Dear Editor:

As an American trucker stuck following your regulations while in Ontario, I have in the last 2.5 years formed opinions on many of them. First, your speed limiter law: My first question is, did you have trucks going that fast that you had to regulate their top speed? Where was  the OPP? I rarely see more than four patrol cars between Detroit or Port Huron and the GTA – it is no wonder they speed so much! I set my truck at 105 km/h and I can’t keep up with most of the other trucks – especially ones with Ontario plates!

Next, did anyone bother to see what setting a truck like this does to fuel economy? I have lost about half a mile to the gallon. And finally, where is there a sign going into Ontario saying that you have to set your truck to 105 anyway? The signs say ‘All large trucks must have speed limiters,’ but not what they have to be set at.

Finding out what it had to be set at cost me $400 and I had it set the next day after I got the ticket. It has always appeared to me that the province has tried its best to hide the rules.

Also, when it comes to your logbook rules, why if I am on a seven-day cycle do I need to have 14 days worth of logs on me at any time for inspection and why must I write in what cycle I am on? I can figure that out from seven days’ logs and I am not that good at math.

It has always appeared to me that Canada has done everything it could to make it a pain in the butt for Americans to operate there. Your Ministry of Transportation is also very selective in who they inspect. Many times when I am pulled around back, I will not see a Canadian licence plate back there with me.  

Your regulatory people obviously haven’t noticed Canadian operators are the ones not following the rules. Your paper does a good job keeping information flowing – keep it up!

Darren Catenacci
Flint, Mich.