The group wants the federal government to hold public hearings before allowing truckers to drive a mind-numbing 84 to 96 hours a week which could lead to more frequent big truck pile ups. It is concerned that truck safety enforcement may be overwhelmed by a 15 per cent annual growth in Ontario trucking. This followed a nine hour closure of the 401 near Kitchener a day earlier when a big truck smashed into traffic slowed in a construction zone. Closing the 401 costs millions of dollars in lost time and broken deliveries, in addition to the pain and suffering of victims. Truck drivers are underpaid and overworked.
Trucking is already a sweatshop industry.
Evans said that existing enforcement of trucking safety may be overwhelmed by the rapid growth of trucking. A recently released Statistics Canada report shows that truck loadings in Ontario increased 15 per cent in 1999 over 1998, with a phenomenal 26 per cent growth in just one year in truck tonnage on north-south trade highways. Ontario government inspectors are trying to do a good job, but more of them are needed and they need better tools. Transport Canada is opposed to mandating electronic recorders on trucks to stop dangerous cheating on hours of driving. He will meet this week to brief mayors and municipal officials in St. Catharines, Windsor, Sarnia, Niagara Falls and Kitchener.