Jim in the Great White North

Our Conservative government here in Canada resembles the POPULAR CANADIAN TV SERIES THE TRAILER PARK BOYS !If you never watched the show its about a bunch of social misfits who are always involved in various questionable enterprises when cornered or near being exposed their response is to DENY,DENY DENY AND IF THIS FAILS PLACE THE BLAME ON SOMEONE ELSE.Here are the stars JULIAN (STEPHEN HARPER COULD FILL THIS ROLE),RICKY(JOHN BAIRD WOULD FILL THIS ROLE REALLY WELL)BUBBLES(THIS ROLE REALLY SUITS TONY CLEMENT TO A "T")TREVOR(COULD BE PLAYED BY JIM FLAHERTY ON THE SHOW HE'S RICKY'S BITCH BOY)LUCY(DIANNE FINLAY COULD PLAY THIS PART WELL)!BUBBLES FAVORITE LINE ON THE SHOW IS AIN'T THIS GREASY AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE CONSERVATIVES ARE ACTING! DENY,DENY,DENY AND THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS GOOD SCAPEGOAT .I almost forgot BUBBLE'S HAND PUPPET "KONKEY"(THIS PART IS REALLY SUITED FOR STOCKWELL DAY!)

To day we find ourselves governed by an arrogant and egotistical Prime Minister named Stephen Harper,back in the 1950's people of that era found themselves governed by a Conservative Prime Minister by the name John Difenbaker who was also arrogant and egotistical.Besides the above mentioned similaries are there more ? If one looks at Harper's coziness with our neighbours to the south 'RE TAKING CANADA FROM AN ACTIVE PEACE KEEPER TO A FULL BLOWN COMBAT MISSION"re NO BIDDING ON AIRCRAFT WE ARE BUYING FROM BOEING"re TAKING THE TAR SANDS TO FIVE TIMES ITS SIZE TO REDUCE AMERICA'S RELIANCE ON MIDDLE EASTERN OIL".John Difenbaker was also cozy with our neighbours to the south so much so he cancelled the AVRO ARROW PROJECT when our neighbours to the south convinced him that Bomar Missles were a better defense.By cancelling this project he effectively wiped out a whole industry putting thousands of people out of work.Mr Harper is on the same path by ignori

I always though that MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT & MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENTS work for the people if elected apparently this is not the case here in Canada.It appears once elected they do what they want and really don't answer to people who elected them.I've been doing a random sampling of MMP's and MP's on driver wage issues sort of testing the waters so to speak.This is the response I received,PAT HOY LIBERAL MPP CHATHAM /KENT/ESSEX MY MPP BY THE WAY when contacted by email and asked about these issues did not have the common courtesy to reply !PETER KORMOS MPP NDP NIAGARA CENTER no reply !GERRY MARTINUK MPP PC CAMBRIDGE replied but when found out I wasn't in his riding refused to comment !STEVE PETERS MINISTRY OF LABOUR LIBERAL ELGIN / MIDDLESEX /LONDON this ministry was helpful at first till they realized I had discovered a loophole in the EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ACT DEALING WITH EMPLOYEES OF HIRING AGENCY'S AND DRIVER SERVICES since t

I'm on a lot of blogs and I hate to bring up this subject,but what is the use of a blog if your not going to let comments be posted ? THE TRUCK News who ushered me into the world of blogs are not posting any comments.Sure if somebody was demeaning,using a constant stream of profanity or aiming inappropriate comments at a person I could see not posting those comments.But a blog is meant to be interactive and peoples different views and opinions should be posted,I realize that advertising plays an important role for such publications as the the Truck news but so does the individual truck driver who picks that copy up once a month or the thousands of people who visit on the Internet .

Ever stop and think why companies usually choose to pay by the above mentioned schemes ? These wage schemes resemble going to the a casino and playing the games,once in awhile you hit the JACKPOT but usually the house wins !The odds favour the house !Trucking companies know by paying by these methods they are covering themselves against loss,if you are stuck in traffic,held at a shipper or receivers dock or held up by bad weather they do not want to pay for this.If companies were forced to pay by the hour the odds would be then in favour of drivers,but the can't have this as we all know the attitude is drivers are overpaid anyway.The odds favouring companies are increasing everyday new hours of service laws will further limit your wage earning ability by cutting your hours.The proposed speed limiter laws will increase congestion on our highways further limiting your miles per day.Now that the American Trucking Association has opened the door with their proposed use of E.OB.R.'s

The name Trucking Associations brings to mind an association that deals with issues related to truck drivers and issues that truck drivers would like to see implemented.Here in Ontario we have the Ontario Trucking Association who seems to have an agenda that seems they want to be the North American leader in safety innovations.Leaders of such issues of speed limiters,driver retention,driver shortage and champions of E.O.B.R.s.Lets take a close look at each of these issues "speed limiters are more of a driver retention issue for the OTA and with a split speed limits will result in more rearend collisions with faster moving cars striking trucks.The driver shortage and driver retention could be greatly helped if the OTA and its members took the first step by removing the artificial wage environment they operate in, by allowing overtime after 44 hours,throw out paid by the mile schemes and percentage pay by the hour.You will not attract new drivers or retain older drivers if the

According to an article in the Windsor Star Jan.15/07 Elections Canada revoked the legal registration of new Conservative MP Wajid Knans's former Liberal riding association in December because it failed to file financial returns for 04 & 05 as The Ottawa Citizen first reported.Also reported were some questionable loans from Dufferin Mazda which Mr.Knan owns.Under previous legislation loans to candidates and riding associations are allowed,but must be declared as contributions if not repaid within 18 months and were limited to $1000.00 under previous political financing rules.TWO BIG QUESTIONS HERE DID MR.KNAN REPAY THE LOAN TO DUFFERIN MAZDA ?IS THIS WHY THERE WAS A SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF THE HEAD OF ELECTIONS CANADA BECAUSE HE WAS ABOUT TO RELEASE THIS INFORMATION ?" AS RICKY FROM THE THE TRAILER PARK BOY'S WOULD SAY AIN'T THIS GREASEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever wonder why the person going down the road in a truck is not driving so well,and asked how he/she got their CDL or class A and better yet who allowed them in that truck!We've all witnessed bad driving habits now and again!Company driver trainers and recruiters are the first step on this chain in a push to fill those seats and get them trucks that are parked against the fence moving, they are too quick to approve drivers that don't have enough practical experience .Companies are next in line for some of the blame they push recruiters and driver trainers to fill seats at any expense.When things go wrong those same companies are quick to point the finger at their recruiters and driver trainers,Don't they realize that putting an inexperienced driver in the seat they are exposing their company to millions of dollars liability in the event an inexperienced driver causes an accident.Next on the chain are driver examiners this one I could never understand in most cases the

Governments both in the USA and CANADA fear it truck drivers ever organized and stood together for a common goal,we could effect the economy of North America.As far back as 1959 this was a great concern as evidenced by the following statement by the late Robert F Kennedy on the Jack Paar show which was the forrunner of late night television talk shows.Mr Kennedy stated"ALL OUR LIVES ARE TOO INTRICATELY WOVEN WITH THIS UNION TO SIT PASSIVELY BY AND ALLOW THE TEAMSTERS UNDER MR. HOFFA'S LEADERSHIP TO CREATE A SUPERPOWER IN THIS COUNTRY -A POWER GREATER THAN THE GOVERNMENT."Even back in 1959 governments were scared of truck drivers organizing,I personally don't agree with some of the tactics employed by Mr Hoffa and the teamsters back then,but I do agree with drivers stand together for a common goal of gaining better working conditions and wages.Even today governments act quickly to stop us from any actions that could escalate into something bigger they have passed laws

The Federal Motor Carriers Administration in the U.S. announced that EBOR's are being considered for use on trucks operated by companies and drivers who are repeat offenders of Hours of Service rules.At first glance of this rule alot of drivers and companies will think it is a good idea,but look at it from this perspective once the first step is completed it will only be a matter of time till all trucks are required to have EBOR's .At this moment the Ontario Trucking Association and Canadian Trucking Alliance are starting to call out that to put EBOR's on only repeat offenders trucks would be unfair they should be installed on all trucks.If this happens every minute of everyday of a driver's day will be tracked electronically .A majority of drivers say speed limiters will never be forced on them,well EBOR's are on their way now too.Small trucking companies and owner operators are going to be saddled with another unneeded expense,sure they are saying there will

Over the years there have been various attempts by truckdrivers & owneroperators to gain wage ,rate increases and generally improve our working conditions.I started driving in the mid seventies when the big thing for bumper stickers was "Jimmy phone home your mother needs the trunk keys",this was in reference to the late JIMMY HOFFA during those years various job actions took place in Ohio THE DISSIDENT TRUCKERS FOR A DEMOCRATIC UNION blocked steel mills and highways.At one point the Ohio Turnpike was blocked at the Toledo exit by a solid line of trucks stretching for miles only to see efforts to improve our lives broken up by the police!You see that governments actually fear that if truck drivers get fully organized and stand together we could shut the economy down!Look at the US/CANADA border blockades of the 80's these blockades were actually starting to have an effect on both countries auto plants were stating to shut down, CEO's of these companies wer

If Wajid Knan was a special advisor to the Prime Ministers,the question begs to be asked"HOW WAS HE COMPENSATED FOR HIS DUTIES AS SPECIAL ADVISOR?Was he paid by cheque and if so there should be some sort of paper trail and will he declare this on his income tax form.Futher as special advisor where are his reports,if he was being compensated for his duties as special advisor that compensation would come from Canadian taxpayers,so were are the reports?But if he was being paid by little brown envolopes stuffed with cash or promises of appointment that would tend to lead people to belevie that he was being paid to gather information on the Liberal Party.These are some of the questions the Liberals should be asking when the House of Commons resumes.The Conservatives now have Wajid Knan big question for them can he be trusted?

Have you ever wondered how such groups as the Ontario Trucking Association,Canadian Trucking Alliance,American Trucking Association and the Canadian Automobile Association get all these rules and regulations passed that effect the lives and pocketbooks of everyday truckdrivers and owneroperators ?Its called lobbying these above mentioned associations actually have people that write letters,send emails and in the extreme cases wine and dine people of influence"mainly MPP ,s and MP's " to get their bills passed into law.We as truck drivers have alot of influence here but we don't choose to exercise our influence for whatever reasons"I'm too busy,I'm paid well for what I do or my company treats me good.Here is the truth of the matter this is what your company thinks of you Employment Standards Act all lobbied by the Ota and trucking companies"This special rule recognizes that hours of work in the trucking industry are generally longer than aver

I normally don't comment on politics but I could not resist this issue. Recently Wajid Knan defected from the Liberal Party to the Conservative Party. The Conservatives say it not a big issue but now it seems to happen all the time! Well this issue is somewhat different from other defections, Mr Wajid Knan was elected as a Liberal MP, yet he choose to serve as a special advisor to the Prime Minister and the Conservative party. If Mr Khan was an executive at General Motors and wanted to be a special advisor for Ford Motor Company, do you really think this would be allowed to happen in the corporate world? I don't think so! On the same line of thought hockey is Canada's best known and watched sport, how would you feel if the goaltender for your favorite team at the end of a championship game suddenly ripped off his jersey to reveal the opposing team's jersey after letting the winning goal pass, I think you would be downright upset and feel betrayed. Wajid Knan has betraye

This was received from Kate Lamb,Senior Manager,Employment and Labour Branch,Ontario Ministry of Labour Ontario I will just give a quick overview and the important parts for full act go to www.labour.gov.ca Regulations for Exemptions,special rules and establishment of wage.It establishes an overtime threshold of 60 hours a week for trucking the general ESA overtime threshold is 44 hours.The rule applies to most truck drivers employed by FOR-HIRE TRUCKING FIRMS.So if you work for a hiring agency that is not a FOR-HIRE TRUCKING FIRM and this would apply to most driver services and hiring agencys as most don't hold a CVOR than you are entitled to o/t after 44 hours and you could go back on them for a year.The only loophole I can see is if the cheque you receive is issued by the trucking company you are assigned to,if it is issued by the driver service or hiring agency you should have a case.For those employed by FOR-HIRE TRUCKING FIRMS this is the response,Unique industry conditions

The Ontario Trucking Association was the first to propose speed limiters fo all trucks,their first press release contained the following statement"THIS WILL LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD" even though the OTA won't admit it this statement refers to driver retention not safety or enviromental concerns.If the OTA and associates really want to address the driver shortage problem one of the first ways of attracting new drivers and retaining older drivers would be to pay them more,what pay drivers more their overpaid now I can just hear these words being repeated over and over again with a few" that as***** who does he think he is bringing up this subject!Well the truth of the matter is trucking companies have hid behind antiquated laws regarding overtime and pay by the mile schemes for years all supported by various levels of government on both sides of the border.Is it really a level paying field that somebody working in a factory or the local 711 store is entitled to overtim