Truck Show, Canadian Style

TORONTO, Ontario — Living up to its title, Ontario Trucking Association’s “Truck World 2000” displayed the big picture of trucking, made room for aspects on the fringes that have nothing to do with moving freight, and wrapped up with what may have been one of Canadian trucking’s social events of the year (having something to with a wedding cake and rice).

The 400,000-square-foot exposition space in Toronto’s National Trade Centre at Exhibition Place allowed about 12,000 visitors to inspect the products and services of 500 exhibitors from Sept. 14 to 16. Industry participants included the makers of big rigs — Volvo, Mack, Freightliner, Western Star, General Motors and Peterbilt of Canada — and everything that goes on them, from transmissions and tires to paint, lubricants, mirrors and insurance. While the exhibits and seminars received the most interest, however, back in the far corners of the hall were segments of trucking that do not always get the same recognition as the industry’s leaders.

In one booth, the Canadian Tree Foundation hunted for sponsors. Chuck Geale attempted to convince trucking companies to donate money to plant trees. The foundation has been partnering in this endeavor with different industries since 1992. To date, it has planted 72 million trees, thanks to the help of sponsors like Shell Canada, Home Depot and Ikea.

Geale asked truck manufacturers to pledge money for every truck or trailer sold. He asked trucking companies to make donations based on the number of kilometers they run. When queried about the success of his efforts, he said, “They’re listening.”

For the full story, see the Sept. 25 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.