CANADA LABOUR CODE – OVERTIME RULES FOR CITY & HIGHWAY DRIVERS

We received a fax from HRSDC regarding a survey of movers that was done in the Ottawa area regarding overtime for drivers. It helps to define the difference between city and highway drivers. The Motor Vehicle Operators Hours of Work Regulations provides for two categories of operators:

• highway motor vehicle operators (highway drivers) who are entitled to overtime pay at time and a half after working 60 hours in a week; and,
• city motor vehicle operators (city drivers) who are entitled to overtime pay at time and a half after working either 9 hours in a day or 45 hours in a week.

The regulations state that a “highway motor vehicle operator” means a motor vehicle operator who is not a bus operator or a city motor vehicle operator.

The regulations also state that a “city motor vehicle operator” means a motor vehicle operator who operates exclusively within a 10-mile (16 km) radius of his home terminal and is not a bus operator and includes any motor vehicle operator who is classified as a city motor vehicle operator in a collective agreement entered into between his employer and a trade union acting on his behalf or who is not classified in any such agreement but is considered to be a city motor vehicle operator according to the prevailing industry practice in the geographical area where he is employed (emphasis added).

The complete fax can be seen in our members’ only area.

US HOURS OF SERVICE

The American Moving and Storage Association announced that the US Court of Appeals ruled that the FMCSA’s increase of permissible driving time from 10 to 11 hours in a 14-hour on-duty time period was arbitrary and capricious. The Court also found that the agency had not adequately justified the 34-hour restart provision and ordered the agency to vacate those portions of the rules.

The bottom line of the proceedings is that the Court's ruling will not become effective for at least 52 days. Existing Hours of Service Rules, including the 11-hour daily driving time limit and the 34-hour restart provision, will remain in place until at least September 14, 2007.

This may apply to any US operations you have. CAM will provide an update as soon as it’s available.

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

We sent out a survey to members asking about CAM’s performance. Some of the responses have given us ideas about additional value CAM could provide.

• Training programs
  • Operations
  • Administration
  • Warehouse
  • Drivers and helpers
  • Carrier liability, shipment valuation and claims settlement
  • Customer-service skills
• Sharing of best practices
• Product information and education
• A focus on lobbying government on moving concerns
• Government liaison to assist in eliminating rogue movers
• Additional industry-specific consumer advertising
• Green moving
• Establish a supplier committee
• Workers’ compensation optimization program

Thanks to all who have submitted these suggestions.

EMPLOYMENT

Many members reported that a labour shortage reduced their ability to service some opportunities this summer. CAM is currently working on several initiatives to assist. This summer we referred over one hundred students to members as part-time or summer workers. We are looking at ways to improve this and extend it beyond our current sources. In addition to our work in recruiting students, we have posted a generic job-opportunity ad on our website for van foremen/drivers. A student employment agency in the Toronto area has just joined CAM. This could be a source of additional labour for you.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS FORWARDERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA – 2007 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

HHGFAA will hold its 2007 Annual Conference in New York City from October 14 to 17. The title of the conference is “All the World’s a Stage.” The conference will focus on international relocations and will have extensive moving-industry related exhibits. Visit www.hhgfaameetings.org for complete information.

CAM’S MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY AND MAGAZINE

The summer 2007 issue of CAM’s magazine, The Canadian Mover, was mailed to you last month. If you didn’t get your copy or need an extra, please let us know.

NEW MEMBERS

CAM welcomes our new members who joined in the second quarter of 2007.

• International:|
  Ambassador Worldwide Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  International Moving Services, Dartford, Kent, United Kingdom
  Sea Speed Logistics Inc., Richmond, BC, Canada
   
• Movers:
  Any Size Moving, Brockville, ON
  Any Size Moving, Trenton, ON
  Capital Movers & Storage, Trenton, ON
  Capital Movers & Storage, Brockville, ON
  Capital Movers & Storage, Kingston, ON
  James the Mover Ltd., Hamilton, ON
  Trinity Moving Inc., Nepean, ON
  Two Men and a Truck – Oshawa, Oshawa, ON
  Walker's Van and Storage, Deep River, ON
  Walker's Van and Storage, North Bay, ON
   
• Suppliers:
  Great Little Box Company, Richmond, BC
  The Mover's Choice, Mississauga, ON
   
• Associations:
  National Council of Moving Associations (NCMA), Springfield, IL, USA

WEBSITE VISITOR STATISTICS

	July 2007	July 2006
Visits (number of times people visit CAM’s website)	18,137	13,332
Visitors (number of visitors)	5,737	4,806