Salit Steel is a structural steel distributor and rebar fabricator that specializes in quick

turn around and delivery of steel for the construction industry. It is a family owned and operated 5th generation business that first opened its doors back in 1905. Since then, the company has grown in the past decade from doing business predominantly in Ontario to now serving customers across Canada and the Northeastern US.

In the early years, the company transported its products to customers with a push buggy. Not long thereafter, it was a significant milestone when the first horse was purchased to make deliveries. As the company continued to grow, trucks entered the picture in the 1930s and they soon became instrumental in meeting the demands of getting Salit’s unique products into the hands of its ever-increasing customer base. Once the Commercial Vehicle Operator’s

Registration (CVOR) program was initiated in Ontario, Salit immediately became a member and began hauling its own outbound and inbound freight consisting of structural steel as well as fabricated and modular rebar.

Transporting Salit Steel’s products presents a variety of unique challenges due to the loads being so wide and long. According to Salit’s Compliance Coordinator Courtney Foster, “The loads that we haul are a bit like fingerprints –
no two are exactly the same. This can make load securement difficult when you are dealing with a daily average of 100 loads and 60 drivers.”

To meet those challenges, the company has incorporated a number of strategies. According to Courtney, “I believe that our training process has been our biggest advantage to meeting and surpassing any obstacles we have come across. Due to our loads being so unique, we ensure that all new drivers go through a rigorous training program before they move into their own truck.”

This program consists of training related specifically to pre-trip, load securement, and defensive driving.

It is provided by Frontline Commercial Vehicle Solutions Inc., which consists of ex Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) officers and police officers who are experienced, knowledgeable and efficient in all aspects of transportation. During the training process, and before they go through a final road test, the new drivers spend a minimum of two weeks co-driving with Salit’s driver trainers who are a seasoned group of the company’s longest tenured drivers. As Courtney emphasizes, “Although this may seem like a long training process to some, we find it is necessary to ensure the safety of our drivers and everybody else on the road as well.”

Salit’s continually expanding fleet in Ontario consists of 28 heavy duty trucks, seven stake trucks, 200 trailers, and 42 drivers. Since its business is very cyclical and weather dependent, the company can go from dispatching
35 trucks on one day to 60 trucks the next. A network of trusted brokers is also utilized to assist with any fluctuations in delivery expectations in order to ensure that the best possible customer service is maintained. 

Salit’s fleet is managed in-house by Logistics Manager Mike Pressey and his team of six people including a compliance coordinator, an inbound coordinator, three dispatchers, and a logistics supervisor. In addition to its Ontario fleet, the company has dozens of trucks and hundreds of trailers outside of the province that, although not centrally managed, are closely monitored for compliance and safety, and steadfastly operate according to the company’s basic core philosophies.

While the majority of Salit Steel’s fleet, including the logistics office, is based out of its Niagara Falls location, it also operates from other locations throughout Ontario including Ottawa, Bowmanville, Belleville, Mississauga, Burlington, Concord, Etobicoke, and Welland.

The fleet is serviced and maintained by Ryder Canada, but Salit manages all of its paperwork in-house in order to allow for easy access to maintenance records and to ensure compliance at every level.

“We track every asset to ensure compliance with our Preventative Maintenance (PM) Statement and we do not allow for any exceptions to the rules whatsoever.

The PM Statement specifies that we closely examine all of our assets within a certain period of time to prevent any unplanned downtime or unexpected equipment failure,” says Courtney.

When it comes to modernizing its fleet and taking advantage of the industry’s most current technologies, Courtney is quick to stress Salit’s forward-thinking approach. “We continuously strive to stay informed and ahead of the curve when it comes to industry advancements and safety. For example, when we initially heard about MTO’s pending electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, we made sure to be one of the first to go completely electronic. We sought out the approved companies supplying the technology and began early in the process to shop for the perfect fit, both for our drivers and for ourselves. Once we were able to nail down the details, we went completely electronic well ahead of the first mandate, or soft launch, if you will, and have not looked back. Since then, we have added our paperwork and dispatch to the process and have gone almost completely paperless. The system allows us easy access to accurate ETAs without having to call or message our drivers, which allows them to focus on the most important thing – safety.”

In describing Salit’s business philosophy, Courtney puts it simply. “We are a customer oriented, get the job done, next-day business that prioritizes the health and safety of our employees and our surrounding communities. It has been a challenge to grow this model and maintain a family feel in our business, but it is a challenge that we have willingly taken on.”

In the last year, Salit Steel has expanded into new locations, boasts an all-time high number of drivers and units, and continues to look for areas in which to grow. Its goal is to build its fleet to 50 drivers in order to support the company’s growing business in the years to come.

Salit Steel is a member of the Private Motor Truck Council (PMTC) and is a committed supporter of the organization. Says Courtney, “Our goal as a company is to be at the forefront of initiatives and safety. Being a part of PMTC allows us easy access to all information regarding the transportation industry, while also being part of a like-minded group that has safety at the top of its priority list. Being in an industry that is constantly growing and changing, it is reassuring to be part of a group like PMTC where you can bounce ideas off or network with people who may be dealing with the same issues or celebrating the same victories as you.