No driver required: Autonomous vehicles hot topic during ATA conference in Las Vegas.
Page 26
Show ‘N Shine: Lesco Distributors continues to grow its annual Pro Show ‘N Shine, donating to a good cause.
Page 12
Page 10
Western Canada’s Trucking Newspaper Since 1989
November 2016 Volume 27, Issue 11
Truck Convoy: World’s Largest Truck Convoy rolls through Western Canada for Special Olympics.
truckwest.ca
Jamie Davis, owner of Jamie Davis Motor Truck and Auto and star of Discovery Channel’s Highway Thru Hell, says the trucking industry’s increased focus on safety has forced him to change is business approach, with a move away from heavy recovery.
A changing landscape Famed for his role in Highway Thru Hell, Davis forced to alter his course
Reach us at our Western Canada news bureau
By Derek Clouthier
PM40063170
Contact Derek Clouthier Derek@ Newcom.ca or call 403-969-1506
pg 01, 07, 09 tw nov v3.indd 1
HOPE, B.C. – According to Jamie Davis, B.C.’s Coquihalla Highway is not the highway through hell it used to be - and if there’s anyone who would know, it’s Jamie Davis. Well known for his company’s role in the popular Discovery Channel show Highway Thru Hell, Davis told Truck West that a lot has changed since he first put himself and Jamie Davis Motor Truck and Auto in front of the camera, so much so that he has had to reconfigure his business model. And the reasons behind Davis’ changed business approach is a testament to the job the trucking industry has done to bring the importance of safety to the forefront of how it does business. “Accidents are down 36% on the Coquihalla (Highway) since the show began,” Davis said. “I think in general, with the push on safety, the recovery side of our business is becoming more and more unprofitable.” Davis said safety enforcement is much more prevalent now than it was even a few years ago, and the equipment being put on our highways is much more advanced with the most up-to-date safety systems. “You’re not dealing with a lot of the same things you were dealing with before,” he said. “A lot of companies will not travel past Calgary nowadays
because they won’t go over the Coq in the winter time.” Davis said the reduction in accidents is more about safety enforcement and companies not wanting to foot the bill when they occur. “Accidents are expensive and they cost money,” Davis said. “Trucking companies are doing everything they can to be safe and enforcement is right there, and the kind of cowboy mentality you used to have isn’t in the industry as much... it’s more of a business. And, yes, a lot of people say there’s not so many great drivers on the road, but at the end of the day, we’re not seeing it (accidents) as much.” As of the end of August, Davis’ company had only been dispatched to four or five wrecks. When Highway Thru Hell first started in 2012, Davis said they were doing wrecks every 12 hours during a winter season. But times are changing. “We’re really finding ourselves gearing down somewhat,” Davis said of heavy-duty recovery. “There’s more seriousness to the safety aspect and it’s affected what we do.” Recovery is just one aspect of Davis’ business, but it is by far the most expensive. “Whatever work we did kind of paid for the service,” he said. “We were touch-and-go on Continued on page 9
Careers: 20, 21, 22, 23, To view list of advertisers see pg. 45 24, 25
RETAIL A DV E R T I SIN G PAGES 29 -3
8
Closed for business Port of Churchill closure impacts many in area, including trucking By Derek Clouthier WINNIPEG, Man. – The announcement by OmniTrax that it would be closing the Port of Churchill has had an impact on Manitoba’s trucking industry. Traditionally utilized as a pathway for the movement of grain, the closure of the Port of Churchill means there will be a significant reduction in rail service to the area, which in effect will result in less truck movement, as both made up the transportation network that serviced northern Manitoba. “With reduced rail service and no road access at all, this has meant the people servicing that area and those living and working in it have been impacted,” said Terry Shaw, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA). Shaw pointed out that both the agricultural and trucking industries are large contributors to the province’s economy, and that trucking plays a role in the supply chain of agricultural products. “Limiting the options available to get that product moved will create administrative and other burdens on all parties,” he said. “It might also impact the cost competitiveness of certain products should they not be able to get to their traditional consumer bases in the timeframes needed or at the costs expected.” The Toronto Star reported that the Manitoba government said it had received assurances that freight service along the rail line to Churchill would continue, and that it would also work with the federal government to see what more could be done. The MTA is not taking any direct action to advocate the government with regards to the port’s closure, as its focus is more on regulatory matters and other issues that directly impact the trucking industry. “The Port of Churchill is currently a privately owned business,” Shaw said, “and while the decisions made regarding that may not be ideal for some that Continued on page 7
2016-10-13 12:53 PM