Your Winter Trackeris brimming with useful news and topical views. We’re thrilled to introduce our new, regular column: Safety Corner, which is contributed by well known safety experts Leigh-Ann Stewart and Debra Haldane, the people behind Simply Safe. In this issue they discuss how to properly handle a visit from your provincial Health & Safety officer and, a bonus, Haldane offers up excellent advice on how to prepare your fleet and staff for winter driving conditions.
The future belongs to our youth—which is why WCTD is particularly proud of its Scholarship Program. Meet the group of this year’s accomplished recipients on pages 10-11.
How secure are your premises? Are they properly protected to deter theft and damage? Chris Leahey of Federated Insurance has some solid ideas to pass on. (Page 26-27).
There’s more, of course, from details on the newly approved credit card surcharge to why it’s crucial to properly maintain your sensitive diagnostic equipment. All this, plus notes from president Tim Hollett and executive director Ray Geleta. And a heads up to ‘Save the Date’ for this spring’s AGM, to be held in Kelowna!
Aug 1st marked the opening of NCT’s fifth warehouse aimed at supporting expansion into the Winnipeg market
North Country Tire (NCT), an Edmonton-based wholesale distributor of quality tires announces its newest commitment to expanding Western operations. The 50,000 sq ft warehouse in Winnipeg, MB represents an extension of NCT’s commitment to excellence in their customer experience from BC through to MB.
NCT’s newest distribution centre is strategically located at #3, 200 Discovery Place, Winnipeg MB, R3C 2E6 and will begin operations on July 1st. The opening will give customers in MB the opportunity to evaluate NCT’s service in the slower summer months, giving them the confidence to rely on consistent deliveries as the industry moves into the winter rush. “In a supply chain where there are many choices, we know consistency plays a key role in the customer experience. Because of that, we want to give Winnipeg customers the chance to test us before the busiest time of year. We want to earn their trust and demonstrate that we’ve got their back when it’s the experience of their customer on the line.” Jared PW – Vice President, NCT
Rapid Expansion
In seven years from the doors first opening in Edmonton, North Country Tire has quickly expanded to become one of Western Canada’s favourite regional suppliers. Now represented in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta and Kelowna, and Langley, BC; NCTs Winnipeg location showcases the commitment to being a Western Canada-wide provider of leading customer experience “Customer experience drives decision making in our family business, it always has. I personally invite local shops to try us out and experience our tires-simplified approach firsthand.” Cory Davis – CO, NCT
About NCT
North Country Tire is a locally owned and operated Canadian business, with a head office in Edmonton, Alberta. Established in 2015 by Cory and Chad Davis, NCT represents the Davis brothers’ first tire distribution centre, but not their first foray into tires. The family legacy started with their father, Clint, who gave the boys a deep education on the value of customer experience early in their development. A core value that remains at the forefront of NCT’s commitment today.
This issue of The Trackersees us all finally getting things back up to post-pandemic speed.
First and foremost, president Neal Shymko bids us a fond ‘adieu’ as he passes the gavel to incoming president Tim Hollett. However, says Shymko, “I’ll still be here and I will continue to represent you as past president and I look forward to working with our board members to do all that we can for the Association and for you, our members.”
The Summer Tracker is packed with valuable information to help you run your business successfully and safely, especially during this busy selling season. On that note, you’ll find an update on the return of the WCTD Safety Committee, with plenty more to come. We encourage you to let us know of any issues you’re encountering so that we may bring them to the committee’s attention.
Somewhat related, we urge you to read the special bulletin from the Motor Safety Association on the Dangers of Mounting Mismatched Rims and Tires. Also, don’t miss an important Federated Insurance communiqué on Preventing Electrical Fires. You’ll find also a Federated update on generally what’s been happening in insurance in our industry.
There’s also one more reminder to make sure all the necessary information on the WCTD Scholarship Awards is circulated to those who qualify. This year’s deadline for submissions is August 15th.
There’s plenty more in the latest issue of The Tracker, including a glance back at that most remarkable of cars, the Citröen DS. Read up on what’s happening with your association. Download your copy today!
Some common ignition sources for fires can occur when vehicles and equipment experience electrical malfunctions at service centres and repair shops. Highway motor vehicles, marine vehicles, recreational vehicles and equipment all contain various electrical components, such as batteries, cables and wiring, power generators and electronic control units. In a matter of minutes, your property could be engulfed in a fire as the flames from a vehicle encounter other highly combustible material as a result of ignition from an electrical source.
Real life scenario: A customer brings in a vehicle — with no immediate visible issues — to a repair shop. Later, the vehicle catches on fire and the fire extends throughout the building causing property damage. After a thorough investigation, it is discovered the cause of the fire was electrical in nature, due to the battery cable from a charger being left on all night. Charging electrical systems can build up heat, especially if damaged or if safety components like fuses fail. This heat build-up can cause components to melt and eventually ignite combustible material or even cause explosions.
Read about what precautions to take, how to protect your business and prevent life-threatening injuries here.
We certainly are facing a future that has been unprecedented in our lifetimes. Being an independent, smaller tire dealer myself, I find that my days now are mostly spent trying to gather the most up-to-date information and resources. Government programs all the way from federal down to municipal levels are constantly changing and being updated.
Your representatives at Western Canada Tire Dealers continue to do all that we can for you; and will share any and all information that we are able to provide. There are critical best practices that all locations should follow in regards to hygiene and sanitizing, and social distancing, not only to keep your customers safe and healthy but also your staff.
We will also try to send out the latest, most relevant information and links so that you are kept current on government programs that may be of great value to you and your employees. Please reach out to us if you have questions. We will do everything in our power to get you the answers you need.
Also, if you have suggestions to share please do that as well. Now is the time for us to unite and help one another weather a storm like we have never seen before.
• Ensure flexible sick leave policies consistent with public health guidance.
• Permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member.
• Post signage asking anyone who is ill to not enter the premises.
• Require any employee who has recently traveled internationally (including to the U.S) to self quarantine for 14 days.
• Require employees to wash hands frequently and thoroughly, not to touch their faces, and use hand sanitizer (at least 60-95% alcohol) as needed.
• Post clearly worded hygiene reminders in appropriate locations, especially in washrooms and change areas.
• Request all employees and customers to maintain social distancing, both in the workplace and at home.
Best practices for workplace hygiene and sanitation include:
• Use disposable nitrile gloves when driving vehicles in and out and changing them after every vehicle.
• Use gloves or hand sanitizer immediately after handling customer’s keys.
• Use disposable steering wheel covers on every vehicle.
• Provide hand sanitizer to each technician for their individual use.
• Provide hand sanitizer and or sanitizing wipes to customers.
• Wipe down the credit card machine before and after each transaction. (Customers like to see it wiped down beforehand—provides reassurance and comfort). Where possible, use only tap / flash enabled units.
• Wipe down common areas before opening and once or twice during the day. For both customer and employee areas.
• Eliminate sharing of food and drink between employees (pizza lunches or even coffee, doughnuts or other commonly shared snacks)
• Eliminate items such as magazines / coffee stations temporarily to minimize chances of community spread.
• Be kind and be considerate of a everyone’s fears and questions.
Keep calm—WASH YOUR HANDS—and carry on!
Resources for business owners
Explore the option of utilizing a work share program instead of outright layoffs, and the procedures to implement:
We regret to announce that all TIA training in Canada has been postponed until further notice, due to travel restrictions put in place as a precaution against Coronavirus. Once the ban has been lifted these training sessions will be rescheduled as soon as possible. We thank you for your understanding and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Matt White leads an EMT Program
In conjunction with Tire Industry Association (TIA), Western Canada Tire Dealers announces the following training courses for 2020.
• Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) Advanced Installer Program (Postponed)
Edmonton, AB, June 9th – 11th. Location: Holiday Inn and Suites, 11330-170 St., Edmonton. For room registration phone 780-444-3110. Starts 8 AM. Cost $900.00
Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Level 400 / Train the Trainer(Postponed)
• (2) Edmonton, AB, April 14th – 16th. Holiday Inn and Suites, 11330-170 St, Edmonton. For room registration phone 780-444-3110. Starts 8 AM. Cost $900.00
The instructor for all of these courses is TIA Director of Service Matt White, who has been our instructor in the past. Matt is renowned worldwide for his training and is highly regarded as the best.
Attendees must bring their own PPE equipment (steel toe shoes, gloves, hard hats, vests, glasses etc.) for the hands-on, practical portion of the training.
Training material, lunches and coffee breaks will be provided.
