Discussions

The class 1 driver training center in my small town is training at least 10 new drivers through their theory this morning.  
If new hires and immigrants don’t fill those positions then self driving delivery trucks in the near future will.

" No, the unemployed are not filling up the vacancies. "  
is that of the employment conditions (wages/benefits, hours, pensions etc) and the hours spent away from home and families. The conditions of roadside facilities and there availability and as farmergeorge says training. As in many areas of the world, Covid has caused problems with driving instruction and testing, backlogs in the system are not helping, but as things ease then the newer drivers will come on stream.

" No, the unemployed are not filling up the vacancies. "  
is that of the employment conditions (wages/benefits, hours, pensions etc) and the hours spent away from home and families. The conditions of roadside facilities and there availability and as farmergeorge says training. As in many areas of the world, Covid has caused problems with driving instruction and testing, backlogs in the system are not helping, but as things ease then the newer drivers will come on stream.

It is absolutely pointless to take this convoy all the way across the country to Ottawa. Why? Because even if our Canadian government decided to listen and reverse their mandate, it would not change anything. The US now has a similar mandate in place. So-our unvaxxed drivers are not going to get into the US.  
 
While I'd like to see everyone get the vaccine, I don't think it makes any difference at all if a small percentage of truckers are not vaccinated. With omicron now pretty much everywhere across Canada, none of us need to worry about being around an unvaxxed truck driver. We can just go to one of the stores here, get too close to the wrong person, and come away with the virus. The supply chain has enough problems already, we don't need more drivers and trucks taken out of the equation.

So to answer your question MPH “ am I volunteering? “ Why would I ? I have put in my 35 years and am now retired. And in those 35 years the pattern has always been the same. When some one gives up or loses a decent paying job there has always been someone to step up and fill it and this will be no different in the end. So like I’ve mentioned before if you’re not part of the solution to end this pandemic then you’re part of the problem that keeps it dragging on. Most of the country wants a normal life again as opposed to filling up the hospitals with unvaxed Covid patients.

What is your point? Or do you just feel the need to disagree with someone.  
 
Small town driving centers? Future self driving trucks? Bringing in immigrants and forcing our citizens out of jobs?  
 
Is this all you got to the support the constant cries of the trucking industry that there is a lack of truck drivers?

just a rehash of the 2019 convoy. It's just being used as another chance for the anti-vaxx, anti-Trudeau, anti-immigration, pro oil and gas, anti-abortion and the list goes on. The claim that they are for our rights and freedoms is BS. They are only doing this for their own version of rights and freedoms.

Whenever someone leaves a position or chooses to not work someone else or a technical advancement will always replace them.  
Workers have to comply with health and safety requirements. This is no different. Those that can should get vaccinated and get to work like the rest of us.

Amen Farmer George.

keep saying it's historical, isn't that what they were saying about the one in 2019 as well?  
 
In a week it will be a distant memory.  
 
I don't support this convoy because of the political messaging that is all imbedded with it. If it was a convoy in support of Special Olympics, Canadian Cancer Society or one of the many other organization that actually help people. Then I would be in full support!! And to say to anyone who doesn't support this convoy doesn't support the trucking industry at all is absolutely wrong!! The trucking industry is just one tooth in the supply chain gear.

I haven’t read this whole thread nor will I. I really hadn’t been too involved with learning about what they all are protesting. I don’t agree with them about the vaccine mandate that I know. I support that idea.  
 
What turns me off and makes my blood boil is a photo I saw posted today by a family member of mine. It was of the convoy and in it there was Canadian flags turned upside down. This! This right here will turn me right off to any cause they may be trying to get attention to. That right there will never be something I will support and ever give the time of day to. So tonight I leave the tv off. No news in this house. I don’t want or care what they have to say because I have no respect for their opinion one bit.

This needs a like button!!  
 
I also have lots of family and friends who are gushing with love for this convoy.  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2022-01-25 18:39:33

As others have said, it's never entirely been about anti-vaxx agenda! It's about protecting our freedoms and getting mandates lifted so we can get back to a sense of normal like many countries are doing. It's supporting health care, federal, provincial and every other kind of worker out there who wants to (with their own discretion), make the decision about what they put in their bodies.  
 
But having anything but a peaceful rally is forbidden. It's really about uniting Canada, whether you trust the shot or not. As the poster said above, the displaying of our flag upside down, that is a whole new "sect" and story! Very angering, and should be dealt with harshly. Our forefathers fought for freedoms here, and that flag is a good reminder.  
 
PS...( I am vaxxed).  
 
Edited by No Comment, 2022-01-25 19:38:30

Waste of time, waste of energy, waste of fuel, dangerous on the highway ….all to protest what? Many industries and businesses are making vaccine a requirement so why should this small group of truckers be any different? Its time for the “big tough truckers” to put in their big boy pants and realize that sometimes there are rules you need to follow for the safety of society. Imagine what they would say if anybody could get a job driving semi without proper training!! They’d be all over that demanding the government step in for the sake of safety. Just a bunch of hillbilly hippocrites!

While I don't necessarily agree with the whole mandate, people do realize that if the Canadian government drops the mandate, all that does is open the door for more American truckers to haul freight into Canada?  
 
The US government is the one making it mandatory for Canadian truckers to be vaccinated to enter the US. So this whole protest is noting more than a waste of time and energy just like the carbon tax protests a few years ago. Plus if Canada dropped the mandate than expect more American truckers hauling freight into Canada to fill the void, which will have a negative effect on the industry.  
 
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-vaccine-mandate-freight-drivers-coming-canada-may-exacerbate-auto-s-rcna12649

I’ll assume you guys have not bothered to google why the flag is flown upside down? Or does it upset you that they feel the flag should be flown upside down right now?

While most of you feel the need to devalue the people that are participating in the covoy you all need to think about your daily life and what you consume. Pretty much everything we use has been on a truck a few times before it hits the store. Its pretty easy to be a keyboard warrior but put yourself in a truckers boots i bet you would think differently.

like to think the country is in distress. But that is only their opinion because they think we should be under a conservative dictatorship. But they are still flying the flag against the rules for flying the national flag of Canada.  
 
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-etiquette/flying-rules.html  
 
Edited by Trevor B, 2022-01-25 21:41:00

Yes Greenman I know exactly what it means. Read Trevor’s link.  
 
I have zero respect for people with zero respect.

by these brave freedom fighters struggling against tyranny. I will use my newfound freedom and perhaps drill for oil in my front yard (my property, my freedom). No oil, perhaps I can operate a rendering plant out of my garage. After all, it's my property, and no one has any right to tell me what I can and can't do.  
 
Still, I feel a little taken, as I was vaccinated when I was a kid so that I could go to school, in spite of my freedom. I was also stupid enough to get a driver's licence and a SIN card, because I wasn't aware freedom meant I could do anything I want.  
 
Now I know.

I support the truck drivers and it looks like a lot of other Canadians also support them to the tune of $2.7 million in a gofundme for their food, fuel and lodging.  
Keep on truckin.

That might be the best post ever. I might drill for gravy in my front yard. Hope those truckers find a cliff for a Thelma and Louise ending.

Please quit the conservative thing .  
I am a conservative but I wholeheartedly do not support this movement or any disruptive protest, especially a protest that prevents people going about their normal business from crossing number 1 highway for 20 minutes.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2022-01-25 23:19:54

I have a class 1 licence with air endorsement and I own and drive a semi truck. I do not support this protest in any way and their disruptive behaviour does not represent me or my opinions and beliefs and it does not represent the opinion of most Canadian truck drivers or have their support. Those taking part should be taken off the road and stripped of their licence.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2022-01-25 23:37:11

Was the organizer of the Go Fund Me from the Onanole area?

Farmergeorge, how do you feel when the party you voted for doesn’t win the election.  
Your opinion, and it is just your opinion, seems to be extreme, but that is just my opinion.

Are you a long haul truck driver that basically live in their truck farmer george? Its a bit extreme to strip them of their class 1 over participating in a peaceful rally. From the crowds of supporters along the highway yesterday seems theres quite a few people that support the convoy.

The funds are frozen until explanation is clear on what funds will be used for.  
 
And don’t go by money raised to support.  
 
Last news from go fund me stated little more than 51,000 contributors That hardly a majority in Canada.  
 
Flying Canada flag up downside is wrong.  
 
Comparing to holocaust is wrong.  
 
Adding on every cause they can think of just makes the protest ridiculous.  
 
Vaccine mandates are everywhere truckers had lots of time to get vaccinated this isn’t a surprise.  
 
USA doesn’t allow unvaccinated truckers into states so the Canadian rule prevents unvaccinated truckers including American ones to enter our country.  
 
As to crowds watching ever think some just want to see the semi go by. Especially people with children.

It’s not a peaceful rally. It’s a disruptive and divisive protest supposedly against a perfectly sensible government vaccination policy designed to prevent spread of covid 19. A government policy strongly supported by the majority of Canadians and the majority of truck drivers. Again most truck drivers and their major organizations do not support this protest.  
As for crowds of supporters along the highway it really wasn’t many, a few confused and irrational people that probably should know better and likely had nothing better do do with their day.  
I note that raised funds have been withheld amidst questions over proper distribution of donations. News reports also show that some dubious characters have joined the convoy making it a splintered protest group with differing and concerning reasons for taking part which may raise some morality questions going forward.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2022-01-26 07:30:39