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highwaySTAR Magazine: the definitive Canadian trucking lifestyle magazine including trucking careers, family life, and job-related stories.

Careers

Life and Family

Doing Your Job





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OK Tire


Lifestyle Survey

Here we come, prying into your personal lives again. This time, we're curious to know how you're doing financially and where you plan to be in the future. Staying in trucking, ready to retire, bailing for greener pastures, or putting up until something better comes your way? We hope you won't mind sharing this bit of information with us, and we'll put it to good use. Promise.

There's room at the end for personal comments if you'd care to add any, and be assured, we'll keep all the personal information safe and we don't share it with anyone.

Click here to take the survey.

Cabotage Rules
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) describes what Canadian drivers can and cannot do while operating in the United States.

Click to download PDF


Cargo Securement Driver's Handbook

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has produced a driver's handbook to assist in understanding and compliance with the North American Cargo Securement Standard.

Download your copy here.


CLICK HERE to Nominate someone for the
2009 HighwaySTAR of the Year Award!

Awake at the Wheel
Trucking now recognizes obstructive sleep apnea as a significant safety concern. U.S. drivers could soon be screened for the disorder.
Life and Family

One Green Machine
Making environmental changes doesn’t always come cheap, but this owner-op found the little things can add up to make a difference.
Doing Your Job

Rush to Montreal
Bud Rush wins highwaySTAR of the Year award, presented at the upbeat Expocam 2009 truck show.
Careers


The Other Log:


JUNE
2 – 4: Roadcheck 2009
See www.cvsa.org

6: Saskatchewan Professional Truck Driving Championships
SLH Inc. – Regina, Sask.
Call 1-800-563-7623, or see www.sasktrucking.com

6 – 7: Palmerston Truck Show
Palmerston Fair Grounds – Palmerston, Ont.
Call 519-343-3488

12 – 13: Atlantic Truck Show
Moncton Colesium Complex– Moncton, N.B.
Call 1-888-454-7469, or see www.masterpromotions.ca

12 – 14: B.C. Trucking Association annual conference
The Fairmont Chateau – Whistler, B.C.
See www.bctrucking.com

13: Toronto Regional Truck Driving Championship
Powerade Centre – Brampton, Ont.
See www.truckchamps.ca

18 – 20: Shell Rotella SuperRigs truck beauty contest
Oak Grove 70 Petro – Oak Grove, Mo.
Call 816-690-4455

19 – 21: Stirling Truck Show
Stirling Fair Grounds – Stirling, Ont.
Call 613-395-0055, or see www.stirlingtruckshow.com

20: Alberta Professional Truck Driving Championships
Westerner Park – Red Deer, Alta.
Call 1-800-267-1003, or see www.amta.ca

25 – 27: Great West Truck Show
Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, Nev.
Call 1-888-349-4287, or see www.greatwesttruckshow.com

25 – 27: Pride and Polish Truck Beauty Contest
Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, Nev.
See www.prideandpolish.com

27: B.C. Professional Truck Driving Championships
Tradex Centre – Abbotsford, B.C.
See www.bctrucking.com

27: Manitoba Professional Truck Driving Championships
Peterbilt Manitoba - Winnipeg
Call 204-632-6600, or see www.trucking.mb.ca

27 – 28: Canadian All Truck Nationals
Burls’ Creek Family Event Park – Barrie, Ont.
Call 705-487-3663, or see www.burlscreek.com


Full 2009 Events Listing

highwaySTAR Careers: Careers for Drivers

[Jun. 3/09]
It's hard to escape the concept of going green. Environmental lobbyists have done a good job convincing society that if we don't change our ways it'll be doomsday for Mother Earth, and good for them.

There are lots of cases where truckers have taken it upon themselves to waste less, especially when it comes to fuel and there's a whole bunch of ways to reduce fuel usage beyond idling less.

The trucking industry as a whole has done a remarkable job of reducing its carbon footprint and although it's probably for the best in the long run, it hasn't come cheap. But I don't need to tell that to anyone who's recently purchased a new truck or is looking at picking up a 2010 rig.

But like any social cause, there are people looking to capitalize and make a few bucks by riding the success of current trends. Before you bite on every green idea laid out before you, make sure it's not drowning in snake oil.

There are a lot of marketing claims being made about environmentally friendly products. It's what TerraChoice Environmental Marketing likes to call "greenwashing."

Greenwashing is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practice of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.

With the rise in availability of "all-natural" and "organic" products, the dubious claims have followed. Between 2007 and 2009, TerraChoice has found the in-store availability of green products has increased between 40 - 176%. A recent survey from the company found 98% of them are committing at least one of the Seven Sins of Greenwashing.

Greenwashing is getting so creative TerraChoice just recently updated their list of sins. There used to be only six sins of greenwashing. If you're interested, a full list of the report, the sins and some consumer tips can be found at: www. sinsofgreenwashing.org

When it comes to improving the environment, it can't hurt to be less wasteful, just don't be green about it.
Steve Macleod
Copyright © 2009 Newcom Business Media Inc.
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