Although I have spent my entire career in the trucking industry, I have a passion for aviation as well. In 2008 I earned my private pilot’s certificate only a few weeks before graduating from a driver-training academy with my commercial driver’s license. There are so many similarities between aviation and trucking. Both industries have a…

In the writing of my second book I analyzed most of the “reasons” people leave one carrier for another. Though there are many stories told, they seem to all have one thing in common: disrespect. Operators and Drivers tended to use various versions of one phrase: “I (or nobody) should be treated like that”. Respect,…

It was the spring of 2000 and there was a lot of uncertainty in the future of Tom Payne Sr. with his employer, Tri-Line Freight Systems, based in Calgary, Alberta. The company was just purchased by TCT and after nearly 30 years of employment and close to 10 as President & CEO, Tom found himself…

If a Carrier has operators on their fleet they automatically have an insurance policy with specific deductibles and terms. Not all terms, however, are the same. Some carriers “self-insure” to a certain dollar figure (say $25,000) and then are covered for anything above that by insurance companies. Other carriers have the insurance companies cover everything…

One of the most difficult concepts I have tried to grasp over the past number of years and the one I have cherished the most is this one, “I am in this position because I chose to be here. I take 100% responsibility for me”. I am not trying to get too heavy on you…

It is interesting to see what some of my fellow trucking safety professionals are discussing. There is currently an online discussion group talking about whether obstructed sleep apnea (OSA) testing should be made mandatory. As you might guess, the opinions are wide and varied. I have seen some statistics stating that a range from 15%…

Author Ann Wilson Schaef calls perfectionism “self-abuse of the highest order.” It could be a factor in why there are so few women in leadership roles in transportation. Although it has become more common for companies to promote women into management areas, there is still work to be done to increase the percentage in transportation.…

In today’s work environment, everyone is wearing multiple hats. Who can say, “I think I’ll take tomorrow off, I really have nothing to do at work”? Over the past three years, online training/communication has been front and centre for me. I have spoken with more than 200 carriers about this topic, and through the course…