August 2017 Volume 37, Issue 7
TRUCK NEWS Eastern Canada’s Trucking Newspaper Since 1981
Delivering daily news at trucknews.com
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Where there’s smoke
Inflation extinction
Run on less
How will you pay?
We examine how the legalization of marijuana has affected trucking in the U.S.
Michelin showcases an airless, rechargeable concept tire that’s fully biosourced.
A special demonstration this fall will highlight how to consume less fuel.
Examining the key considerations when financing your next truck purchase. e.
Experience pays off
RET ADVERTAIL ISING P AGES 41 -
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Familiar faces win top spots at Ontario championships By Sonia Straface BRAMPTON, ONTARIO A couple of familiar faces took home the top trophies at the Ontario Truck Driving Championships (OTDC) held at Brampton’s Powerade Centre on July 8. Grand Champion Clary Ward and Highest Points of the Day winner, Preetpal Nijjar, are no strangers to the competition, and in fact, some would even call them the contest’s darlings. Both have been participating in the competition for close to a decade and both took home first place in their categories, singlesingle and tandem-tandem, respectively. “It really feels fantastic,” Ward, who drives for XPO Logistics, said upon winning the Grand Champion award. “It’s the first time for me winning this award and since I’ve been competing for so long, it feels extra nice to finally win it.” Other category winners included: Gerry Morgan, Morgan Firewood, straight truck; Sebastian Tatar, XPO Continued on page 18
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Despite the damp conditions, 260 trucks were on display at the fan-favorite Clifford Antique Truck Show June 30-July 1.
A classic celebration Soggy show grounds couldn’t dampen spirits at the Clifford Antique Truck Show By James Menzies CLIFFORD, ONTARIO Heavy spring rains made swampy grounds of Rotary Park in Clifford, Ont., over the Canada Day long weekend, but the Great Lakes Truck Club Clifford Antique Truck Show went ahead with undampened enthusiasm. The show is a unique showcase that brings together a mix of antique trucks and modern-day show trucks, but the focus is squarely on the older variety. Antique trucks are invited to come as they are, and every year, more of these gems seem to be discovered and put on display. “These guys are building trucks just to come to Clifford,” show coordinator and Great Lakes Truck Club vice-president Verdun Zurbrigg told Truck News. “That’s where this is going. Guys have a place to take it and that’s where we come in. I had one guy bring in a truck who has never shown a truck in his life. He said he’s never had a truck good enough for a show, and I said ‘It’s no problem, just wash it and bring it.’ That’s the type of people we’re targeting.” There are no awards handed out at the show, and it’s just as well. It would be nearly impossible to choose winners and losers among such a vast collection of trucks from all eras. Zurbrigg said there were 260 trucks on dis-
play this year, down slightly from last year when 270 took part, but a good showing considering the iffy weather. Zurbrigg thinks the show would have drawn more than 300 trucks if the weather was more promising in the days leading up to the event and if the show didn’t compete with Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations for attention. Nonetheless, organizers were pleased with the turnout – especially since the show grounds were so soggy. “A week before Saturday, that park was up to your knees in water,” Zurbrigg said. Organizers laid down wood chips to keep pathways navigable and show-goers shed their shoes and soldiered on through the mud to ensure they didn’t miss any of the highlights. Despite the challenges created by the wet spring, Zurbrigg said the show was never in doubt. “We were gonna do’er, it was gonna happen,” he insisted. “The worst thing that can happen is you cancel the event. Then it takes a long time to get it back. We had a plan.” Trucks began rolling into the grounds Thursday, June 29, and continued to arrive through Friday, June 30. The rain, for the most part, let up over the weekend. “We can’t complain. We did well. It could’ve been a lot worse,” Zurbrigg said. “We missed a lot of the rain.” A key attraction this year was the Kenworth Corral, which featured dozens of old Kenworth trucks. Each Continued on page 19