MONTREAL, Que. – All the major components of carrier operating costs – labour, fuel, equipment and maintenance – will continue to come under upward pressure in 2006 and need to be covered through a combination of rates and surcharges, Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO David Bradley cautioned shippers at a recent speech in Montreal.

“The driver shortage has worsened and will become more acute in the years ahead. For the first time ever in 2005, the number of drivers over 55 years of age outnumbered those under 30 years old,” Bradley said. “Capacity will continue to be tight, even if there is some sluggishness in some sectors of the economy.”