Fall 2009 - Trailcon

INDUSTRYNo tesCTA calls for 2010 budgetmeasures to help industryDavid Bradley, CEO of the Canadian TruckingAlliance (CTA), appeared at ParliamentHill recently to call for the introduction ofmeasures that will not only help ensure thatthe economy recovers, but that Canadianbusinesses are able to capitalize on economicrenewal when it comes. Bradley’scomments came before the House of CommonsStanding Committee on Finance,which is preparing its recommendations forthe 2010 federal budget.While he said he didn’t expect the Governmentto solve all the industry’s problems,it did have a “significant role to play in ensuringthat the industry is able to take fulladvantage of the opportunities that do presentthemselves through economic recovery,is treated fairly compared to other sectorsof the economy, and receives value for thetax dollars it generates.”CTA’s primary goal for the 2010 budget isto establish partnerships with governmentand mechanisms to accelerate the re-equippingof the Canadian truck fleet whenrecovery does take hold. “The truckingindustry cannot provide the service theeconomy demands, or further enhance itsenvironmental and safety performance,unless it is able to invest in the latest equipmentand technology,” he maintained.He also reminded the Committee that thecurrent federal government had made acommitment to reduce federal excise tax ondiesel fuel by 50% over four years. As thathad not yet happened, Bradley proposed analternate approach that would allocaterevenues from the excise tax to acceleratingthe investment in new smog-free heavytruckengines and the GHG-reducingtechnologies and devices identified in CTA’senviroTruck initiative. “Similar incentivesor rebates should also be considered forthe latest proven safety-enhancementtechnologies, including electronic on-boardrecorders and vehicle stability systems,”he urged.MacKinnon Transportacquires Walker Groupof companiesTrailcon announces scholarshipfor Conestoga CollegeMacKinnon Transport Inc., Guelph, Ont.,has acquired the St. Thomas, Ontario-basedWalker Group of companies, which consistsof LE Walker Transport Ltd. and Mid AmericaFreight Systems Ltd. Both companies aremajor players in the dry van and flatbedmarketplaces in North America.The acquisition creates a combined entitythat will operate out of MacKinnon’shead office in Guelph, where the companywill manage over 1,300 pieces of equipmentand employ a workforce of 420 people.“This deal, which is effective immediately,represents a great opportunity forboth companies,” says Evan MacKinnon,president and CEO of MacKinnon TransportInc. “At a time when many truckingcompanies are economically challenged, weare fiscally robust and poised to respondquickly as the economy rebounds.”“We are merging the best business practicesof the Walker Group and MacKinnonTransport,” adds Walker Group presidentJulie Tanguay, who is also chairperson of theOntario Trucking Association. “While bothcompanies are recognized leaders in the dryvan and flatbed markets, our customer baseis quite diversified with little duplication.”MacKinnon will remain as president andCEO of the organization, which will continueto operate as MacKinnon TransportInc. Tanguay will take on the newly createdrole of executive vice-president sales.Both companies are third-generationfamily-owned businesses.TRAILCON LEASING is sponsoring an annual scholarship of up to $1,000 inconjunction with the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) Education Foundation.The scholarship will be awarded to one student annually who is enrolled in theTruck-Trailer Service Technician Program at Conestoga College Institute of Technologyand Advanced Learning at its Guelph campus. The recipient will be selected by theCollege based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.“This scholarship is a reflection of exactly what we were trying to accomplish atTrailcon,” says Al Boughton, president of Mississauga, Ont.-based Trailcon Leasing. “Wewanted our scholarship to go to a deserving student each year who takes his or hereducation seriously. The scholarship eligibility criteria require that the studentdemonstrate a commitment to his or her education. At the same time, we want tomake sure that, in this environment of escalating education fees, the student is also inneed of some financial assistance.”The Trailcon Leasing Trailer Service Technician Scholarship will be awarded annually,and is funded by an endowed fund administered by the OTA Education Foundation, Inc.10 REPORT on TRANSPORTATION