chrisharrisblog.com

So, boy oh boy; it has been a while since I posted on this site. Why? well I started my new company www.trucksafetymanager.com and it was taking a lot of time to get it going. Then I went and changed jobs/careers. I went from an insurance company safety guy to an insurance broker. Man what a difference being a broker is! Then my new employer bought TruckSafetyManager.com from me. So now I can concentrate on my new career and put all of my energies into one thing; being a broker! So what now? I will start to up date the site a little more regularly now. In the mean time you can check out www.trucksafetymanager.com. It is just about re-vamped and will be ready in the next few days.I will post again soon. Chris 

The Quebec Thaw is scheduled to end May 24, 2008. This can still change to check the government web site here, Quebec Thaw.

Bill 41, also call the Speed Limiter bill, has now passed 2nd reading in the Ontario House of Commons. Although, the bill is still getting all party support, some individual MPP’s are speaking against it.

The bill is still expected to pass in the fall and become law in 2009. Watch for more details to come, likely in the fall.

Well where have I been? Busy, busy, busy! My fulltime job is keeping me hoping at the moment. Some of you know that I still drive a tractor trailer occasionally. Well lately it has been a little more often.

So I’ve been really busy ever since the truck show.

On the news yesterday, I heard something about a new drinking and driving law I think for Ontario drivers. If anyone has some information on this, please send me a link. I would like to know more about it.

Thanks

The great thing about Truck World is the people. The trucking industry has the best people involved in it. We also have the most varied group of people. Almost all nationalities have people in trucking and all educations. We of course have people with limited education, make a great financial living in this industry and we have very well educated people making a fantastic living. There is an absence of one group though. Women!

We don’t have a great deal of women in the industry. Yes I know that some of the offices have lots of women, but when you look at key positions or behind the wheel, women are small percentage.

About a year ago Ellen Voie decided that she was going to change that. Ellen started “Women in Trucking“.

Read the rest

 The new International “LoneStar” is a new and exciting truck. At Truck World the line up to view the beast was long. By my observation this was the longest line at the show. This truck is generating excitement. For all the spec’s see International LoneStar. I just want to talk about the excitement.

It’s been a long time since I heard truck drivers talking about a truck. Any truck. But this one is gorgeous. The exterior has lots of crome and lights. Just the way we like them.

The interior has lost of leather and room. Oh boy, the room!  Plenty of space in the driver seat, but it is the sleeper that really sings. Sofa, hardwood floors, and tables.  The sleep matress drops from the back wall, so in seconds, the sofa is disappears and you are ready for rest.

I had a chance to talk to some drivers that I knew and every one of them had made sure that they saw the LoneStar. For several it was the reason that they came to the show.

I know that this post really has nothing to do with safety or compliance. But this truck is exceptional. I just had to d o a post on it. I’ll get back on track this week.

Just a quick note regarding “Truck World”.

What a great show! I love working the show/being at the show, meeting all the people and seeing old friends.

Enough of that, it is late and I have one more day at the show. I have some pictures that I will share with you. I really like the new International. It looks just great. I’ll post several pictures of the machine in the next few days and I’ll mention some of the new items being introduced.

First Thing, I really want to thank all of my sponsors. Without the generosity of them, my climb would not have meant as much. I turned over $240 to the WWF. So thank each and every one of you very, very much. I have to also make a special mention to the group from Over the Road magazine. They were very supportive both with encouragement and a very kind donation. I have to also mention my fantastic employer who is going to match all the funds that our team managed to raise. So the $240 will be doubled next week when the team results are tallied.

So thanks to you all and by the way my time was 19 minutes and 24 seconds. 

So, I will be at Truck World Truck Show for the next 3 days. Plus tomorrow I am doing the CN Tower Stair Climb. I will let you all know how  both items play out. I’ll post my stair climbing time tomorrow. Average for climbing the 1776 stairs is 20 to 40 minutes. Wish me luck.