It is with the deepest sadness and broken hearts, we announce the passing of Dave MacMillan on August 15, 2024, at the age of 68.

Dave was the much loved husband of Cathy (née Draycott) for 39 years and the loved father of Lindsay and Nick. Son of the late Emerson and Anna Attje MacMillan, brother to John (Seran) and Anna Idell (Dave). Son-in-law of Fred Draycott and the late Irene Draycott, brother-in-law to Kelly Draycott (Angie), and family Aaran Leonard and Parker Draycott. He was also much loved as an ‘honorary’ grandson by the late Herman and Vera Madigan, Cathy’s maternal grandparents. He will be fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends. Dave will also be missed by the family cats, Jack, ZeeZee and Duffy. Dave will be also be missed by friends and all those who knew him in the Parry Sound community.

As a child, Dave spent cherished summer months at the family cottage on Rose Island. He met Cathy at university, and together they shared a love for Georgian Bay, eventually making Parry Sound their permanent home in the mid ’80s. As a young man, Dave would watch the big, shiny rigs, all decked out with lights and chrome, heading out on the road to the Southwest U.S. Coast. He knew right then that one day, that's exactly what he wanted to do. (Quite a contrast from the original plan to become a lawyer.)

Dave was a 50-year veteran of the trucking industry, with over 5 million miles behind him—fulfilling that childhood dream. In the late '90s, he co-owned a trucking company with Cathy. After easing into semi-retirement, Dave, Cathy, and eventually their son Nick, founded the highly popular YouTube channel, Smart Trucking, dedicated to mentoring and supporting truck drivers. Through thousands of videos, live streams, blog posts, interviews, articles, and newsletters, Dave became a powerful advocate for professional truckers, tackling issues like driver pay, safety, and working conditions. His voice was respected across the industry, earning him the title of ‘Voice of the Trucker.’ He wasn’t afraid to address contentious topics others shied away from, and he was passionate about improving the trucking industry for drivers everywhere. Dave believed that being a professional truck driver was a privilege and reminded his trucker community of the immense responsibility that comes with the role. His impact extended globally, touching the lives of drivers in Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the U.K., Europe, Norway, Sweden, Alaska, Hawaii, and beyond. He deeply cared for the well-being of each and every truck driver. A lasting tradition of Smart Trucking is the phrase as voted by the online Smart Trucking Community: “Stay safe. Keep the rubber side down, and I’ll catch you on the backhaul.” This phrase will continue to resonate with his trucking community, symbolizing his dedication to the safety and well-being of truck drivers.

Dave will be deeply missed by the entire Smart Trucking Community, including YouTube subscribers, members, and especially those from the regular live streams. His loss will be felt by the millions of online supporters, as well as by all who knew him from his many years in the trucking industry.

A private service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Georgian Bay Biosphere, American Holistic Medical Foundation, Truckers Against Trafficking (There’s also free training for anyone to recognize trafficking) or the Canadian Cancer Society.