He crossed the La Vérendrye wildlife reserve more than 8000 times

David Prince
Arthur Carrier is always the trucker, even at the age of 87 years. Today, its heavy weight has been replaced with a van.

David Prince

Monday, 17 July, 2017 06:30

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Monday, 17 July, 2017 06:30

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THE SAAR | The Second world War was not completed when Arthur Carrier has transported its first trip of wood in the Abitibi. Since, he has practically ceased to be a truck driver.

Aged 87 years, Mr. Carrier carries each week of fruits and vegetables between Montreal and The Saarland. Its heavy weight has been replaced with a minivan, but it does not prevent it from having a crazy fun.

“It is the most beautiful profession in the world ! You talk to your boss before you leave, but once you’re sitting in the truck, it is you who decide, and you do your job as best you can. As long as I’m still in shape, I don’t see why I would stop. I hope I make it until at least 90 years, ” said the one, two of whose five children have retired before their father.

He’s cheating on his age

In 1944, at the age of 14 years, Arthur Carrier was so much the taste of driving a truck that is aged for three years to have the right to start. The legal age was then 20 years old, but with the signature of someone, one could have his / her licence at 17 years. In The Saarland, in the 1940s, there were very few checks.

“My father didn’t want to sign. He said that I was too young. It is the father of my boss who has agreed to do so, three years before I had the legal age. It was already two years that I was a helper, and he needed a driver, ” recalls Mr. Carrier.

8000 times in the park

Arthur Carrier is the truck drivers of today are very spoiled with air-conditioning and automation of the loading of the trucks. In its first years of work, they had to fill out the hand-truck of wood. “It is said that it was the trucker, but it was much longer to load the truck to drive between beaucanton” designation and The Saar “, he remembers.

From 1955 and for thirty years he has made the round trip between The Saar and the Montreal or Toronto three times per week. He had to cross the La Vérendrye wildlife Reserve more than 8000 times.

“At the beginning, the road was not paved. You could do several flat tires per trip. It had to be a hustler “, he says.

When his wife received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, it has ceased to make the long-distance transport to be with her. He worked all night in the Abitibi and taking care of his wife on the day. The latter died in 2015, and was still living in the family home.

In spite of everything, Mr. Carrier has worked full-time until the age of 79 years. Since then, he made small contracts.

Carole Filiatreault would want to entrust the transportation of its fruit and vegetables to anyone other than Mr. Carrier. “He is so conscientious. Strawberries or blueberries, it is very fragile, but with him, I really trusted, ” she said.

Since the death of his wife, he sees his work as a way to pass the time.

“I really am better behind the wheel than sitting in front of my television. I know everyone along the route. I wouldn’t be able to chat to Tim Hortons for hours as others are doing, ” he said.

Moreover, her fondest memories remain with the people he met in the course of his work.

Tested each year

Since he was 75 years, Mr. Carrier has to pass a driving test each year for the right to drive trucks. He has never had the difficulty to pass it, according to him.

“For me, a truck, it is the most beautiful adventure of my life. I would not be able to do more driving, ” he said.

His reflexes have saved three lives

Photo courtesy

Arthur Carrier poses proudly in front of a truck of wood in length in the 1970s, somewhere in the Abitibi region.

THE SAARLAND | In the 73 year career as a truck driver, Arthur Carrier has never been involved in a serious accident.

He remembers, however, have paid once with his truck on a road north of The Saar, but it has undoubtedly saved three lives.

“It was in a curve and a truck was coming in my way. I gave a move of the steering wheel to avoid it. The police officer told me that if I had not done it, the three persons would not be without a doubt more of this world, ” said the one who took the wheel the next day.

According to him, the fact that he had never injured another motorist is one of the reasons why he still does this business. “I have colleagues who have been involved in accidents and it is very hard to forget. Me, I’ve never experienced it and I am very lucky, ” he said.

Concentration

The driver emeritus, is very critical towards some of the drivers of today that lack of concentration. He has always considered his steering wheel and his truck as a weapon that can kill if care is not taken.

According to him, the road is no more dangerous today than in the 1970s or 1980s, with the exception of young people who use their cell phones behind the wheel.

Arthur Carrier says he never thought of retiring. For him, the work is a way of feeling useful for the society.

“I took a vacation and we had fun. But there is nothing like the feeling of doing something useful. “