Living in and around Alberta and Calgary, Canada, is great for many reasons, but one of the facts of life here is that winters can be harsh. With temperatures that range from bitterly cold and icy to above-zero and slushy, your vehicle has to put up with some intense environments between October and March every year.

While most people take some preventative action for winter, like installing winter tires, there are some often-overlooked steps you can take across all your vehicle’s systems to ensure that everything is running in top shape – before the really cold weather hits.

As we rev up for another year, it's crucial for all of us in the commercial vehicle industry to stay in the know about the latest regulations. The Alberta government continuously updates its rules to ensure the highest road safety and vehicle compliance standards. And this year is no exception.

Much like the changing seasons, the regulations governing commercial vehicle inspections in Alberta have seen some adjustments.

Whether you're cruising down the highway in a semi-truck, navigating city streets in a bus, or managing a fleet of light trucks, keeping abreast of these changes is essential. After all, staying informed is not just about avoiding fines or penalties; it's about ensuring the safety of your vehicle, your passengers, and your business.

Of the various factors that diesel drivers must consider, one of the most important is how to extend the life of their diesel particulate filter (DPF). As a critical component of any modern-day diesel vehicle, the DPF's performance must be maintained to keep emissions under control.

Many drivers underestimate the importance of regular DPF maintenance. A neglected DPF can quickly become clogged with soot, leading to reduced engine performance and a damaged filter that needs to be replaced. And the last thing you need on a tight schedule is unexpected downtime.

Fortunately, a few tips and solutions are available to help diesel drivers get the most out of their DPF. Let’s look at the DPF closer - and some tips to help you stay on the road longer.

For those living or working in Calgary and southern Alberta, we know winters are a relentless battle against Mother Nature's icy grip. 

With temperatures plunging to a staggering -40 degrees, the cold isn't just inconvenient—it's a formidable adversary. Imagine waking up to your day ahead and knowing that your first challenge will be to muster the courage to step outside and face the Arctic chill, all to start your heavy truck or industrial equipment.

But let's be honest: the show must go on in many industries, regardless of how unforgiving the weather may be. From construction to transportation, the work doesn't have a "pause button" for extreme conditions. This means you're often left with no choice but to keep your truck plugged in around the clock, fingers crossed that it'll muster enough power to start.

CVIP (Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program) inspections are critical for ensuring that commercial vehicles comply with provincial safety regulations. And while some commercial vehicles will pass inspections with flying colours, many are surprised to find that their vehicle fails inspection due to unexpected issues.
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At West Tech Mobile, we are a leader in CVIP inspections - and we want to help you avoid any unexpected failures. Here are some of the most common CVIP inspection failures and how you can avoid them:

As a commercial vehicle operator in Alberta, keeping your vehicles in safe, reliable condition is essential. Regular commercial vehicle inspection and maintenance (CVIP) is necessary to ensure your fleet is running smoothly – and safely.​

If you own or use a heavy-duty diesel vehicle and your days are spent driving it around, chances are you want to maximize the efficiency and output of its engine. While there are many small things you can do to help out with that – even making sure your tires are properly inflated can have a positive effect – one of the biggest contributors is simply putting the right stuff into the engine in the first place. Low-sulphur diesel is just the start. Do you know about the benefits of adding a conditioner to your fuel system?

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Programs (CVIP) are an important part of keeping your truck or fleet roadworthy. These annual check-ups keep things running smoothly, and they’re necessary if you want to comply with different government regulations.

Since they’re mandatory, people often ask: how much does a CVIP cost in Calgary?

In a province as big as Alberta – and even in a city as spread out as Calgary – there are a lot of places where a malfunction or a breakdown can cause major headaches. Whether it’s out on a remote grid road coming back from an oil well or on the side of Crowchild Trail during rush hour, getting the issue dealt with quickly (and without spending more than necessary) is a top priority.

That’s why we offer roadside assistance for trucks and commercial vehicles across southern Alberta. This service means that a fully equipped work truck and expert technician will come to your location, instead of you waiting for a tow truck. So, you’re probably wondering: “Is roadside assistance worth it?”

While the varied landscape of our province means we can enjoy everything from badlands and forests to prairies and mountain views, it also means that driving across it can be dangerous. Whether you’re near northeast Calgary and battling giant hailstones, struggling in a blizzard in the Crowsnest Pass, or navigating the steep grades of an eastern river valley, here are some of the most dangerous routes a driver can take in Alberta.

    One of the hardest parts of owning a diesel vehicle is making sure that all of the parts of your fuel system stay clean, and that your filters are catching all the particulates from the exhaust. With variable quality of diesel fuel and off-the-shelf filters, and many different factors contributing to engine performance, there may be plenty of soot, precipitate, and other fine particulate matter accumulating in your engine. We see a lot of it in the diesel engines we work on – so we made sure we can fix the problem at the source.

We live in an interconnected world, and there is a truly massive amount of trade that goes on between nations. We are accustomed to seeing many of the products we use every day made in China, Mexico, or other countries, but when it comes to semi trucks, there are many die-hard drivers who have trucks made in the United States.
 
You might be surprised to know that many of the most recognizable brands of semi trucks in North America are manufactured somewhere in the USA. Almost all of the thousands of trucks crossing the continent at any moment originated somewhere within it. Here are some of the most common American semi trucks.

With everything going on in the world right now, it can be hard to remember that in some ways, the world is continuing on like it was before: our power is still on, our internet still works, and the goods we rely on are still being hauled around the country.

In fact, the importance of shipping has hardly ever been felt as strongly as it is now. Commercial trucks are among the only vehicles allowed across the border, and they’ve been delivering food and other goods to supermarkets and stores, keeping the shelves stocked. It’s clear that the trucks are important to the supply chain – but what about the truck drivers themselves?

​In the last few weeks, the world has changed completely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and daily life has been shaken to its very core. With almost everyone staying at home to practice social distancing, many businesses have suffered massive setbacks – some of them overwhelming – and some industries are laying off thousands.

However, all of those people – working or not, healthy or sick, at home or sheltering away from others – still need essential supplies: medical equipment, food, electronics to work from home, cleaning supplies, and much more. And that means the trucking industry, which delivers all of those and more to communities all over the country, is more important than ever as it keeps supply lines moving.