Trucker Freedom Convoy 2022 and Covid-19 mandates: My Two Cents

In this article I will be detailing my side/opinion about the Trucker Freedom Convoy of 2022 as well as the covid-19 vaccine mandate and how people are affected by it; a brief introduction of how it started and what measures took place up to this point. I will also provide what I think the future will be like for Canadians as I am Canadian.

When Covid-19 started back in April 2020, the government implemented policies such as: lockdowns all businesses that were deemed non-essential were forced to close, this included restaurants, clubs, movie theaters and gyms to name a few. Lockdowns and curfews were in place as well. Next, that number of people allowed inside essential places like grocery stores namely Walmart, Loblaws, Superstore was reduced and people had to wait outside in long lines. When people went inside to shop they had to wear a mask that covered their face entirely, as well sanitizers were placed in the front of the store and anyone coming in was asked to sanitize their hands. 

Employees were also mandated to wear the mask during their shift. At that time, no one really knew what this virus was aside from what the media portrayed, which is that it is a deadly cold virus that can kill you. The public followed the media and government regulations. 

Slowly lockdowns were lifted, restrictions started to ease but masks still remain mandatory and now, this extreme forceful push for people to take an experimental vaccine. Draconian and barbaric measures in my opinion.

We are now in 2022, and still masks are mandatory, anyone who wants to sit down and eat somewhere, go to a gym, concert, club or bar  must show proof that they are fully vaccinated and still they have to wear the mask when walking inside a public place. My question, if you are fully vaccinated, why the mask? Shouldn’t the vaccinated be protected against covid-19?  Why worry about sitting down next to someone who did not take the vaccine? 

We are entering the third year of masks, restrictions and it is exhausting. The new rules state basically that if a person wants to work they have to be fully vaccinated or they risk losing their jobs, some have even been fired. This is a form of dictatorship, Canada is a free nation and people should have the right to choose whether they want to be vaccinated or not. The companies that manufactured this vaccine; Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson to name a few are now indemnified for any side effects due to the vaccine. This does not fill me with confidence, I say run for the hills. 

The other extreme side of these mandates is the idea of a vaccine passport which to me is something inconceivable in a free nation like Canada. If this passes, then medical records of people will be mixed in with politics, as well as exposed to anyone and to me this is dangerous and potentially will cause a risk of an extreme rebellion between citizens and government. Why do we need this? 

Now regarding the trucker freedom convoy of 2022, truckers are the backbone of our economy. We would have nothing to eat, no medicine or any products at all, without their tireless efforts being out there at all hours, all days transporting products for us. 

I support them fully in their efforts to cancel mandates which dictate and force truckers who cross the border into our neighbor USA  be fully vaccinated against covid-19. 

Even though some of these drivers are vaccinated, they are protesting against the segregation the mandates are creating between the vaccinated and the non vaccinated, the fact that the freedom of choice and the right to choose has been taken away by the government. No entity should dictate how a person should live, also their medical history should not be disclosed unless they voluntarily choose to do so.  

These mandates in my opinion are creating hate and a form of segregation among people, and at the same time jobs are being forcibly lost, people are losing their homes because of coercion to take an experimental vaccine. 

The mandates have created extreme polarization and made people more politicized than ever, and for something that has a 99% survival rate if a person is healthy, and their immune system is not compromised. 

The mask has become ridiculous to the point that I see people walking outside, driving their cars wearing a mask. The government has brainwashed these people into thinking that no matter where you are the virus will hunt you down and get you sick! Yes, it is airborne, but so is a cold which every human on the planet has had. Also, the mask only minimizes the  exposure to droplets in the air if a person sneezes or coughs in an open area and they happen to be sick. Again, common cold strains have the exact same effect. 

From the videos that I have seen on social media, Canada is being supported on a global worldwide scale and this shows the support, powerful and indestructible stand in unity against these unfair, extreme mandates the Trucker Freedom Convoy 2022 has created.This event will be historic and epic I believe as it is supported worldwide. I wonder how the government of Canada can stand up to that? The Majority of Canadians I believe are in support of this fight to end the mandates and restore the freedom of choice to take the vaccine or not. 

A person should not be judged on their medical history which should remain confidential and only disclosed by choice. Can a boss ask a female employee if she is pregnant or has STDs ? If she says yes, can he fire her? NO! The same applies to are you vaccinated or not?

Another extreme consequence to the vaccine mandate is the fact that it does not end with two doses or three, from my research boosters will become mandatory to take as new variants of the virus develop. The “boosters” are like software updates fixing bugs, harmless for software but deadly to humans, how much can the human body take? In addition, if you don’t take the boosters the status changes to unvaccinated, this will cause more harm than good.    

In conclusion, I believe this has gone on too long, and it needs to end where people are given a choice to take the vaccine or not, without their livelihood being threatened. So I say NO to the mandates and YES to freedom of choice. Our lives must return to normal, no more masks, no more mandates, no more segregation. The cancellation of these mandates will shape our future as a nation which we all want it to be a good one. 

The Trucker Freedom Convoy of 2022, represents to me freedom of choice not anti or pro vaccine. It’s an action against the vaccine mandate which forces truckers and regular people in the workplace to take something experimental into their bodies by force and coercion, and to disclose their personal medical history again forcefully or lose their jobs. We need this mandate revoked for good! 

 

 

 

 

  

Trucking Life Style

 Trucking Lifestyle

When I started trucking and living life on the road in 2015, it was a complete mystery to me as to how things worked in transport, why things were done the way they were and I had to learn a new trade in a sense. I quickly learned that all consumer products are transported by truck, also the different processes when loading/offloading commodities. In addition, customs rules about different commodities and the type of documents shippers and receivers have to prepare especially for cross border. 

In my opinion, it is much easier to stay in your own country and do runs than to cross the border as there are less rules and work to do. 

This taught me a lot about the transport system and how it works in North America, the rules, the way products are handled and how they eventually end up on the shelf in the store. 

The rules are so micromanaged to control and ensure the right people are doing this job, also it is an integral part of public safety especially today. I never imagined the work involved in the transport industry, the different levels of standards that shippers/ customers have as well as the expectations they want from carriers. 

Even drivers are different in terms of how they see their job, depending on which company they work for and if they are company drivers or owner operators. (see below) Also, the pay scale (rate per mile) plays a major role.

I learned that not all drivers see trucking as a lifestyle, but more of a job that pays better than a 9to5 traditional common work. I learned that one has to be positioned for this job, have minimum cost and it will actually be good.   

 

Downside to Cross Border: One cannot bring food such as fruits and vegetables, nothing cooked at home either, the only thing allowed was chips, cookies, bread and cheese but it had to be sealed and bought from Walmart; most of the food out there is not always the healthiest and can be costly. Also, if you have dietary restrictions because of health or preference,(kosher) cross border will be a challenge since the food is pretty much all processed; in this case choose the shortest lanes or don’t cross the border.   

Unless you run under your own authority (owning equipment, and choosing destinations) you may have the time to plan a stop at a Walmart and buy healthy food. 

Different Types of Drivers:

Company Driver(s) VS Owner Operator

Company Driver: you work for a carrier and you drive their trucks and they plan your routes and control your income. You could be in an assigned truck where only you drive it (different carriers have various rules about this) generally, and in essence you move into it, you have to follow their pre-mandated off time if you have a contract. Your rate per mile is fixed by the carrier.

Depending on the carrier and their pay scale will determine how much your check will be. 

Many new unfavorable rules are being introduced for company drivers making them just existing, but better than 9to5. The carrier is in control and depending on whether they are efficient, fair in load distribution will determine the drivers money.

Categories of Company Drivers: 

Company Slipseat: every time you go out on the road you get a different truck. The main issue with this is these trucks are driven to shit by different drivers and they are not always mechanically good, APU (heater/AC) does not always work. Also, they are not always the cleanest as many different people use them.  

A major point is the mattress on the bunk which is used by different drivers and can be quite dirty and gross since it is rarely changed;  some of these drivers may have pets, this could result in bed bugs, allergy issues and more. Unless you are part time and just take with you the bare essentials for a trip, this may not be the best option for you. Also, slipseat usually get shorter lanes, the idea behind this is the truck is always moving. This is the worst due to cleanliness and mechanical issues since you never know the condition of the truck you will get, depending on how well the carrier maintains the trucks.  

Company Assigned: A driver can move his stuff into it, and it is assigned to him. Depending on carrier policies other drivers might use it if there are no available trucks, so be warned your stuff may be handled by a stranger. Sometimes if the carrier respects the driver they will phone him/her to inform them that their truck will be used but his belongings will not be touched, other carriers don’t do anything they just take it and assign it to another driver.  

Truck Share:  Two drivers share a truck and each week one of them takes it on a trip, or whatever time period they agree on. They could agree to buy certain things such as water and ensure the truck is equipped with what it needs, like washer fluids, also the maintenance is up to date so they don’t have delays.

Owner Operator (Take Own Loads): They have their own DOT number,(USA cross border) permits to haul certain freight in certain states, their own company name/logo.  They take their own loads and run under their own authority, their own company. They own their truck and sometimes even trailer and have their own broker to clear loads if they are doing cross border. These guys are in the best tier as they decide when they want to go out and which destination by using apps online. All the money per mile goes to them minus fuel cost and they have no third parties, they never wait for missing documents as they are the point of contact. As long as they can maintain their truck in top condition they pretty much rule.  Now, one must have business mentality and be able to save up for truck maintenance, have the minimum cost in their life, like no mortgage, car payments and so on to be in this tier of trucking, since there may not always be enough steady work to pay those bills and repairs on a truck are extremely costly. 

 

Owner Operator(with carrier):The carrier's logo, DOT# (department of transportation if crossing to the USA)  they need to get steady work and have to be on the road more if they have bills, or truck payments and their off-time may be dictated depending on who they are working with. Their destinations are also dictated, but, in some cases they can refuse loads if they see them as unprofitable, or too much wait time. I heard in some cases when they have to wait for a reload back to Canada, they drop empty trailers in truck stops and go take a load from an app then head home. They are responsible for their truck to be well maintained and also the fuel costs.   

As a passenger, I was taught the administration aspect of the job which to me was about 70% of the work especially if you are doing cross border long haul. There is customs paperwork to submit to what we call a broker which basically clears the shipment you are hauling so you can cross the border. In a nutshell they explain to either the US or CDN border who is hauling what and from where and how much. 

The best thing for me was that we experienced every aspect from the good and the bad together which gave us a sense of adventure as well as commonality in terms of the run and what happened on the road. We always came up with ideas on how to best handle not so favourable situations that can happen when you run out of hours and have to stop at a different place than planned due to traffic, customer delays in loading or unloading. Waking up and making coffee in the morning at a truck stop and the adventure of what we will face on any given day is an experience on its own. I also got to see first hand cars and how they drive recklessly and end up in accidents, how they do everything but drive, for example some eat. Others are surfing the net, doing their makeup, but for the most part they are on their cell phone. 

One thing to note, if a driver makes it to being owner operator they will never want to go back to company again, as you quickly realize the money compared to owner operator does not measure up.  Carriers in my opinion prefer company drivers since they can implement any rules they want on them and most cannot leave as easily, but, an owner operator has more flexibility to jump carriers or take his own loads if their cost is minimum. 

Travel Center/Truck Stops: Basically a place where truckers can park for overnight (10hrs off-duty, reset) buy food, any minor things they might need such as a cell phone charger, bedding, and tools for the truck. Each location varies by restaurant, number of parking spaces, number of showers. Now most of the truck stops have their own kitchen and they make their own food from hot chicken to sandwiches, salads and more.   

Major chains: Pilot/Flying J (USA and Canada) , Loves (USA only), TA/Petro (Ontario and USA) each is unique by their points system which can be used to pay for parking, showers. Loves is the only one where points can be used in the store to buy food or anything available.

Each has its own logo and Pilot/Flying J has food they make themselves in their kitchen 

Another smaller favorite but unique to Minnesota and Wisconsin is Kwik Trip: healthier food choices and a mini grocery store where they also have their own kitchen which was our favorite but they are only located in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Most of the time any place we would stop had food available we never went hungry! 

 

Some truck stops have paid parking only; these are mainly local to the state. Also showers may not be available or if they are there is a fee. 

Customer service in the USA was second to none as they always greet you with: Welcome to Loves, Welcome to Flying J/Pilot and everything and anything you need is available from cell phone chargers to basic truck parts like antennas, fuses, to toiletries in case you run out.

Comparison to Canadian Truck Stops: Husky/Esso BVD we are catching up and some locations have been renovated, downside food is criminally expensive as most truckers who drive Canada runs (no crossing) buy their food at Walmart/Superstore and I believe these places sometimes close quite early so food is expensive. 

Paid Tourist/Photographer 

This part of trucking I took advantage of as I was a passenger. Whenever we reseted, or stopped for the night at a unique travel center, we felt like paid tourists as we got to experience and see really cool places and at the same time buy cool souvenirs. 

The beautiful scenery driving along route to certain destinations was also a huge advantage to take pictures, specifically mountainous areas, touristic areas like California. 

This allowed us to actually temporarily experience life in the different areas we drove to and see how people live, the type of houses, streets, stores and more.    

Along route no matter the destination, trucking can turn you into a photographer, since you never know what can happen when, suddenly an accident on the road can happen out of the blue and generally it’s a four wheeler (trucker term for car) who was distracted on their cell phone, was not paying attention to the road and caused an accident, other factors contributing to major accidents are weather which mainly happens during the winter months as the roads are snowy and icy, in some areas the roads are so bad the city has to close them down. 

Some of the most memorable visits were ones where we took numerous pictures and videos, dined in restaurants and saw attractions considered iconic. 

Depending on the destination we were assigned would determine what places we saw and wherever we were resetting (taking our 36hrs off before we can go back to work again), would reflect the attractions and activities we did and saw, this is if we did not come home. 

Part of the off time when living on the road, is renting a car and exploring the place you are in which can give you a glimpse of what life is like there. We did that in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. 

Canada

June 2019 Pride Parade of Downtown Toronto 

We were on a reset in Toronto and it was June 2019, hot and sunny weather, lots of people mingling about in the streets and the malls in the downtown core as it is known. We went to Eaton's Center and made out like bandits with souvenirs, as well dined on some great food before we proceeded to go and see the Pride Parade of 2019. Many of the  Pride as the name suggests to me, is to be proud of who you are, love and accept all people. There will always be those who will oppose you, ignore them and move on, then you won’t be consumed by their hatred and misery. 

It felt like being home experiencing something new. I have always accepted all types of people and never judged anyone. When the parade started we saw all walks of life, and even nudity in the street.  A true expression of equality, sense of belonging and celebrating a symbol of equality to the LGBTQ community. This parade demonstrated the freedom  to be who you are free from any judging. The symbol for Pride is the rainbow which is the color of my hair. 

This community comprises of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender Queer. 

One needs to take pride in their identity and not be ashamed of it or be forced to hide and live a double life because of society. One should not confuse this community with what is depicted online and the names and slurs used to describe the people, total misconception. 

   

Evolution and acceptance comes from letting go of past beliefs and taking on new ones, especially today, where the world is moving rapidly toward social media as an identity. 

Also, people are not afraid to show who they really are due to the online connection, since they virtually meet others who share their beliefs, likes and more. 

Much hatred and discrimination is faced by this community in my opinion, because of how they live, how they identify themselves and society “the conservatives” are not evolved enough to accept it, some can mask their dislike others cannot.  

Diversity is something that should be accepted and acknowledged not judged here diversity was welcomed. Many people say I am open minded, I accept anyone but in reality(behind closed doors) that is not the case.  

Here we saw all colors, shapes, sizes and genders which showed a unique diversity in the community, where as long as you are open minded and accepting of people that’s what counts.  

It was such a great experience to walk in the streets for quite some time and see so much freedom of expression and creativity. There were performers singing, dancing and also small souvenir stands where we purchased rings and other great stuff. 

During this time reality faded away for that time, I lost track of time and any stress and worries I had. I really wish it could have lasted longer, but, on the positive side I will enjoy this again soon. 

Niagara Falls 

SkyWheel -fully enclosed gondolas equipped with heating and air conditioning  for year round enjoyment , the ride is about 12 minute long and offers an all around aerial view of the entire Niagara Falls area.  Taking pictures from above was amazing, videos are listed below.  

Skylon Tower- taking an elevator to the observation decks overlooking 775feet above Niagara Falls we walked around and took pictures. 

 

Clifton Hill- One of the most unique attractions 

Louis Tussaud’s WaxWorks museum of wax figures of celebrities, presidents, horror villains, singers and much more, take a pic with a superstar. 

Ripley's Museum: displays of rare oddities: incredible customs, weird artifacts, strange and odd people and the stuff they did like daredevils, and other bizarre hobbies which were all done by real people; example the lizard man, the vampire tattooed woman who is known for extensive body modifications which she chose to do as a form of activism on domestic violence. 

USA 

Another iconic visit which I feel quite fortunate to have experienced was our multiple visits to the IOWA80 World’s Biggest Truck Stop (yes, in the World, not just North America). This place I felt both hubby and I truly enjoyed as there were things we both enjoyed like the trucking museum of antique trucks, and the gift shops and restaurants inside.

IOWA80:Iconic World’s Biggest Truck Stop (most memorable)- Established in 1964 

Founder Bill Moon 1932-1992 

Trucking museum of antique trucks

Antique gas pumps

An entire section on the ground floor dedicated to truck parts, accessories from lights steering wheels and chairs and more 

A gorgeous gift shop where you find clothing, jewelry, handbags and even household items. 

Five restaurants to choose from with a one called the IOWA80 Kitchen 

We spent a great deal of time inside the trucking museum where you can literally step back in time in history and see the type of trucks they used to have dating back to the early 1900’s all on display to marvel. Yes, history comes alive here. 

Disneyland for truckers as this truck stop is referred to as it is truly designed for the trucker lifestyle. 

I will be putting up videos and pictures to illustrate my favorite destinations and the ones I considered memorable and unique. I hope this will give a birds eye view of trucking through the eyes of a passenger paid tourist.

  

My Trucking Experience

The people who have been following me for quite some time are aware that I tend to embark on weird and crazy adventures in my life, never a dull moment. One of those adventures is the trucking lifestyle, which to me is a must to experience as it coincides with everything my boyfriend and I love to do. The trucking lifestyle let’s us visit different places, sample various types of food and get to know different people.  

We got introduced to trucking while my boyfriend was working in the heavy steel industry, and all the raw materials they used arrived on a flatbed semi truck.

I invite you to read further and see how our trucking journey began from totally green with no experience all the way to Owner Operators owning our own semi truck. Hope you enjoy reading!    

The first step to trucking is to find a truck driving school and get a Class1 as it is referred to in  Canada and in the USA it is called CDL or Commercial Drivers License. There are three cardinal criteria needed to be a truck driver, first is good health and physically fit. If you take medication or have a chronic illness you will face challenges. In addition, no criminal record, and squeaky clean driving record which will make it easier to find employment and your insurance cost will not be as high.

Another great advantage is to have and maintain the lowest possible personal cost, so no expensive  mortgage, high car payments as for the first three years your income will be low. 

As you drive to different destinations you will see beautiful scenery, experience a lifestyle that very few get the opportunity to do and at the same time face interesting challenges on the road. 

My life on the road spanned about four years and during that time I learned how the transport system works. The fact that all the products you find on store shelves came by semi truck is something I never thought about. I learned that trucking is the most micromanaged and rule intense industry since it is part of public safety. My boyfriend was the one who did all the driving and fueling and I handled the administration part of the job, some of which entailed preparing customs paperwork to cross the border, scanning the bill of lading/proof of delivery for dispatch, planning stops for fuel and shutting down for the night. 

As we drove my boyfriend taught me about how to calculate Hours Of Service, plan trips, where to stop for the night, and mapping routes, etc. I also learned that states and provinces have their own standards and permits depending on what you are hauling. Also, driving a truck is nothing like a car, there are specific roads that trucks cannot drive on,  for instance weight restricted roads, low bridges and power lines; after all, an 80,000lbs semi trailer can easily damage roads.

Our destinations ranged from east to west coast in both the USA and Canada and we drove through winter storms and summer heat. Experiencing BC Canada mountains in winter and putting chains on the tires to drive through the heavy snow, the same in Colorado USA was an adventure for the ages, physical fitness comes into play here. We favored the west coast more than the east as it is much less busy and much more scenic and exotic.  

I never knew a truck stop could look like a resort. My most memorable ones were  IOWA-80 in Walcott Iowa, the biggest truck stop in the world (no joke) where the famous antique trucking museum is located and when you go inside antique trucks are on display  dating back to the 1900’s, it’s like trucking history comes alive. Inside the shop, truckers can find numerous items to soup up their truck, fancy shifters, steering wheels, lights, even seats and more. There were about five different restaurants and a gift shop filled with souvenirs which I took full advantage of in terms of shopping. I also visited its sister truck stop Joplin44 in Joplin MO which was smaller without the museum.  

Another great place I had the opportunity to visit was Barstow California, where I had a chance to shop at the outlet mall and there were about 100 restaurants to eat from. I will be including photos for Iowa80 and Barstow California to further paint a picture. 

Each destination we went to turned into a fun adventure we never saw trucking as a job which made it very unique. 

I also found that USA truck stops like Flying J/Pilot, Loves and TA/Petro (TA Travel Centers of America) had the best customer service and really everything you need is available, for example, cell phone chargers, bedding for the truck and basic items like antennas can be found at these places. Also you will never go hungry, the food may not always be healthy but you won’t starve and the restaurants in these travel centers are generally chains like Subway, Wendy’s.  Now, regarding showers they are very similar to hotels, Flying J/Pilot even provide towels which is so convenient. 

 

I honestly felt like a paid tourist driving through the types of neighborhoods, it gives you an idea of what life is like in the different towns. Montana had a beautiful scenic boardwalk of shops in a town called Missoula which I hope to visit again one day, it looked like something out of a storybook.

The best times I had was when we were off on what is called a reset, during this time we would rent a car and explore the town/city we were in. One of the nicest off-times was in Niagara Falls Ontario, we got a chance to visit attractions like Clifton Hill, Wax Museum, Skywheel and of course the Falls. This is  one of the most touristic places in Eastern Canada. At the time  we also experienced the 2019 Pride Parade in Toronto which made us get some much needed exercise since we walked for hours. 

Trucking is all what we expected it to be, we embraced it as a lifestyle and passion. We are most happy resetting on route for long periods of time; and we favour the western region as it is the most exotic and scenic no matter the season. If you get the opportunity to experience this I strongly recommend you take it, as this is to me is a rare chance one gets to do in a lifetime.