News

JD Smith “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship awarded to future paramedic. The First academic scholarship established by JD Smith was awarded to Ms. Veronica Daniel, the daughter of a truck driver employed by Wasteco in Brampton, Ontario. With a degree in Kinesiology under her belt, Veronica is now embarking on a 2-year diploma program at Algonquin College to become a primary care paramedic.

Celebrating it’s 90th year in business, J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. offers a unique blend of integrated third-party distribution and logistic services that combine the pride of a family-owned company with leading-edge technology. Its infrastructure includes a network of modern warehousing facilities, an extensive, well-maintained fleet, and state-of-the-art I.T. systems. The company’s unwavering commitment to customer service and its creative and innovation solutions have helped to establish long-term relationships and provide clients with a competitive advantage.

JD Smith is pleased to sponsor a scholarship which recognizes a student each year who demonstrates a commitment to his/her community, school or other volunteer undertaking through his/her exemplary leadership qualities. This scholarship is a tribute to the memory of Doug Smith, under whose leadership the Ontario trucking industry saw some great benefits.

The JD Smith “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship Award is funded by an endowed fund established by JD Smith and administered by OTA Education Foundation, Inc. Further information can be viewed on http://ontruck.org/education/php

Celebrating it’s 90th year in business, J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. offers a unique blend of integrated third-party distribution and logistic services that combine the pride of a family-owned company with leading-edge technology. Its infrastructure includes a network of modern warehousing facilities, an extensive, well-maintained fleet, and state-of-the-art I.T. systems. The company’s unwavering commitment to customer service and its creative and innovation solutions have helped to establish long-term relationships and provide clients with a competitive advantage.

OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today recognized two companies who have won the first annual SCL Green Supply Chain Award. Transport Canada sponsored the award in collaboration with the Supply Chain and Logistics Association Canada (SCL). The award was presented earlier this year.

J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. and UPM-Kymmene are the recipients of the 2007 award, which acknowledges companies that have set and exceeded high standards for environmental friendliness in the handling and shipment of their products to customers.

“This award recognizes two forward-thinking companies in the industry,” said Minister Cannon. “I encourage all freight operators and shippers in Canada to follow the award winners’ example in reducing their impact on the environment.”

J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. has made significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through a number of initiatives, including in-cab heaters that reduce vehicle idling levels, electric light retrofits in three facilities that have lowered electricity consumption, energy-smart roof replacement, and a building automation system that has reduced natural gas consumption. Other green initiatives include recycling and more efficient heating systems.

“We have had a significant culture shift at J.D. Smith and Sons. Our employees have embraced these challenges, and recognition from SCL and Transport Canada is a testament to the tremendous strides we have made to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Scott Smith, President of J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd.

UPM-Kymmene is working closely with its shipping agents to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The logistics division of UPM contributes to these goals through expert coordination in the efficient movement of paper products from its mills to customers.

“UPM is pleased to be recognized for its efforts to positively impact the sustainability of the forest industry through good supply chain management,” said Phil Riebel, Director of Environmental Affairs for UPM North America. “UPM has a strong record of environmental leadership and a firm commitment to promoting green logistics in our operations across the globe.”

The SCL Green Supply Chain Award acknowledges that recipients operate in an ethical manner and actively seek ways to improve environmental performance through: • identifying goals to reduce the fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from freight facility operations; • developing an action plan detailing how each of these goals will be achieved; and • reporting progress towards achieving these goals.

Award winners are selected on the basis of their strong environmental leadership and their firm commitment to promote green shipping standards. Transport Canada also supports industry efforts through its ecoFREIGHT initiatives, which are aimed at reducing the environmental and health impacts of freight transportation.

Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700

Robin Browne
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities

VAUGHAN, Ontario - J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd., a leader in transportation and third-party logistics, is proud to announce it has been awarded the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Canada (SCL )’s first-ever Green Supply Chain Award for 2007.

The award was initiated this year to honour a firm that has set and exceeded high standards for environmental friendliness, that operates in an ethical manner, and that actively seeks ways to improve environmental performance by reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions from freight and facility operations. Transport Canada is a co-sponsor of the award.

“It is fitting that J.D. Smith is the winner of this prestigious award in its inaugural year,” says David Long, President of SCL. “The company has proven to be proactive and innovative in developing programs and strategies that help to protect the environment. As the association pursued Green initiatives, Transport Canada has always singled out J.D. Smith and Sons as being a leader in initiating solutions that are reducing the industry’s impact on the environment.”

Mr. Long added that there is growing pressure to find Green solutions and that no one would have predicted two years ago just how hotly Green programs would be pursued in all areas - commercial, industrial, individual. “Proven environmental and efficient practices are becoming an increasing component in requests for proposals. That’s how fast this movement is accelerating.”

Scott Smith, President of J.D. Smith and Sons, said: “Receiving the Green Shipper Award in its first year is an immense honour and a testament to the hard work we have done at J.D. Smith to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. It has meant changing the way we do things. Introducing new methods and processes involves a significant culture shift and our employees have embraced these challenges, allowing us to see real results. As a private company, we can sometimes take a longer term view on the return on our investments of certain initiatives. However, in terms of our “Green Projects” we have generally been pleased with not only the environmental and cultural benefits, but the financial outcomes as well”.

(Toronto: Nov. 16, 2006) -- The Ontario Trucking Association announced today that it is allocating $40,000 to establish a new, perpetual scholarship to be awarded each year in its name by the OTA Education Foundation. Details on the criteria applicants will have to meet to qualify for the scholarship and which avenues of study will be considered, will be determined over the next few months.

The announcement, which was made today at the OTA convention by outgoing chairman, Scott Smith, is part of an overall effort to revitalize the Foundation for the 21st century. Mr. Smith is also chairman of the Board of Trustees of the OTA Education Foundation – an arm’s length organization that has for several decades now been providing scholarships to children of employees of the trucking industry to help fund their post-secondary education.

According to Scott Smith, in addition to providing funding assistance, the Foundation will “be putting a renewed emphasis on making sure the students who receive the scholarships have a better understanding of the importance of the trucking industry and encouraging them to consider careers In trucking.” In order to qualify for funding from the Foundation, applicants will have to demonstrate a level of understanding about the trucking industry, by way of an essay, for example.

David Bradley says, “OTA is pleased to work with the Foundation in this way to support the children of Ontario trucking industry families and to promote the industry as an attractive place to build a career.”

“It really is an investment in the industry’s future, which could pay huge dividends down the road,” he said.

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The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is a business association representing motor carriers operating into, out of and within Ontario. The trucking industry is one of Ontario’s largest employers. Trucks haul 90% of all consumer products and foodstuffs produced and consumed in the province and 80% of Ontario’s trade with the United States. Founded in 1926, the association’s membership comprises trucking companies of all sizes, shipping all types of commodities, from all regions of North America. OTA is a member of the Canadian Trucking Alliance. The Globe & Mail has stated that “OTA and CTA have been among the most successful lobbyists in the land.” www.ontruck.org

VAUGHAN, Ontario - J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd., a leader in transportation and third-party logistics, proudly announced today it has been awarded the highly prestigious National Carrier of the Year award by Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc.

This is the first year Colgate-Palmolive Canada has given out a single, all-encompassing award. In the past two years, J.D. Smith has been chosen Less Than Truckload Carrier of the Year.

“The significance is that this is a much more coveted award; it’s importance now magnified by the fact that it is a single award that involves all of our suppliers across Canada,” says John McMurray, Manager of Customer Service and Logistics, Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc.

“On-time delivery and undamaged goods are of the utmost importance to our business. All our suppliers across Canada were rated based on those criteria, as well as responsiveness from management, or administrative excellence, load-up times, performance, and customer service. The drivers of J.D. Smith deal directly with our customers more than we do, so customer service is critical. J.D. Smith came out on top in all the scoring,” McMurray said.

“It is a tremendous honour to be selected Carrier of the Year in the award’s inaugural year, and is evidence that J.D. Smith is a leader in logistics, careful handling of goods and superior customer service,” says Scott Smith, President of J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. “We handle more than 20 million cases of Colgate-Palmolive products through our distribution facilities, and to be recognized for having the best on-time delivery, the lowest damage claims and excellent customer service, is testament to the investments we have made in our state-of-the-art processes and in the commitment of our employees toward customer service.”

Founded in 1919, J.D Smith and Sons Ltd. offers a unique blend of integrated third-party distribution and logistic services that combine the pride of a family-owned company with leading-edge technology. Its integrated infrastructure includes a network of modern warehousing facilities, an extensive, well-maintained fleet, and state of the art IT systems. The company’s unwavering commitment to customer service and its creative and innovative solutions have helped to establish long-term relationships and provide clients with a competitive advantage.

VAUGHAN, Ontario – J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd., a leader in transportation and third-party logistics, today announced it has been awarded Hewlett Packard’s first ever Transportation Supplier of the Year Award for 2005.

HP initiated the award to establish a benchmark and to recognize suppliers who provide exemplary service, says John Hurst, Manager for Logistics and Operations, HP Canada.
“It is critical that we maintain our reputation as a provider of high-quality products, and so we have stringent requirements placed on our suppliers. J.D. Smith has been an extremely reliable performer for several years, so I’m pleased they are the initial recipient of this award,” John said.
J.D. Smith handles HP Canada’s transportation needs for Ontario, primarily in the Greater Toronto Area, which presents the toughest traffic and logistic challenges in the country.
“Their on-time capabilities, negligible incidents of lost or damage goods and ability to respond quickly to problems and establish solutions exceeded our expectations,” continues John. “They are very customer-focused, from the dispatcher to top management.”

Said Scott Smith, President of J.D. Smith, “We are very excited about receiving this recognition. It’s a credit to our investment in leading-edge processes and to our employees who work extremely hard to please our customers. I am particularly proud of our people. The bar is constantly being raised and they continue to rise to the challenge.”

Founded in 1919, J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. offers a unique blend of integrated third-party distribution and logistic services that combine the pride of a family-owned company with leading-edge technology. Its infrastructure includes a network of modern warehousing facilities, an extensive, well-maintained fleet, and state-of-the-art I.T. systems. The company’s unwavering commitment to customer service and its creative and innovation solutions have helped to establish long-term relationships and provide clients with a competitive advantage.

VAUGHAN, Ontario – J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd., a leader in transportation and third-party logistics, announced today it has been named Less Than Truckload Carrier of the Year for the second time by Colgate Palmolive Canada.

The award for 2004-2005, represents a high level of service and flexibility for the extremely challenging Greater Toronto Area, says John McMurray, Manager of Customer Service and Logistics, Colgate Palmolive Canada.

“On-time delivery is increasingly critical for us, and yet the suppliers who deliver in and around the GTA are finding traffic and gridlock to be more challenging every year. J.D. Smith has been a solid performer and their on-time percentage is very competitive. We have been extremely pleased with their performance and they are highly deserving of this recognition,” John said.

“We have a 20-year relationship with Colgate Palmolive and annually handle more than 20 million cases of their products through our distribution facilities,” says Scott Smith, President of J.D. Smith. “We are thrilled to be recognized by such a valued and long-term customer. This award is a testament to the investment we have made in our state-of-the-art processes and in the commitment of our employees to customer service.”

Founded in 1919, J.D. Smith and Sons Ltd. offers a unique blend of integrated third-party distribution and logistic services that combine the pride of a family-owned company with leading-edge technology. Its integrated infrastructure includes a network of modern warehousing facilities, an extensive, well-maintained fleet, and state-of-the-art I.T. systems. The company’s unwavering commitment to customer service and its creative and innovation solutions have helped to establish long-term relationships and provide clients with a competitive advantage.

J.D. Smith Quarter Century Club Welcome Inductees

On April 30th the members of the J.D. Smith Quarter Century Club held their annual dinner to welcome aboard this year's new inductees and to reminisce.

This year's new members Rick Barker, Wayne Foster, Linda Laycox, Gary Moulton, Paul Parro and Andrew Steel joined the Club's current members in looking over old photographs and sharing memories.

The group also took the opportunity to acknowledge Ernie DeWolfe who is approaching his 45th year of service with the company and to bid a fond farewell to Ross Krueger and John Preston who are officially retiring this year.

Including this year's new inductees, the Club now boasts a proud membership of 33 inductees.

On April 27th, J.D. Smith was proud to be recognized by the Ministry of Transportation by receiving a rating of “excellent” on our CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operators Registration).

JD Smith is currently the largest for-hire trucking company to achieve this rating of excellence. The company attributes this accomplishment largely to the concerted team effort of all their employees who work to achieve excellence in every aspect of the business.

STo determine each company's rating, the Ministry takes the CVOR records of each operator of commercial vehicles and assesses the information contained within along with the results of any on-site audits. The resulting ratings provide potential customers with a carrier's overall safety performance and carriers who are rated excellent are provided with a competitive advantage over those who receive substandard ratings.

"We are very excited to see our efforts in safety and compliance recognized by the MTO;" says Scott Smith, President of JD Smith, "industry leading safety and compliance is a cornerstone of our company culture."

Founded in 1919, J.D. Smith and Sons is a family-owned, Canadian business providing customized logistics management solutions to more than 300 North American customers. The company is ISO 9002 Certified and backed by state-of-the-art logistic management technologies.

VAUGHAN, June 28, 2002 -- Nike Canada, part of the world's leading sports and fitness company, has awarded J.D. Smith and Sons Limited its national retail distribution business. Beginning July 8th, J.D. Smith will handle all outbound deliveries from Nike's Scarborough, Ontario customer service center to retail stores across Canada.

"J.D. Smith's leading-edge technology and vast experience with deliveries to retail customers put them ahead of the pack," says Rick Cleveland, National Customer Service Manager for Nike. "Our decision to partner with J.D. Smith was based on many factors: their exceptional focus on customer service, web-based tracking and tracing as well as on-line images of POD signatures, current EDI capabilities and competitive pricing," adds Cleveland. "We're looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership."

Scott Smith, President of J.D. Smith and Sons Limited echoes Cleveland's sentiment.
"We're excited to have Nike on board and look forward to adding value to their business. Achieving supply chain efficiencies is a big part of remaining competitive in today's marketplace. Nike recognizes this."

"At J.D. Smith, each customer is unique. Our core competency is delivering customized logistics solutions to meet their precise needs," Smith says. Nike's requirements for cross-Canada shipping will be met by J.D. Smith's growing National Freight Management Service. "By partnering with key interline carriers on a just-in-time basis, we provide our customers with a seamless, one-stop transportation solution for deliveries right across Canada," adds Smith.

Founded in 1919, J.D. Smith and Sons is a family-owned, Canadian business providing customized logistics management solutions to more than 300 North American customers. The company is ISO 9002 Certified and backed by state-of-the-art logistic management technologies.

JD Smith drivers returned the Team Trophy to it's rightful place - the JDS Trophy Case.
5 drivers competed in the 2002 Toronto Regional Truck Driving Championship on Saturday June 15. Collectively they won the Team Trophy, beating 5 other teams for bragging rights. Brian Taylor (straight truck), Stephen James, Jose Vergara (single single), Peter Walton (single tandem), and Doug Polhamus (tandem tandem) (picture) achieved an average score of 302 points, beating Epic Express by 5 points, and besting the other teams from Advantage Personnel, Alex Henry & Son, Reimer Express, and Travelers Transportation.

Individually, there are 2 JDS drivers who will be moving on to the Provincial competition in London. Peter Walton placed second, and Stephen James was third in their respective classes. The other three each placed in the top ten as well.

The Team win this year is the fifth time JDS drivers have won. 1997, '98, '99, and '00 were the other years, with a strong Con-Way Canada Express team breaking the string in 2001.

Congratulations to the drivers!

"Truck driver John Goodings is a hero, and now he has an award to prove it."

Goodings, who works for J.D. Smith & Sons Ltd. of Vaughan, Ont., was recently presented with an Award of Recognition at the 33rd annual National Transportation Week Ontario Awards Breakfast for saving the life of a car crash victim.

The award is presented each year to member (s) of the transportation community in recognition of outstanding actions.

Goodings heroics took place on August 30, 2001, when he was driving his truck westbound on Hwy. 7 in Vaughan. He witnessed a collision occur between two cars just ahead of his vehicle.

Goodings managed to stop his truck in time to avoid the collision. He grabbed his fire extinguisher and rushed to the wreckage, where he discovered a woman and her daughter lying on the road after they were thrown from their vehicle.

Suspecting that one of the collision victims might have severe spinal injuries, Goodings stabilized her and performed first aid until emergency services and the police arrived.