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Today’s Pickup: Why Canadian carrier Titanium hauled a load of N95 masks for free

When the cross-border trucking and logistics company learned that Home Depot had donated its shipment for federal emergency response efforts, the company decided to follow suit.

A tractor-trailer of Canadian trucking company Titanium Transportation Group delivers a truckload of N95 masks to a federal depot in Ottawa, Canada, on March 26. (Image: Titanium Transportation Group)


On March 26, a driver from Titanium Transportation Group picked up a truckload from The Home Depot in Cambridge, Ontario and delivered it more than 300 miles away in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. Neither the load or the destination was ordinary. The truckload of N95 face masks went to a federal Emergency Response Depot as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Also unusual: Home Depot donated the masks and Titanium transported them free of charge. Only the driver got paid.

“It was a small gesture,” Titanium Chief Operating Officer Marilyn Daniel told FreightWaves. “But it felt good to help.”

Home Depot had initially offered to pay Titanium to haul the N95s. But after learning of Home Depot’s donation, the cross-border trucking and logistics company decided to follow suit.


Did you know?

Just over 9,700 carloads of motor vehicles and parts moved on North American railroads in the week ending March 28 – a nearly 67% drop compared to a year earlier.

Quotable:

“We’re proud of how our team members have stepped up during this challenging time to make sure we continue fulfilling our critical mission of feeding people across America.” 

– Tyson Foods CEO Noel White on paying about $60 million in bonuses to truckers and frontline workers

In other news:

Engineer charged with derailing train over coronavirus fears


Prosecutors allege that an engineer intentionally derailed a train to target a U.S. Navy hospital ship over fears of the spread of COVID-19. (NBC San Diego)

Truckers must wear a mask or face a $1,000 fine in Laredo

A new ordinance in Laredo means that truck drivers face a $1,000 fine if they don’t wear facemasks. (Transportation Nation)

JPMorgan cuts estimates on trucking suppliers

JPMorgan has reduced its earnings estimates for truck and parts manufacturers because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. (Seeking Alpha)

Florida truck drivers complain that too many cars are on the road

Truckers in Florida say too many people are still driving passenger vehicles and making it harder to do their job making vital deliveries. (WFLA)

Final thoughts:

Titanium transported the N-95 masks for free even as the freight market weakens. It also hasn’t laid off employees, unlike some industry peers.


Hammer down, everyone!

2 Comments

  1. Corazon Reyes

    It is so heartwarming to see news on how a Home Depot at Cambridge, Ontario sent a truckload of N95 masks to Ottawa, Canada at no cost and that Titanium Transportation Group stepped up to have it delivered for free. We need more companies like these two to ease up the already crippling Covid-19 Pandemic. We salute you both.

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Nate Tabak

Nate Tabak is a Toronto-based journalist and producer who covers cybersecurity and cross-border trucking and logistics for FreightWaves. He spent seven years reporting stories in the Balkans and Eastern Europe as a reporter, producer and editor based in Kosovo. He previously worked at newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the San Jose Mercury News. He graduated from UC Berkeley, where he studied the history of American policing. Contact Nate at [email protected].