My friends, it is time for everyone to get involved ... we need each other more than ever now.

I gotta say, I am seeing and hearing stories daily where people are coming together and helping each other whatever way possible. It's really great to see and during these tough times, gives me faith in humanity. Michael, great job here, let's keep it all up! On the same note, my girlfriend has a non essential business, she makes custom dance wear for the kiddies in dance competitions and has been shut down. She is currently making mask covers for the N 95 masks. Research is showing that these covers increase the effectiveness and lifespan of the masks. They can also be worn on their own and are not as effective as the N 95's but they do help. She has been at her sewing machine day in night for the last 5 days making these for senior homes, family and friends on the front line. When people ask her what she wants for them, she is just telling people they can take them for free, or whatever they feel is reasonable. If anyone is interested in getting these for their drivers or staff, please PM me. Also, keep in mind she is a one person show right now and pumping out about 40 per day. Thanks!
 
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economy said:
We are totally with you Michael. I am sure things will change for the best shortly.

What bothers me most is the business with Insurance Companies such as highly increased premiums, numerous rejections for policy renewals or not quoting at all, no government based reasonable alternatives, nor power to regulate. The other words, uncertainty of the small and medium trucking companies in the future; no insurance - no business.
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Hey pal, I’m a broker and I couldn’t agree more with you. What the industry is doing right now is destroying the capacity within the industry. We need to put profits on the back burner and figure out how to get capacity up to 100%. This industry will figure it out only when it comes to dire straits. I’ve reached out to my MP and my MPP and I recommend everyone do the same.
Strength in numbers - get to those policymakers and tell them your story, your problem and how it will soon be all of our problems.
 
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Michael Ludwig said:
Thanks for the appreciation folks.
Just a quick update on the things I have seen come from that letter.
I sent it to our local MPP, Toby Barrett. He read it, agreed with it, and in turn sent it to Monte McNaughton and Doug Ford. I'm sure everyone has read and watched what they did.
I also sent it to the Prime Minister. All I got back from him/them was the standard "we got your message..." email but that at least means someone in the PM's office has read it.
One of the five reporters I sent it to responded that he agreed. The rest didn't even acknowledge they got it.
Some people asked me to post it on my LinkedIn account which I did. I got lots of reads, and a few comments there.
A lot of you reposted it all over the place, and from what I can gather overall, it got a lot of traction. I thank you all for that. Most importantly, the drivers, everyone's drivers, thank you all for that.
One thing that did surprise me though was that none of the bigger carriers that hang out around here commented on either the situation or the letter.
All in all, this was an effort by a whole lot more folks than just me. Many company exec's across the country, industry associations, politicians, and reporters, as well as all of you, chipped in to make these troubles known. It appears our efforts may have been worth it. Hopefully society will change to better accommodate our people. Only time will tell if we have to go through this again (and again).
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Don't worry Mike , Wendell is all over this and has been for some time. The message seeems to be getting through.
 
TransAction said:
I gotta say, I am seeing and hearing stories daily where people are coming together and helping each other whatever way possible. It's really great to see and during these tough times, gives me faith in humanity. Michael, great job here, let's keep it all up! On the same note, my girlfriend has a non essential business, she makes custom dance wear for the kiddies in dance competitions and has been shut down. She is currently making mask covers for the N 95 masks. Research is showing that these covers increase the effectiveness and lifespan of the masks. They can also be worn on their own and are not as effective as the N 95's but they do help. She has been at her sewing machine day in night for the last 5 days making these for senior homes, family and friends on the front line. When people ask her what she wants for them, she is just telling people they can take them for free, or whatever they feel is reasonable. If anyone is interested in getting these for their drivers or staff, please PM me. Also, keep in mind she is a one person show right now and pumping out about 40 per day. Thanks!
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Hi Again, all, I am surprised nobody has reached out about the above? I'd really like it if we could help your staff and drivers out here. Please PM me or call my cell direct 416-999-7455.
 
@TransAction ... Good Lord, don't think we didn't all think about it 'cause I certainly did. I would imagine that most, like me who don't have N95 masks to begin with, probably figured that sending them to nursing homes and hospitals was a much better place for them. However, if she needs some donations to keep her going, just holler. Send me an email address and I'll etransfer a donation.
 
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Michael Ludwig said:
@TransAction ... Good Lord, don't think we didn't all think about it 'cause I certainly did. I would imagine that most, like me who don't have N95 masks to begin with, probably figured that sending them to nursing homes and hospitals was a much better place for them. However, if she needs some donations to keep her going, just holler. Send me an email address and I'll etransfer a donation.
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Hi Michael, that is extremely generous of you. FYI, these masks can be worn stand alone also. They are proven to help somewhat and are certainly better than wearing nothing so please let me know if you want some, and that goes for anyone. I'll PM you in a bit.
 
MikeJr said:
I'll take 10 at $10 per mask, if she feels this is fair. You have my email.

Keep well, thank your gf for doing what she can to help,

Mike
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Great! Is your email the mikm one or the michaelm one? I can't recall.....
 
Here is a pic of my mask. FYI, there's some "hacks" to this where you can buy HEPA vacuum bags and cut out the size of a mask and insert the material inside. Also hearing you can buy a furnace filter, take it apart and stretch out the corrugated folds, cut and do the same thing.
image0.jpeg
 
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MikeJr said:
Thanks Jeff.

My email is michaelm, either way the finds are sent.

Have a safe evening,
Mike
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Mike, got it and Stacey got your email, she is sending a huge virtual hug! I'll let you know once we have couriered them out to you!
 
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Michael Ludwig said:
@TransAction ... Good Lord, don't think we didn't all think about it 'cause I certainly did. I would imagine that most, like me who don't have N95 masks to begin with, probably figured that sending them to nursing homes and hospitals was a much better place for them. However, if she needs some donations to keep her going, just holler. Send me an email address and I'll etransfer a donation.
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Michael, we donated 10 masks on your behalf, along with 10 from Mike's purchase today. One of the nurses was crying. Just want to let you know what a difference you have made. Thanks again.
 
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Jeff,

I'm going to need 10 more adult and 5 child masks please. I'll send $150, same password. I was overjoyed that my donation meant that masks were also being produced for the hospital.

Keep well, keep healthy!
Mike
 
Prime Minister Trudeau was too busy trying to get votes so he could get seat on the security council at the UN while the Natives were hold the country hostage and the Covid 19 Pandamic was inching toward us. I don’t think he gives a rats ass about truck drivers that are braving through this. We could have avoided a lot of this heartache if Trudeau and Trump were on the ball. Don’t forget we had about a 3 month head start to prepare but did nothing on both sides of the border.
Obama saw this coming 5 years ago and wanted to prepare, now here we are unprepared. Grocery clerks, truck drivers and PSW’s to name a few, the lowest paid the most disrespected workers now are the heroes.
 
MikeJr said:
Jeff,

I'm going to need 10 more adult and 5 child masks please. I'll send $150, same password. I was overjoyed that my donation meant that masks were also being produced for the hospital.

Keep well, keep healthy!
Mike
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Hi Mike, ignore my PM, just saw this, I am on it!
 
This morning I was driving..


This morning I was driving to a customer delivering another essential load and being cut off by another jerk.
And then this thought came to my mind.
If it wouldn't be for all those hoarding people back then, no one would call us, transportation industry people, an "essential service"..
So, all other days in a year it's not important that shelfs have to be full and all other businesses functioning and supplying all society with their products and services.
That being said, I will kinda miss this days of my importance and high value..
Happy Hump Day, eh..))
 
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Good point Igor. It is all so easy to claim that we will never forget the selfless, brave actions of___________(fill in the blanks), during these troubling times. Unfortunately, one of the byproducts of getting things back to "normal" is that most of the time, people do forget. I hope not, as there are many that I have a new found respect for, long term care workers especially. Talk about being on the front lines! In the mean time, think positive and carry on, or in our case (Inside Transport).....keep on trucking!
 
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FINALLY!!!!! Some good news! Golf courses in Ontario can "start" to get ready to open! Of course garden centres, where my wife likes to spend all the millions I have made brokering freight for a living, can open with minimal restrictions this Monday! That almost sounds like a Friday afternoon joke! Look on the bright side, this will mean I have to dig the garden, the most exercise I have had since I piled up the last 12 cases of empty wine bottles!
 
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