National Trucking Week a huge success in Manitoba

MTA and RPM staff took part in this year’s successful National Trucking week celebrations, which included the VMC golf tournament, BBQ at the Headingley weigh station and the United Way truck pull at Assiniboine Park. The BBQ at the Headingley weigh station provided hotdogs, chips, drinks and a swag bag to all drivers from 10am to 2pm.

Winnipeg mascots, Special Olympics Manitoba Athletes and MTA members pull for a better Winnipeg in support of the United Way.

RPM staff members Stacey Wills (Safety Program Advisor) and Dave Gillis (Manager, RPM) were on site to distribute the food and drink and it was awesome to meet and talk to truckers from all over Canada. A lot of these drivers did not realize that it was National Trucking week and all of them were very appreciative of the free lunch and swag.

Thanks to Traction Heavy Duty parts for providing all the food, BBQs and staff to help cook and serve as well as MTA staff Vanda Curden-Ogbonnaya (Accounting/Office Administrator) and Danielle Ruttan (Outreach Coordin ator).

Over 400 hot dogs were served!

VMC golf tourney better than ever

Thank you to the 132 golfers who participated in this year’s Vehicle Maintenance Council (VMC) Golf Tournament!

Held at the Bridges Golf Course, trying out a new venue this year was definitely worth it!

Money raised from this golf tournament goes to the MTA Scholarship Fund. The Vehicle Maintenance Council takes great pride in supporting the scholarship fund, as we have seen firsthand the positive affects these scholarships provide students and our industry.

We look forward to seeing you at next year’s golf tournament, scheduled for September 4, 2019!

Manitoba Truck Convoy finds a new home
Danielle Ruttan, Outreach Coordinator, MTA

On September 22, Manitoba’s Truck Convoy for Special Olympics rolled away from its new home to start its 110 km trip around the Perimeter Highway. With 188 trucks and over $81,000 raised, this new location made it possible to have the best convoy to date.

The TransCanada Centre in Ile Des Chenes, Manitoba was home to this year’s convoy due to infrastructure upgrades near the Oak Bluff location. Upon learning of the project, the Convoy Committee immediately began seeking a new location, not having one this year was not an option.

Once the TransCanada Centre was approached and learned of the cause and the event, there was no holding them back. They recruited volunteers from the community to participate by cooking breakfast for over 500 attendees, worked tirelessly to prepare the venue, and even agreed to join the planning committee. Their support and the community buy-in were keys to this year’s success (and for future events).

It takes an army of volunteers to prepare a day such as this and Darren Anderson, Manager, Law Enforcement Torch Run & Partnerships could not have been happier. He said, “Special Olympics Manitoba is so grateful for the support from the trucking industry and provincial law enforcement that resulted in our best results to date. To have such incredible buy-in from the community of Ile Des Chenes was the icing on the cake.”

Convoy volunteers arrive just after 6:00 am and begin by cooking breakfast and getting trucks staged. You cannot imagine the amount of coordination and manpower it takes to park
188 trucks along a stretch of highway and get everyone to the hall and back again, twice! Many in this dedicated group have been volunteering for years, and it’s their commitment and experience that makes each year’s event better than its predecessor.

Drivers and athletes form a bond at the Convoy, and every year they come together again like the best of friends. The joy, camaraderie and noise levels in the hall are true testaments to the friendships created at the convoy. The passion drivers have for this event is amazing, as most are highway drivers who have little home time. Yet they come out every year, often with their families to support Manitoba’s Athletes.

A convoy cannot happen without enforcement and there was no shortage of that on the day the convoy rolled. Matt Bassett, Motor Carrier Enforcement Office, Chair of World’s Largest Truck Convoy, commented, “It’s amazing to see the trucking community and local law enforcement coming together in true partnership. Working together can have astonishing results and we can see that in our success. The true heroes of this event are the men and women of the trucking community. Thank you for your dedication and enthusiasm, this event would not be possible without you.”

New to this year’s convoy was the Team Award. Earlier in the year, Special Olympics was approached by Mario Tyszuk, a driver from Bison Transport, about a driver-based team he had formed that would donate a day’s pay towards their pledging efforts.

“High Five for Special Lives” was created and this team of 25 drivers raised over $4,000. The team concept gives drivers the opportunity to feel more connected to the event throughout the year as they continue their pledging efforts year round. As a team, they are creating awareness and friendships amongst their peers, the athletes, and industry. The Committee is excited by this concept and has already been approached for the creation of new teams.

Awards presented at the end of the day included:

• Lead Truck - Murray Manuliak;
• Most Trucks Entered - Bison Transport;
• Team Award - Hi-5 Team for Special Lives, Bison Transport; and
• Athletes Choice - REK/Wildwood Transport.

Manitoba Special Olympics, The Manitoba Trucking Association and Manitoba’s Law Enforcement Torch Run would like to thank the community of Ile des Chenes, the volunteers, the drivers, the sponsors, and everyone who was waving along the Perimeter Highway for their support of Manitoba’s Athletes and Manitoba’s Truck Convoy for Special Olympics. See you September 14, 2019 at the TransCanada Centre!

Sponsors

Company Level
MTA - Associated Trades Division Presenting
Arnold Brothers Transport Platinum
Freightliner Manitoba Platinum
Western Turbo/First Class Training Centre Platinum
FedEx Gold
Keystone Western Gold
TransX Group of Companies Gold
Dr. Hook Gold
Custom Truck Sales Inc. Lunch
Penner International Inc. Silver
Wildwood Transport Silver
Ocean Trailer Silver
Fort Garry Industries Silver
Kleysen Group Ltd Silver
Essen Silver
Beaver Truck Centre Silver
Turk Enterprises Silver
Agri-Fresh Silver
Eastside Heavy Truck Collision Ltd. Bronze
Staebler Insurance Bronze
Payne Transportation Ltd. Bronze
Denray Tire Bronze
Searcy Trucking Ltd. Bronze
Bison Transport Bronze
Wolseley Canada Bronze