Page 8 - Newcom

News Briefs
Torc eyes driverless truck
commercialization by ’27
(Photo: Torc Robotics)
Torc Robotics has announced the suc-
cessful completion of fully autonomous
product validation completed earlier this
year, as it drives toward a 2027 commer-
cial launch.
The company – an independent
subsidiary of Daimler Truck – ran its
autonomous trucks without a driver in a
multi-lane, closed-course environment.
The trucks ran at up to 105 km/h in tests
designed to demonstrate the company’s
readiness for a scalable product release.
“Artificial intelligence has undoubt-
edly been the biggest buzzword of the
year, but real-world uses are few and far
between,” said Torc’s chief technology
officer, CJ King. “Autonomous trucking is
one of the most concrete applications for
AI that can drive demonstrated revenue,
business value and industry transfor-
mation – and Torc is at the forefront of
creating a safe autonomous solution with
scalability and profitability top of mind.”
Humber to shutter driver
training program
Humber College will shut down its
Commercial Truck Driving Program
at the end of this year, citing changing
market conditions that have made the
program unsustainable.
The program, which has trained
Ontario’s commercial truck drivers for
more than 30 years, will officially close
on Dec. 31, Humber’s communications
director Emily Milic said in an email
to Today’s Trucking.
“Due to ongoing enrollment challeng-
8 TODAY’S TRUCKING
es in a highly competitive landscape,
Humber Polytechnic has made the dif-
ficult decision to close the commercial
truck driving program,” she said. “Market
conditions have changed along with a
significant increase in program delivery
costs, and it is no longer feasible to offer
this program.”
Trucking HR recognizes
Top Fleet Employers
More than 100 Canadian trucking com-
panies were recognized Oct. 17 as the
top employers in the sector. The awards
were doled out during Trucking HR
Canada’s Top Fleet Employers awards
gala in Toronto. There were 104 fleets
recognized in the 11th year of the pro-
gram, which celebrates those companies
that are the best places to work in the
trucking and logistics sector, thanks to
their HR practices.
“The Top Fleet Employers awards gala
is the highlight of Trucking HR Canada’s
year, giving us a chance to come togeth-
er and celebrate with the country’s top
fleets,” CEO Angela Splinter said in a
release. “The Top Fleet Employers pro-
gram keeps growing every year, demon-
strating the industry’s desire to continue
reaching high standards of HR excellence
in operations, champion best practices
across the industry, and position the sec-
tor as a rewarding workplace.”
Four fleets were singled out as best
in class. They were: Classic Freight
Transport (small fleet category); Polaris
Transportation Group (medium-sized
fleet); XTL Transport (top large fleet);
and Walmart Fleet ULC (private fleet
services).
There were also nine companies rec-
ognized as Achievement of Excellence
Award winners for excelling in specific
areas. These include: Steve’s Livestock
Transport (employee engagement);
Wellington Group of Companies (HR
innovation); Challenger Motor Freight
(HR leadership); Bison Transport
(training and skills development); XTL
Transport (community engagement);
Armour Transportation Systems (women
in the workplace); Parkland Corp. (work-
place culture); KAG Canada (diversity
and inclusion); and Rosenau Transport
(workplace wellness and mental health).
Trucking HR Canada also commend-
ed the following fleets for being 10-time
recipients of the awards: Challenger
Motor Freight; Edge Transportation
Services; Liberty Linehaul; Linamar
Transportation; Ryder Canada Supply
Chain Solutions; and Triton Transport.
The organization notes the program is
not a “contest,” but rather a recognition
program. Selected fleets are evaluated “to
ensure they meet a rigorous standard in
multiple criteria.” Driver feedback is also
considered.
A packed house gathered to celebrate 104 trucking companies
with exemplary workplaces Oct. 17. (Photo: James Menzies)