within the industry.  It's an in-depth survey called, "Best Fleets to Drive For".  However, the drivers are the judges.  I will talk to Jane Jazrawy about how it's all done…and although I've talked Jane before, this time, I chose to ask some tough questions.  If the "outside world" only knew how serious most trucking companies were about their professionalism and how drivers cared to work for the best companies…it might change John Q. Public's view. Please listen as I talk to Jane Jazrawy about the "Best Fleets to Dive For" competition. We may discover some surprises.

Another Brave Lady Named Liz This week I talk to a woman who has demonstrated courage over and over again so that we will be aware of the threats against our families…especially our daughters, grand-daughters and female friends. Bravery comes in several forms. There are actually three types of bravery. Physical Bravery. I know and admire one such lady. Then there is moral bravery, I know another lady who fits that category and then there is psychological bravery…facing painful aspects of oneself. I personally know a lady who fits that category. Despite being through physical, and massive traumatic psychological pain, she courageously stands up to talk about her decade-long trauma, so that her painful journey may elp others.  Tough men weep when they hear her story. Her name is Liz Gray. She is a Training Specialist/Leader with Truckers Against Trafficking. Liz is a survivor of sex trafficking. More on that later. For those who are not familiar with Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization was established in 2009 with a simple yet powerful belief: that every truck driver can be a crucial ally in the fight against human trafficking. Since then, TAT has grown to encompass a greater portion of the transportation industry, in the US and Canada, forming deep alliances to maximize collective effort through programs that include innovative training, partnerships with law enforcement and advocacy efforts. TAT has raised awareness about trafficking, who it targets and its signs, and trained individuals to act whenever their lives intersect with it and its victims. So far almost 2 million drivers in the US and Canada have been trained on how to recognize and report human trafficking.  For example, UPS Canada brought its partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to its international hub in Calgary to train and prepare drivers to assist victims and fight back against human trafficking in Alberta.  By the way, I prefer to call it, for the purpose of this focused topic, sex trafficking. We have spoken to Liz previously, but for this episode of TNT, she will update on the state of trafficking today, as well as Truckers Against Trafficking success stories…and what's coming up.

It was a long time ago but I still remember when I was in science class in school when my science teacher created hydrogen by using electrolysis. Of course the other element was oxygen, but I was amazed at how hydrogen easily exploded…as proven by the infamous Hindenburg explosion in 1937.  But back then, it was obvious that hydrogen could become a fuel for the future, but there was one problem….or two problems. One…how to create it. My science teacher's little lab wouldn't cut it. The other, it's explosive and difficult to transport.  Yet, hydrogen is becoming more popular as a fuel for cars and trucks, even though there are questions and debates on how to create it….or mine it.  Electrolysis on a grand scale is not an option. The energy needed to create it is greater than the energy that hydrogen provides. Yet hydrogen as a fuel is growing and especially in the transportation industry.  With the high cost of creating it, how is it going to work? Are there more advantages than drawbacks?  Some of you may remember, way back about 8 years ago, I interviewed the former and eventually disgraced CEO at the Nikola Motor Company, Trevor Milton and his grand plans for a hydrogen fleet. His vision didn't quite work out as expected but Nikola is still around and in fact Wal-Mart Canada has added a Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV semi-truck to it's fleet.  Meanwhile, ITD Industries has just opened Ontario's first commercial fueling station for hydrogen heavy trucks.  This is all positive but I wanted to talk to a guy who had a hands on experience with hydrogen and trucks. It's our old friend at Truck News Magazine, Editor, James Menzies. Boy, do I have questions!

Kimberly Ran For the Veterans and Won At a time when we feel like the world is going mad and we don't know what to believe or who to trust, there are still stories of amazing special altruistic people who risk their health, their own security and indeed sometimes their lives to help others with no desire for fame. The first people who come to mind are our members of the military and first responders. And then there are people in our own communities who work tirelessly to help the less fortunate, whether it's helping out at a homeless shelter or visiting retirement homes to bring some cheer to the aged and lonely. Their altruism and compassion is without any expectation or desire or fame. One of those is a young lady who risked her health by choosing to run 180 kilometers…that's 111 miles through a chilly downpour… non-stop. Her name is Kimberly Biback. She had heard of Captain Andrew Gough's non-profit organization, "Veterans and Everyday Heroes". Kimberly embraced Andrew's organization, which performs acts of kindness for veterans and first responders in need of support to achieve or maintain mental and physical wellness.  Too often there are times when these everyday heroes could use some extra kindness in their day, particularly in the face of a diagnosis of an Operational/Occupational Stress injury (OSI) or PTSD.  We view Andrew and his team, and Kimberly as heroes helping heroes. Kimberley followed through with her unbelievable promise to run 180 kilometers. She started out at 2:30 am on Wednesday July 10 and her long grueling painful non-stop run (except for bathroom breaks and food) arrived at Canadian Air Force Base in Trenton, Ontario on Thursday evening. Her feet were bleeding and she lost 5 pounds, and…she smiled all the way. Listen to her brave journey.

While dozens, if not hundreds of organizations focus on identifying and reporting potential victims, very few identify the root cause of sex-trafficking, namely, the Johns. The customers. So, who are the men who build sex-trafficking into such a lucrative business? In fact, it's even more profitable than the drug trade. When a drug dealer sells a gram of coke, it's consumed. It's gone. He has to buy another supply.  When a pimp sells his girl to a john, he sells her over and over and over again. If we could just identify the johns and arrest and/or rehabilitate them, the sex-trafficking crime would end. Who are these people? What kind of man buys another human being for his pleasure? What kind of man pays to have sex with a child? What kind man pays to beat a defenseless woman? In this podcast, I have a verbally graphic conversation about johns with a woman who knew them intimately for fifteen years. Her name is Katarina MacLeod. Her descriptions and story are hellish, and in the end, positive and uplifting, especially for women who have escaped, "the game" as she calls it. A word of warning. You may find some of Kat's descriptions, at least, uncomfortable. But please listen. If you can help or NEED help, go to www.risingangels.net 

Ellen Voie is the Founder of Women in Trucking (WIT) that promotes and support women in non-traditional trucking careers. She has worked tirelessly to change the stereotypical image of the truck driver. In 2002, Ellen stepped down as the President & CEO of Women in Trucking but continues to promote the trucking industry as a great place for women to find a rewarding career.  She is also active in working to change legislation on a state and federal level to improve the lives of everyone in the trucking industry. In fact, although the organization is, Women in Trucking, over 17% of the WIT organization is composed of men. Ellen is a vibrant, active woman with a positive attitude and a sense of humor, evident in the many times we have spoken to her previously. We have talked about trucking issues, but this time, we discovered more about Ellen personally. Listen to what we have discovered.

It took a terrifying accident involving his kids to inspire a system to make safer drivers everywhere and method to test your professional driver's habits. Angus Poulain of Halifax, Nova Scotia created a system that essentially prevents you from texting while driving, and provides a report on your driving habits to help you be a better, safer driver. For trucking fleets, this is better, and less expensive than telematics. Stan Campbell talks to Angus Poulain about his creation and the high-tech team that created it.

Liz Williamson is a training specialist leader for Truckers Against Trafficking. No one is more qualified to speak and train than Liz. She is a sex trafficking survivor. Her story will move you. Hopefully, it will also move you to be a fighter against this growing crime. In this Truck News Talk (TNT podcast, I include the initial interview that I did with Liz two years ago. Emotionally, it was the toughest conversation I ever had with any guest in the past. It's been two years since we talked to Liz, so I thought we should catch up to see how she is doing today, and maybe tell us some success stories from TAT...Truckers Against Trafficking. Stan Campbell

Her name...Julie.  You are her proud father of your bright, outgoing, attractive daughter, but one night, she doesn't return home. Six days later, Julie's battered body is found in a ditch. You discover that your daughter, your beloved flesh and blood was kidnapped, tortured and raped. How do you deal with deal with this unspeakable horror?  For this father, inspired by Julie's message to him, he became a crusader for justice for violence against women and for victims and the victim's families. He became an advocate for the families who have suffered from the loss of a child or a spouse. He is senator Pierre Boisvenu. Although he just retired, he has not given up the fight to put more teeth in the laws that should put murderers, human traffickers and those convicted of spousal abuse and murder in prison for longer sentences. Those who lead anti-trafficking organization owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Boisvenu,a ti former MP, Joy Smith for enacting laws that out traffickers behind bars. Stan Campbell talks to Senator Pierre Boisvenu.  

She defied the male dominated field back when female truck drivers were not only unwelcome but often harassed by good-ole-boy truckers. Well, she challenged them and won...for almost 40 years! She is still driving and doesn't know when she will ever quit, simply because she loves the road and the job...and the money isn't bad! Often driving long-haul over-the-road can be lonely, but not for Caroline Carter. Nope! She has her alcohol to keep her happy.  She loves her Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream, and of course a little Rosé.  Just listen. Caroline is a feisty driver who is quick to encourage women to consider the trucking industry as a satisfying and well-paying career.  (after all, we're told that there is a serious driver shortage)

She was warned, "you will be raped or killed". Unfortunately, after all these years, the trucking industry is still faced with a negative stereotypical image by the general public. Therefore, it's not easy encouraging women to join the trucking industry. Our guest MacKenzie Melton was warned terrible things would happen to her physically and emotionally if she became a truck driver. Well, we talked to MacKenzie and she is perfectly fine. In fact, more than just fine. But how she suddenly became interested in trucking is interesting in itself, demonstrates that sometimes it just takes a simple positive unassuming role model and a company that cares about the image of their drivers. Listen to MacKenzie's story.

Have you seen those little brown vans in your neighborhood. Or maybe you had one come to your door to deliver something really important and time sensitive. Yes, I'm referring to those UPS vans. Well, this week on my TNT Podcast I am talking to another lady in what might be a non-traditional job…but a rewarding one. Her name is Sherry Muckleston. She drove one of those brown vans picking up and delivering time sensitive parcels. Funny…parcel sounds like an old-fashioned way to say package but UPS is the United Parcel Service. Back in 1907, when Claude Ryan and Jim Casey launched the company with $100 loan, "parcel" was the word. A lot has happened since then and I am sure that that back then you rarely if ever saw a woman driving one of those vans. Well even today, most drivers are male. It's not an easy job and it requires some physical strength. You need to be able to lift at least 70 pounds. That didn't stop my guest, Sherry Muckleston. Listen!

This is another in our TNT series on women in non-traditional trades and careers. We decided to call them TNT Women. The Non Traditional. This week, we talk to a lady who has chosen a career that places her among men…often tough strong males. She chose to be a mechanic…and not just any Toyota or Chevy Malibu mechanic. That would be non-traditional enough….no she chose to be study and become a truck mechanic…and not just a Ford F-150 truck…we're talking a big rig truck mechanic. Her name is Alex Kis. I wanted to know how she survived in an all class male class…and then after a successful graduation, how touch was it to get hired in a male dominated field. How would she be accepted in a testosterone filled environment out there on the floor in the shop. She has quite a story to tell.

Angela Baltkois had a vision She saw a blank canvas and decided to paint it, with the result being a win-win for two divergent industries...one with a blank canvas, and the other with a message. In 2013, Angela Baltkois founded Big Rig Wraps Transport Truck Advertising, after identifying an untouched out-of-home marketing medium: transport truck advertising on independently owned fleets. Recognizing that only large companies with their own fleets were maximizing the benefits of non-competing ads on large vehicles, Angela created a business model where all-sized businesses can buy large-scale ads on trucks ranging from 20 feet to 53 feet. Currently, Big Rig Wraps partners with more than 50 reputable and well-known fleet owners who make their big rigs and their routes available to advertisers who want to generate more sales. Angela proves that there is a place for women in or working for the trucking industry. Listen to her story and hear her tell how she built this company, Big Rig Wraps. https://www.bigrigwraps.ca/about-us/angela-baltkois/

An impressive female truck driver with a great story of how she came to Canada from Germany and created a career in trucking, wearing several hats...but the one she loves is the one she wears behind the wheel. Her name is Claudia Winterhalter and she, like many other women in trucking, she destroys any remaining trucker stereotypes. A customs and border protection officer told her once, "you don't look like a trucker!" Claudia is an inspiration to women everywhere, especially those new empty-nesters who are wondering, "what do I do now?" The transportation industry is calling. Don't believe me? Listen to Claudia!

Why aren't more women looking at the trucking industry for a career? There are many opportunities in varied fields. For too long, men have dominated this industry. It's time for women to assume the many positions open for smart, educated and adventurous women to look seriously at the transportation industry for a great paying and secure career. We talk to two extraordinary women who have found meaningful careers in trucking...and, they love their jobs and the companies that employ them! We talk to Brenda Brajkovich, Director of Marketing at the Polaris Transportation Group. Then we chat with Melanie Bell, Director of Business Development at McLaren Doors, (yes, doors. The ones you see on the tail end of truck trailers) Both of these women will inspire you. They inspired me.

Cargo theft across Canada and the U.S. rose by 15% in 2022 from the previous year, equal to 1778 recorded theft incidents, a cargo theft recording firm reports. We get an update on the newest anti-theft technology with an expert. His name is Todd Moore. He is the Vice President, Partner Integration at FocusPoint International, a global assistance company that specializes in critical event management, with an emphasis on mobility risks. Todd is a retired Police Detective with 31 years policing service and extensive investigative experience working in Intelligence, Organized Crime and Robbery Units. If you haven't heard Todd in a while, you need to get caught up the latest technology like Smart Dongle Technology.

A look at what Canada's National Police Force is doing to fight human traffcking...more specifically, sex-trafficking. We look at America's Mountie stereotype and the RCMP reality. We talk to three RCMP officers in three different regions of Canada...Corporal Jennifer Botham, Constable Kristin Appleton and Corporal David Lane. This podcast is from an interview conducted over a year ago.