Martin Brower Canada Celebrates Grand Opening of New Oshawa Distribution Centre

Source: Martin Brower Canada

Oshawa, ON — Martin Brower Canada proudly hosted a grand opening event yesterday to inaugurate its newest distribution centre in Oshawa, Ontario. The celebration welcomed special guests, partners, and team members to mark this significant milestone—the opening of Martin Brower’s seventhdistribution facility in Canada.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held in the presence of more than 160 team members, emphasized the company’s continued growth and dedication to innovation in the supply chain industry.

Among the distinguished speakers were Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter; Michèle Boudria, President and CEO of McDonald’s Canada; Kate Horton, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada; Sarah E. Burke, CEO of Martin Brower; Julie Dell’Aniello, President of Martin Brower Canada; and Jordan Hoover, Distribution Centre Manager.

“This new facility is not just about expansion—it’s about building a sustainable and bright future for our customers, our people, and the communities we serve,” said Sarah E. Burke.

The Oshawa site will play a key role in supporting McDonald’s Canada’s supply chain operations, while creating long-term value for the region.

XTL Unveils Final Touch at New Valleyfield Distribution Centre

Source: XTL

Valleyfield, QC — It’s official! The construction of XTL’s newest Valleyfield Distribution Centre has officially reached completion with the installation of the iconic XTL sign. More than just a finishing touch, this new sign is a bold statement of the company’s continued commitment to excellence in supply chain solutions.

Strategically located to support growing transportation and warehousing needs, the Valleyfield facility marks another step forward in XTL’s national expansion. The centre has been built to enhance operational efficiency while staying true to XTL’s core mission: delivering outstanding service to its customers.

On social media, we can read:

“We’re proud of this milestone. The sign represents who we are and the values we stand by—reliability, innovation, and dedication to our clients.”

Locals and drivers passing by are encouraged to snap a photo of the new sign and tag XTL on social media as a show of support and celebration.

$30M Shuniah Inspection Station Rarely Used – MPP Vaugeois Demands Answers

Source: Lise Vaugeois

The brand-new $30 million truck inspection station in Shuniah, Ontario, has sparked growing concern. Opened in 2023, the facility is rarely operational, raising serious questions about road safety in Northern Ontario. NDP MPP for Thunder Bay–Superior North, Lise Vaugeois, is calling for transparency.

“Highway safety demands more staff at inspection stations. I won’t accept their usual answer of ‘We have the safest roads in North America.’ In the North, we know the reality. Enough is enough!” she said.

As reported by Carl Clutchey in The Chronicle Journal on April 1, 2025, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has not committed to permanently staffing the Shuniah site. The station is used only on an as-needed basis, such as during enforcement blitzes.

A local job seeker, recently laid off from a trucking company, attempted to apply for a transportation enforcement position at Shuniah. His application was rejected, even amid apparent staffing shortages. The MTO is reportedly flying inspectors into Thunder Bay to operate the station when possible.

Vaugeois is seeking a meeting with local MTO representatives, but they have declined to discuss highway safety or the Shuniah inspection station. With the Legislature resuming April 14, she vows to continue pressing the Ford government for answers.

Trump’s EPA Targets Climate Rules, Trucking Sector Included

Source: EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a hard turn under President Donald Trump’s administration, as it prepares to dismantle key environmental regulations—including those affecting heavy-duty trucks. Trump has called this campaign the “biggest deregulatory action” in U.S. history, fulfilling his vow to slash federal oversight.

The EPA announced on March 12 that it will review and potentially roll back a wide range of Obama- and Biden-era regulations concerning emissions, chemical safety, and pollution control. The agency argues these reforms will eliminate “trillions in regulatory costs and hidden taxes on American families.”

Environmental experts, however, warn that gutting these rules threatens the global fight against climate change. In the trucking industry, rolling back emissions standards may lower operational expenses in the short term, but could undermine sustainability efforts and compliance strategies long-term.

The proposed changes could also have legal consequences. A landmark 2007 Supreme Court decision affirmed the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Removing that foundation could reopen the door to public nuisance lawsuits targeting oil producers and energy utilities.

As the world faces growing climate challenges, transportation leaders must find ways to adapt to changing policy landscapes while remaining efficient and environmentally accountable.

Truck Stopped on Highway 401 in Gananoque for Overweight Load and Multiple Infractions

Source: OPP

Gananoque, Ontario – March 28, 2025 — A truck was stopped earlier today on the eastbound Highway 401 near Gananoque after a Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer noticed it tailgating a tractor-trailer.

The vehicle was escorted to the nearest Ministry of Transportation (MTO) scales, where officers discovered the truck was overweight, had no commercial registration, no safety inspection, and the driver had no formal training or valid insurance.

In total, nine tickets were issued along with one summons to appear in court for both the driver and the company involved.

The incident raises serious concerns about road safety and regulatory compliance in the trucking industry.

CTA Warns Banks of Risks of Lending to Illicit Carriers

Source: Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) 

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is warning Canadian financial institutions about the dangers of lending to trucking companies operating in the underground economy.

This follows news that the Bank of Montreal (BMO) has updated its mortgage policies for self-employed borrowers in sectors affected by the ongoing tariff wars. In a recent memo to brokers, BMO announced tighter lending criteria for borrowers in these high-risk sectors.

In response, CTA contacted the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) to caution lenders and distinguish between legitimate small businesses and illicit carriers that flout tax and labour regulations. While Statistics Canada ranks general freight transportation as the 10th largest sector with self-employed workers, CTA insists this figure doesn’t reflect the true risk level for lenders.

CTA President Stephen Laskowski emphasized that legitimate owner-operators who manage their equipment and business expenses responsibly should not be penalized. The real concern lies with those using the “Driver Inc.” scheme to misclassify employees as independent contractors—or, in many cases, not file taxes at all.

The CTA points to recent federal actions, including the formation of a misclassification enforcement team at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and a new information-sharing agreement between ESDC and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to crack down on tax and labour violations.

“The trade war is financially straining our industry,” said Laskowski. “But lenders shouldn’t worry about compliant businesses. The real exposure lies in lending to companies built on illegitimate practices. It’s time for banks to understand the real risks involved in doing business with underground operators.”

USA: NTSB Recommends 68 U.S. Bridges Be Evaluated for Risk of Collapse from Vessel Strikes

Source: NTSB

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2025 – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging 30 bridge owners in 19 states to conduct vulnerability assessments of 68 bridges to determine their risk of collapse from vessel collisions. The recommendation stems from the ongoing investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

The NTSB found that the Key Bridge, struck by the Dali container ship on March 26, 2024, had a risk level nearly 30 times higher than the acceptable threshold for critical or essential bridges, as defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

The 68 bridges identified were all built before the AASHTO guidelines were introduced, like the Key Bridge, and currently lack a vulnerability assessment. The NTSB is asking bridge owners to calculate the annual frequency of collapse using AASHTO’s Method II.

This report does not claim the bridges are at immediate risk of collapse but urges proactive evaluation. If risk levels exceed AASHTO’s threshold, bridge owners should develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan.

AASHTO introduced its vulnerability assessment calculation in 1991 following the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in Florida. It reiterated the recommendation to states in 2009. Since 1994, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has required all new bridges to be designed to resist vessel collision risks.

According to the NTSB, had the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) conducted such an assessment, it would have known the Key Bridge posed an unacceptable risk and could have taken preventive action.

The NTSB also recommends the FHWA, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers form an interdisciplinary team to help bridge owners assess and reduce risk, whether through infrastructure upgrades or operational changes.

The Singapore-flagged Dali, measuring 984 feet, lost power and propulsion while departing Baltimore Harbor and struck the southern pier of the bridge. The resulting collapse killed six construction workers, injured one more, and left one crew member aboard injured.

Trump Tariffs Threaten EV Industry: Electric Mobility Canada Sounds the Alarm

Source: MEC

Ottawa, March 26, 2025 — Electric Mobility Canada (EMC) is speaking out forcefully against new auto tariffs imposed by President Trump’s administration, warning that they pose serious risks to consumers, workers, and automakers across North America.

According to EMC, these trade barriers threaten to disrupt integrated supply chains, raise costs for families, and undermine decades of economic partnership between Canada and the United States — a relationship that had supported a strong and collaborative electric vehicle (EV) industry until recently.

“The U.S. was once a trusted partner in building a unified EV market. These new tariffs jeopardize innovation, stall investment, and put high-quality Canadian jobs at risk — jobs that cannot simply be relocated south of the border,” EMC stated.

Despite this growing tension, Electric Mobility Canada remains committed to working with unions, industry leaders, and policymakers to develop a robust economic strategy that secures Canada’s role in the future of electric transportation.

For EMC, this moment also presents a critical opportunity to strengthen Canada’s global leadership in EV manufacturing, by fostering innovation, encouraging investment, and supporting long-term job growth in a rapidly evolving market.

Brampton Truck Driver Sentenced to One Year for Hit-and-Run Causing Injury in Québec 

Saint-Hyacinthe, March 26, 2025 — Harjot Singh, a 22-year-old truck driver from Brampton, Ontario, has been sentenced to one year in prison for a hit-and-run that caused serious injuries to a Quebec family. The incident occurred in Sainte-Hélène-de-Bagot in July 2023, when Singh ran a stop sign and struck a family’s minivan — then drove away without offering help.

Singh, a student visa holder who had recently earned his truck driving license, was on a video call at the time of the crash. The impact ejected both parents from their Dodge Caravan, in front of their children.

“He never braked. He didn’t slow down. He just left — like a coward,” said Mélissa Thiffault Renis, the injured mother.

Singh was arrested several kilometers away. In court, he claimed he didn’t have cell service to call 911 and was unaware of his legal obligations after a crash.

The judge called his actions unacceptable, noting that the more serious the crash, the more shameful it is to flee. Singh is also banned from driving for 18 months.

The victims, who suffered lasting physical and emotional trauma, hope the sentence will allow them to begin healing.

Farmer Grayce Emmick Restores 1984 Mack R Model for Mack Trucks Historical 

Source: Mack Trucks

Allentown, PA, March 26, 2025 — A unique piece of trucking history has found its permanent home at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum, thanks to the dedication and craftsmanship of Grayce Emmick, an eighth-generation farmer and restoration enthusiast.

After a year-long labor of love, Grayce completed the full restoration of a 1984 Mack® R Model, originally custom-built for Johnny Prescott and Son Oil of Concord, New Hampshire. The truck now stands proudly in Allentown as a lasting symbol of Mack’s storied past.

This heartfelt donation comes at a meaningful time, as Mack Trucks celebrates its 125th anniversary. More than a restored vehicle, this gesture embodies the passion and commitment of the Mack community, and honors the legacy of those who helped build it.

“This restoration reflects the deep emotional and historical connection fans have with the Mack brand,” said Mack Trucks in a statement. “Thanks to Grayce, this truck will continue to inspire and share its story for generations to come.”