Heroes of the Highway

4 SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020 SPECIAL SECTION HEROES HIGHWAY OF THE T hat point has been driven home during the current COVID-19 pandemic. While we may not be able to dine at our favour- ite restaurants or check out the latest Hollywood blockbuster in a theatre, most of the essential goods we rely on, including groceries, have remained readily available thanks in no small part to the efforts of the more than 15,000 truck drivers who help keep the province's supply chain functioning. "I commonly say trucks and truck drivers are like trees. They are all around you, but you normally don't really pay them much attention. But if they all of a sudden disappeared, man, you would notice," says Terry Shaw, executive direc- tor of the Manitoba Trucking Association. "Trucking is an essential service. It always has been. It's unfortunate it took a pandemic for a lot of folks to kind of realize how critical it is and just how important truck drivers are to our daily lives." Since the pandemic began, people and busi- nesses across the province have stepped up to show their support for those drivers. That's included personal gestures such as of- fering to pick up and deliver groceries to them. A number of rural hotels, such as the Carberry Motor Inn and the Morris Stampede Inn, have also offered drivers access to their facilities so they can grab a shower or just relax during some downtime. Charlene Robertson, who works at the Car- berry Motor Inn, says drivers can use a designat- ed room at the motel to clean up or eat a meal. A minimal $5 charge covers the cost of disinfecting the room between users. Robertson says the idea of supplying truckers with a place to rest and recharge seemed like a no-brainer to the motel's staff. "It didn't seem like anyone else was opening up for them. And the fact is, if it wasn't for truck drivers a lot of people wouldn't have anything to eat," she explains. "We're just trying to help." Finding a place to eat has become problematic for many truck drivers during the pandemic. Many restaurants they would normally frequent were forced to close because of social-distancing regula- tions or lack of personal protective equipment. Shaw says that's why the trucking industry is so appreciative of the efforts being made by many restaurants, including locally-owned eat- eries and national chains like Tim Hortons, Swiss Chalet and McDonalds, to accommodate drivers. Those efforts have included specialized phone apps for placing an order, curbside delivery and even walk-up service for commercial drivers who can't use a drive-through. Meanwhile, some industry suppliers, including Fort Garry Industries, Maxim Truck & Trailer and Ocean Trailer, have hosted "thank-you" barbecues for drivers where they can grab a free bite to eat and get some well-deserved praise for their con- tinued work. "It's all been really heartwarming and really positive," Shaw adds. "Within our industry and outside the industry we've had a whole bunch of really good stories like that." As positive as those developments have been, Shaw stresses there is more that still needs to be done to ensure the trucking industry and drivers can continue to deliver much-needed goods to Manitobans. He says there continues to be a great need for more rest stops where drivers can get out of their vehicles and relax. The same goes for hand-washing stations and shower facilities, which are scarce in many locales. As part of an effort to highlight those needs, the Canadian Trucking Alliance and member organizations like the MTA recently embarked on the new "Thank a Trucker" social media cam- paign (cantruck.ca/thank-a-trucker). The aim of the campaign is twofold — to thank truck drivers for the essential work they do and generate more public awareness of what they require to do their job. It's received some high- profile support from Canadians across the country including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Hicks. Hicks wore a #ThankATrucker T-shirt at a recent press briefing. "It's an opportunity to keep trucking and truck drivers on the radar and to celebrate those who are assisting them. Hopefully, the good news will spread and the good work that those who are supporting our truck drivers will spread as well," Shaw says. SALUTING OUR ESSENTIAL DRIVERS The trucking industry plays a pivotal role in keeping the Manitoba economy rolling, contributing more than $2 billion annually to the province's gross domestic product, according to some estimates. M TA P H OTO S Appreciation barbecues for Manitoba's truck drivers have been hosted recently by companies including Fort Garry Industries (top) and Ocean Trailer (right). THANK YOU TO MANITOBA TRUCKERS FOR KEEPING US GOING. NIKI ASHTON Member of Parliament Churchill–Keewatinook Aski niki.ashton@parl.gc.ca THOMPSON 1-866-669-7770 THE PAS 1-866-785-0522 TR ANSPORT CRITIC, CANADA'S NDP BY JIM TIMLICK #ThankYouTruckers For getting families the food and goods they need in a pandemic! Danielle Adams MLA for Thompson danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca Nello Altomare MLA for Transcona nello.altomare@yourmanitoba.ca Uzoma Asagwara MLA for Union Station uzoma.asagwara@yourmanitoba.ca Diljeet Brar MLA for Burrows diljeet.brar@yourmanitoba.ca Ian Bushie MLA for Keewatinook ian.bushie@yourmanitoba.ca Nahanni Fontaine MLA for St. Johns nahanni.fontaine@yourmanitoba.ca Amanda Lathlin MLA for The Pas-Kameesak amanda.lathlin@yourmanitoba.ca Tom Lindsey MLA for Flin Flon tom.lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca Jim Maloway MLA for Elmwood jim.maloway@yourmanitoba.ca Malaya Marcelino MLA for Notre Dame malaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca Jamie Moses MLA for St. Vital jamie.moses@yourmanitoba.ca Lisa Naylor MLA for Wolseley lisa.naylor@yourmanitoba.ca Adrien Sala MLA for St. James adrien.sala@yourmanitoba.ca Mintu Sandhu MLA for The Maples mintu.sandhu@yourmanitoba.ca Bernadette Smith MLA for Point Douglas bernadette.smith@yourmanitoba.ca Mark Wasyliw MLA for Fort Garry mark.wasyliw@yourmanitoba.ca Matt Wiebe MLA for Concordia matt.wiebe@yourmanitoba.ca Wab Kinew MLA for Fort Rouge wab.kinew@yourmanitoba.ca "If it wasn't for truck drivers, a lot of people wouldn't have anything to eat. We're just trying to help." — CHARLENE ROBERTSON, CARBERRY MOTOR INN

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