Dump truck operators to rally in Toronto area
Dump truck operators who continue to fight recent changes to Ontario weights and dimensions are holding a road rally through the Greater Toronto Area today.
The protesters are scheduled to leave Ontario Khalsa Darbar on Dixie Road in Mississauga at 9 am.
Those participating in the Don’t Dump on Us campaign report that at least 1,000 used dump trucks don’t comply with the latest Safe, Productive, Infrastructure Friendly (SPIF) configurations.
The underlying changes largely focus on requirements for steerable lift axles and load equalizing systems to maintain maximum weights.
The regulations themselves were rolled out in four phases between 2000 and 2011, and included nearly a decade of grandfathering periods for existing equipment.
The Ontario Dump Truck Association (ODTA) argues that members were not given enough notice about the changes, and says the cost of equipment upgrades – worth $20,000 to $40,000 per truck – place a heavy burden on small operators.
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When you buy a business or get into business you do your due dilegence and from there you decide, the weight restrictions are not something new. Why should dump trucks get any more of an advantage then all other truckers.
Mr Del Duca can spoon for all the votes he wants but the fact remains the SPIF compliance rules have been in play for a number of years and just because someone wants to get into the dump business doesn’t mean they shouldn’t follow the rules as they apply to ALL.
If any group of morons can block the system something is wrong with the system!
You idiots!
The rules make sense – this rally is making climate change worse, their noise and air pollution doesn’t help at all. They just made the whole point against them stronger by increasing their environmental footprint this day – the emissions should get documented and marked in the books for them to reverse as the new regulations kick in.
I believe that many of the dump truck operator have come to their own demise of cutting rates and driving like idiots, causing accidents and end up raising insurance rates through the roof not just for them, but all of us. Fifteen years to comply, and wait the last minute. Wow. The straight truck dump truck who are protesting and some tractor trailer operators do not have respect amongst other truck drivers. It’s a shame what this industry has become.
The truckers avoid the scales and use the regional roads. Very problematic for drivers and cyclists not on hwys.
I hope the government doesn’t give in on this one. There has been plenty of notice on this, and most companies have already spent the money to comply. They state that it is an unfair because the it costs too much to comply, what about the other companies that had to spend the money. Will the government repay them for their increased costs. I think they should also look at the year the current owner purchased the truck. If these operators took advantage of cheaper trucks, due to the impending regulation change, they new the risk.
We need minimum rates and availability of affordable insurance and minimum rates of $24.00 for local truck drivers of 30,000 kg or more and to go up 50 cents per year to a rate of a minimum of $30.00 per hour after 12 years
Foolishness that will accomplish nothing. The time for input was fifteen years or more ago when this whole thing was being conceived but like always wait until it is on top of you then act silly. Some of these people have bought new equipment that did not comply in the last few years. Why would you do that? It was the same nonsense years ago when these guys were going to the auctions and buying highway spec’d equipment ant then complaining they couldn’t max out with a truck built for running on the highway in the U.S. at 80,000 gross. Same clowns that brought rates down as costs rose.
I don’t like the 7.2 meter length rule, I’d rather be able to run about 315 to 325 wheelbase but they aren’t going to let me just so I could have the amenities I want.