July 15, 2010
Yanke “Be the One” Safety Incentive – Wins A Truck!
From left to right is:
Bill Kalbhenn (Director of Fleet Safety & Recruiting)
Brian “Huggy” Halabura (Yanke Operator)
Craig Bailey (VP of YMS, YGLS, YSCS).
July 6, 2010
Bison Transport named Top Canadian Truckload Carrier of the Year by Ryder System Inc.
Click here for media release.
June 25, 2010
Aerial views of TransCanada near Maple Creek.
June 24, 2010
Highway No. 1 near Maple Creek: update on the situation and plans for accommodating traffic.
Click here for more information.
June 24, 2010
List of Highways at 63,500 kg for B-Trains.
Click here for more information.
June 17, 2010
STA Member Gives Back
Bison Transport Supports Cancer Care
June 14, 2010
Premier Outlines Priorities for Next 18 Months
Government Working to Ensure Strong Economy, High Quality of Life for Everyone
Premier Brad Wall today released mandate letters recently sent to all of his cabinet ministers outlining the government's priorities for the next 18 months.
"Continuing to build a strong and growing economy is job number one for our government," Wall said. "But a strong economy is not an end in itself. A prosperous province provides a high quality of life and important government services like health and education for all Saskatchewan people."
Wall said his government has fulfilled almost all of the promises it made in the 2007 election campaign.
"We have a few more to complete, like further reductions to education property tax and fulfilling our commitment to Saskatchewan communities on revenue sharing," Wall said. "Beyond that, it's time for our government to set some new priorities and keep Saskatchewan moving forward, and that's what we are doing now."
Priorities outlined in the government mandate letters include:
- · Improve educational outcomes for First Nations and Metis learners and expand First Nations and Metis participation in the workforce (Education/Advanced Education, Employment and Labour);
- · Attract eight to 12 new corporate investments and at least two major head office expansions while increasing Saskatchewan's presence in key international markets like China and India (Enterprise Saskatchewan);
- · Work with industry and other governments to enhance international opportunities for Saskatchewan's crop and livestock sectors (Agriculture);
- · Improve housing availability and affordability by increasing the supply of rental housing and creating new affordable home ownership opportunities (Social Services);
- · Reduce violent crime (Justice/Corrections, Public Safety and Policing);
- · Reduce wait times for surgery to no more than three months by 2014 (Health);
- · Establish a provincial addictions agency (Health);
- · Develop and implement a province-wide multi-material recycling program (Environment); and
- · Ensure that schoolchildren engage in 30 minutes of physical activity a day (Education)
"There's a new confidence in our province," Wall said. "I hear it from people in every part of our province who think Saskatchewan is the best place in Canada to work and to live. Our government's job is to keep our great province heading in the right direction."
To view all of the mandate letters, go to www.gov.sk.ca/cabinet and scroll down to "Related Documents"
Clicke here for the Mandate Letter
May 20, 1010
ACI eManifest Workshop
2010 Agenda & Registration Form
Mar 29, 2010
Provincial Budget Highlights and News Release
Mar 11, 2010
CSA 2010 Message from FMCSA Division Administrator Jeff Jensen
It is now 2010. That means it is time to really understand Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010. You’ve heard about it, you’ve read about it, but do you really understand it? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has already distributed volumes of great information through publications, webinars, listening sessions, and our website. With that said, there are still many questions about CSA 2010 and how it relates to Saskatchewan. So, my message is specifically for you, Saskatchewan’s motor carriers that transport in the United States.
I will briefly outline the mechanics of CSA 2010 because these have already been detailed in many other sources. CSA 2010 is designed to improve the effectiveness of FMCSA’s compliance and enforcement program. Its goal is to achieve a reduction in truck and bus crashes, fatalities and injuries, while maximizing the resources of FMCSA and its partners. To accomplish this, CSA 2010 changes how our Agency evaluates the safety performance of motor carriers, drivers and vehicles, and how our Agency intervenes to improve compliance with safety laws and regulations. In particular, CSA 2010 incorporates new systems for safety measurement, evaluation, and intervention.
The CSA 2010 Safety Measurement System (SMS) replaces SafeStat. SafeStat focused on four broad Safety Evaluation Areas (SEAs): Accidents, Drivers, Vehicles, and Safety Management. SMS measures seven specific Behavioural Area Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs): Unsafe Driving, Fatigued Driving, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances and Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance, Cargo Related, and Crash Indicator. Through monthly analysis of safety data, SMS helps to evaluate safety performance, monitor safety problems, and identify motor carriers for potential interventions. Interventions include warning letters, targeted roadside inspections, offsite investigations, focused onsite investigations, comprehensive onsite investigations, notices of violation, notices of claim, and out-of-service orders. These interventions enable FMCSA and its partners to move from fact finding and violation verification, to exploring of why violations occur and how they can be corrected. They also maintain FMCSA’s enforcement authority in situations that warrant enforcement.
At this point, I would like to cover three topics that are important to you as a Saskatchewan motor carrier: (1) when you will participate in CSA 2010, (2) how you should prepare for CSA 2010, and (3) where you can learn about CSA 2010. You may have heard that some jurisdictions have already implemented CSA 2010. This is true. In fact, our neighbours in Minnesota, Montana and Alberta are already participants. However, my Division’s jurisdiction - North Dakota, Saskatchewan and Manitoba - will not implement CSA 2010 until this fall.
Preparing for CSA 2010 boils down to three words: data, data and data. The accuracy of your safety data is paramount. For example, under SafeStat, out-of-service violations had the most weight. However, under CSA 2010, all violations discovered during roadside inspections count. So, it is important that you download your Company Safety Profile as soon as possible to check each roadside inspection and all other safety data. You can download your Company Safety Profile for free by registering for an FMCSA Portal Account at https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov and following the instructions. If you find inaccurate safety data, you should correct this data promptly. You can challenge your safety data by registering for a DataQs Account at https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov and following the directions. You can also access DataQs through the FMCSA Portal.
Learning about CSA 2010 is easy. First, we have coordinated with the Saskatchewan Trucking Association to do a presentation in April. This will give you a chance to ask questions and receive answers in person. Second, our CSA 2010 website offers excellent information. You can access this information by going to http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov and selecting the Motor Carriers & Drivers tab. Third, as always, you may call my Division at 701-250-4346. My staff is ready to answer your CSA 2010 questions.
Mar 2 , 2010
eManifest Workshops in Winnipeg, Edmonton
Click here for more information
Feb 19, 2010
The Council of Deputy Ministers of Transportation directed CCMTA to explore issues surrounding Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBR) and the feasibility of developing a national standard for their use in commercial vehicles in Canada.
CCMTA's Project Group is now seeking the input and feedback of CCMTA associates and other stakeholders on this issue. The Project Group will take this feedback and develop recommendations to present to the Council of Deputies in the fall.
Below is a discussion paper that has been prepared to frame the debate and set the scene for feedback. Please respond to CCMTA at ccmta-secretariat@ccmta.ca. The deadline for comments is Thursday, March 11, 2010.
Your input is most appreciated. Thank you.
EOBR Discussion Paper February 2010
Jan 29, 2010
BC Road Closures During Olympics
Jan 27, 2010
Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure Making Positive Changes
Jan 27, 2010
Message to all Carriers - "Notice to Commercial Vehicle Operators from SGI"
Click here for Message to all Carriers
Jan 20, 2010
ATRI Updates Online Listing of Idling Regulations
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has updated its online listing of idling regulations to help trucking companies and drivers comply with the increasing number of state and local idling regulations. The updated listing is provided in two forms: a handy cab card which can be downloaded and carried in the truck, and the online listing of regulations which provides links to individual regulations.
Recent updates include the enactment of new limits and regulations in New Jersey, Chicago, Illinois, and the Ohio cities of Cleveland, Maple Heights and South Euclid. The specific updates include:
- A new 3-minute limit, with exemptions, enacted in Chicago, Illinois.
- New 5-minute limits, with exemptions, enacted in the cities of Cleveland and Maple Heights, Ohio.
- A change to the Illinois state limit that increases the initial fine to $90 and adds an exemption for the use of idle reduction technologies.
- A change to the New Jersey state limit that takes effect on May 1, 2010, which will restrict the current sleeper berth exemption to only those sleeper berths which have 2007 or newer diesel engines or diesel particulate filters. (The Pennsylvania state limit is scheduled to eliminate its current sleeper berth exemption on May 1, 2010 as well.)
- Changes to the South Euclid, Ohio limit
The cab card and the listing of the online idling regulations can be downloaded below, or at ATRI’s website www.atri-online.org.
Jan 8 , 2010
STA Appoints Training Manager
Jan 6 , 2010
Changes to Cargo Securement
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure has released the following information:
Issue: National Safety Code Standard 10 Part 1, Division 3, Section 11 (4) states:
“On and after January 1, 2010, a person shall not use a tiedown or a component of a tiedown to secure cargo to a vehicle unless it is marked by the manufacturer with respect to its working load limit.”
Transition and Educational Period
In order to ensure an orderly transition and to ensure industry has an opportunity to comply with the requirements of regulation and the NSC Standard, the attached enforcement strategy for the rating and marking of tiedowns will be implemented (excerpt taken from the attached document):
- Implementation of the requirement to use tiedowns which are rated and marked with a Working Load Limit will be phased in over a twelve month period ending on December 31, 2010
- From January 1 to December 31 2010 verbal direction and/or written warnings will be issued to raise awareness of the requirement to use rated and marked tiedowns (Note: during the transition period, use of unrated/unmarked tiedowns will not preclude issuance of a CVSA decal).
- During the transition period, violations will be recorded in situations where improper or inadequate use of the required minimum number of tiedowns (either marked or unmarked) for securement of cargo poses a safety risk.
- During this period unmarked tiedowns will continue to be assigned default Working Load Limits from the tables which appear in NSC Standard 10. Using a tiedown or a component of a tiedown not marked by the manufacturer with respect to its Working Load Limit will not result in Out-of-Service unless a significant safety risk is created.
- Default values for Working Load Limits will be eliminated from NSC Standard 10 on January 1, 2011.
- On and after January 1, 2011, each of the minimum number of tiedowns required under NSC 10 must be rated and marked with a Working Load Limit.
Implementation
Full compliance with the provisions of NSC Standard 10 Division 3 Section 11 (4) will be required and enforced on January 1, 2011.
The transition strategy for the rating & marking of tiedowns has been sent to the Canadian Cargo Cttee and will be providing it to Cargo Securement stakeholders by the CCMTA. It has been posted on the CCMTA site at http://ccmta.ca/english/committees/cra/cargo/interpretation.cfm#2010
Transport Compliance Branch officers will be implementing the attached strategy immediately. Information will be provided to industry verbally during the initial 6 month period and in the form of a handout during the latter half of the year. I would like to reiterate that the use of an unmarked tiedown during the transition period will not preclude issuance of a CVSA decal (provided the carrier meets the requirements of NSC Standard 10) and will only be noted as a miscellaneous defect. Carriers will not be fined nor will the defect show up on the carrier profile.
Click here for Full Summary Information
Dec 31, 2009
Christmas Gift from Feds
Dec 28, 2009
SGI Drowsy Driving Trailer Rolled Out
Dec 23, 2009
Hand-held electronic ban to take effect January 1, 2010
SGI Proposed Cell Phone Ban Legislation Highlights
Dec 21, 2009
SGI's RoadSmart for 2009
SGI December RoadSmart Issue 5 - Rolling Billboard
Dec 21, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canadian Trucking Alliance News Release
Media contact: Doug Switzer, Vice President Public Affairs,
(416) 249-7401 x 238, doug.switzer@ontruck.org
New Truck Weights & Dimensions MOU Will Provide Carriers with More Tire Choice, Flexibility for Wide-Base Singles
CTA welcomes announcement saying it will open door nationwide for adoption of GHG reducing tire technology, improve fleet utilization, reduce capital costs and simplify trailer spec’s.
Click here for full media release
Click here for details of the MoU amendment
Dec 21, 2009
Cargo Securement Changes Jan. 1, 2010
Dec 15, 2009
Clarification on CARB Rules
There are two newer rules impacting trucking operations operating into and out of the State of California --- Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) rule and Truck and Bus Rule. Recent media reports about possible changes to the Truck and Bus Rule has created confusion about compliance for both rules.
The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) remains in effect for TRUs operating in California, including the December 31, 2009, requirements for the first phase of TRUs (model year 2002 and older).
CARB did hold a public meeting on December 9, 2009, to receive an update on implementation of the separate Truck and Bus Rule --- this rule deals with the mandatory requirement of SmartWay technology on tractors and trailers operating in the State of California.
The CARB Board directed its staff to return in April 2010 with a new provision that would provide truck fleets more flexibility in cleaning up their diesel emissions under the state's Truck and Bus SmartWay Rule, in light of the recession's effect on the industry. Based on various reports this flexibility may involve extending the 100% penetration requirement of SmartWay technology for both large and small fleets.
The CARB Board’s action was specific to the Truck and Bus Rule. It does not affect the implementation of the TRU ATCM rule impacting reefers. For further information on TRU ATCM requirements, please visit the website at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/tru.htm
For more information on the Truck and Bus rule please go to: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel.htm
Dec 7, 2009
NEW APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED
Deputy Minister to the Premier Doug Moen today announced the appointment of Robert Penny to the position of Deputy Minister of Highways and Infrastructure effective January 1, 2010.
Penny brings to Saskatchewan extensive knowledge of the transportation and infrastructure related industry, having served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation from 2001 to 2008. A civil engineer, he has dedicated his 30 year career to transportation policy and programs. Penny is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister of Alberta Environment.
Penny replaces John Law, who will become the CEO of the Global Transportation Hub Authority (GTHA).
Since 2004, Law served as Deputy Minister, Highways and Infrastructure; prior to which he held senior positions as Chief Information and Services Officer for the Government of Saskatchewan, President of the Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation and Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministry of Finance.
"I want to thank John Law for his tremendous work, in particular to the GTHA project in his capacity as Deputy Minister, and look forward to his continued leadership and vision in this exciting new role," Moen said. "Rob Penny is highly regarded in the transportation industry; and I am pleased he accepted this senior role in Saskatchewan's public service.
Dec 1 , 2009
Winter Weights Season Restrictions
Winter Weights Announced
Click here for more...
