Maple Leaf Motoring is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of Canadian trucking. This week – a trucker fights his deportation, a pay-as-you-go ELD is released, and workplace safety declines in Ontario.
A mechanical engineering student who supported himself by driving a truck faces deportation from Canada to India for working more hours than his study permit allowed.
Jobandeep Sandhu was pulled over during a routine traffic stop on Highway 401 between Montreal and Toronto in 2017. But upon examining his log book, a police officer discovered that he had worked more than 20 hours – above the weekly limit under his permit to study in Canada.
“Now I am being deported for working hard,” Sandhu wrote on an online petition, asking Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to rescind the deportation order.
The petition had collected more than 50,000 signatures as of May 24.
“I had a choice either to stop studying or work harder to support my education and my dreams. I chose the latter,” he added.
Sandhu is required to leave Canada by June 15.
The Ontario Trucking Association has called on Canada to bring in more foreign truckers to address a driver shortage.
Injuries rise at Ontario’s transport and warehouse workplaces
Transportation and warehousing workplaces in Ontario got less safe, according to a new ranking from the province’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
The 2019 Health and Safety Index for the transportation and warehousing industry, which includes trucking, dropped by 1.6 percent largely because of a sharp increase in injuries. Workplace safety across all workplaces overall rose by 1.9 percent.
TruckNews noted that serious injuries nearly doubled in 2018.
First pay-as-you-go ELD unveiled
FleetComplete’s BigRoad launched a pay-as-you-go service for its DashLink ELD, the first of its kind electronic logging device (ELD).
“We have clients whose business is seasonal or that requires ELD compliance on occasion, but who have to subscribe to full service, which they don’t use all the time. With Pay-As-You-Drive, these drivers will have an easier path to compliance without the financial strain,” said Tony Lourakis, CEO of Fleet Complete and BigRoad.
The Canadian firm is also providing free hardware to new customers. It also comes without contracts or cancellation fees.
Poet
I’m liking most of the comments here..
As an immigrant myself, and having worked in our industry for almost 50 years, I will NOT shed any tears to see his backside disappearing into the next plane.
Ii have watched my industry go downhill with the influx of steering wheel holders.
I’m willing to bet that the majority of the 50K that signed his petition also voted for Trudeau.
As was mentioned, there is NO driver shortage.
There is, however, a shortage of pay/working conditions.
The turnover rate in Canada equals the % in the USA. And most has to do with pay & conditions. As well as being lied to during the recruitment process.
Over the years, I’ve learned that most recruiters lie just to fill empty seats.
And dispatchers run a close second.
Everyone stay safe.
Watch out for idiot 4wheelers
Ted
You’d think someone like that would be feeling a little bit of grattitude. I wish I only had to work 20 hours a week before I get some home time. Most people don’t even do their jobs while at work.
Heather Roberts
Ya know, I’m sorry, but he had a simple set of rules to follow to be allowed the privilege to work. He made the choice to go against those rules. I do not feel sorry for him one bit. If we dont follow the laws and rules that are set in place, we have consequences to pay, he is not special or any different. Suck it up and face dude, your choices, your fuck up, your loss. Too bad, so sad. …….Bye.
Bob is King
There’s a goat with your name on it waiting for you in India. Make sweet, sweet love to your goat.
Harry
Canadians follow the law. Simple is that mostly students working low wages under the table..
[email protected]
What is on his head?
Phil
A new Canadian motorcycle helmet