Life on the Road: Ron McIntyre
August 20, 2025
Life on the Road: Ron McIntyre
For Bandstra Transportation driver Ron McIntyre, the route between Prince Rupert and Terrace is more than a stretch of highway — it’s a workplace, a changing landscape, and after 12 years, something close to home.
On any given day, McIntyre may be hauling LTL freight, completing port runs, or handling local deliveries. While long highway trips are part of the job, increasing activity around ports and local operations keeps his schedule varied.
“It keeps me busy more around town than on the highway,” he explains. Still, it’s the northern routes that stand out.
The drive between Prince Rupert and Terrace offers mountain views, wildlife sightings, and constantly changing conditions — experiences many people only encounter on vacation.
For McIntyre, they’re part of a typical workday. “Sometimes you see seals chasing salmon,” he says. “One morning I came across a brown bear just out of hibernation. The bear ran alongside his truck briefly, creating what he says would have been the perfect photograph, if only a camera had been within reach!
Photography has become one of McIntyre’s favourite hobbies outside of work, often sharing wildlife and scenery from the road with family and friends. But alongside the scenery comes responsibility.
Northern British Columbia highways are known for rapidly changing weather conditions, especially during winter months. “It changes very quickly from Rupert to Terrace,” McIntyre explains. “Snow’s more ice, and you’ve got to know the highway.”
Experience has taught him where conditions become difficult and how quickly things can shift.
That experience has also shaped his advice for newer drivers. “Drive at your own pace,” he says. “Wintertime especially — don’t let somebody push you to get to a drop.” His message is simple: arriving safely matters more than arriving quickly. “If road conditions aren’t very good, do it at your own pace and you’ll get there safe,” he says. “If you try to go faster, bad things could happen.”
“You work well together when there’s communication... That’s what I define as teamwork.”
Whether coordinating repairs, managing maintenance schedules, or supporting drivers on the road, he believes success comes from people working toward the same goal.
After more than a decade driving Northern BC routes, McIntyre still finds appreciation in the everyday moments many would overlook.
“I love the mountain scene on this drive,” he says. “Seeing this view and getting paid to see it… it’s nice.”
For drivers like Ron, transportation is about more than freight — it’s experience, patience, safety, and thousands of kilometres of stories along the way.
Watch the full video on YouTube to join Ron on the route between Prince Rupert and Terrace and hear more about life behind the wheel at Bandstra Transportation on our Youtube channel.
Recent Posts
- December 17, 2025
- Beyond the Delivery at Bandstra: Hy-Tech Drilling
- August 20, 2025
- Life on the Road: Ron McIntyre
- June 26, 2025
- Beyond the Delivery at Bandstra: Spotless Uniforms
- April 21, 2025
- Bandstra Biographies: Wade Koppen
- February 21, 2025
- Beyond the Delivery at Bandstra: Nufloors
- January 31, 2025
- Bandstra Roots: Truck No.1 Hits the Road
- November 21, 2024
- Bandstra Life on the Road: Bryant Bandstra
- October 30, 2024
- Bandstra Roots: History of our Mack B61
- August 29, 2024
- Beyond the Delivery: Fountain Tire
- August 9, 2024
- Bandstra Biographies: Tyson Vandevelde