Cliff Nankivell Trucking has found ways to remain busy, serve customers and remain safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The long-time Kisbey-based business, which employs about 24 drivers, five mechanics and several administrative people, has adapted well to the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Drivers are by themselves for most of the day, so social distancing isn鈥檛 as much of a factor as it is for other businesses.
鈥淭hey get their orders in the morning and away they go,鈥� said president Kalvin Nankivell. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 the same group of us around the shop in the morning, so nothing鈥檚 ever changed in that respect.鈥�
They have provided wipes, gloves and other supplies to the drivers in case they find themselves in a situation in which the sanitary equipment is needed.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had two safety meetings, and we鈥檝e had them in the big shop so that everyone鈥檚 sitting quite a ways from each other,鈥� he said.
They might have to touch a computer at different unloading spots, and some have been concerned they were touching the same keyboards as everyone else, so Nankivell shared those worries to oilfield companies, who came in with cleaning materials to wipe the keyboards every day.
The price of oil has affected the company more than anything else, Nankivell said, although it has been trending upwards since reaching a negative price last month.
鈥淲e have busy days and we have a lot of shorter days. We鈥檙e used to getting in at supper time or a little after, but we鈥檝e had some days where they get in at two in the afternoon. But it fluctuates up and down, depending on the workload of the day.鈥�
This would be a slow time of year because of road bans, but road bans are starting to come off now. Some people have taken voluntary layoffs, so the company hasn鈥檛 had to let anybody go. Employees are happy to still be working.
鈥淲e run into the same thing every year at this time of year,鈥� he said.
Cliff Nankivell Trucking is dedicated to providing high-quality oilfield services for any needs, such as design and field development execution. Their systems allow for load deliveries, and they haul crude oil for pipeline terminals and railyards.
The business has ready access to fresh water that can be heated for use in service work, and they offer vacuum truck services to help transport liquid and hazardous waste materials to their designated locations.
Pressure trucks are available to help test areas such as wellheads and pipelines in order to determine if leaks are present.
Outside of the oilfield, Cliff Nankivell Trucking has a gravel truck, and in the winter time they have a couple of steamers.
The company has been a big part of the Kisbey area for decades. It started as RE Line Trucking in the 1960s. Cliff Nankivell Trucking formed in 1979, and they鈥檝e been around ever since.
They take pride in being part of the community as well through volunteer work. Nankivell is the current mayor of Kisbey, and employees of the company sit on the village鈥檚 council. Both he and his father have been a big part of the Elks in Saskatchewan, while Nankivell鈥檚 wife and sister have both been presidents of the Rebekah Lodge in Saskatchewan.
Recently the company was part of a parade in the village in honour of a birthday, another example of what they do to enrich the lives of others in the village.
