TORONTO, Ont. – The number of Canadian for-hire carriers decreased between 2001 and 2002, according to statistics released by the Ontario Trucking Association.

According to the OTA, there were an estimated 2,855 for-hire carriers in Canada with annual revenues of $1 million or more in the fourth quarter of 2002, down from 2,862 in the fourth quarter of 2001.

Both operating revenues (+0.3 per cent) and expenses (+1.2 per cent) were up in the fourth quarter of 2002 from the 2001 fourth quarter.

Average expenses in 2002 were $1.69 million, compared with $1.67 million during the same period of 2001. The increase in expenses was driven by higher wages and salaries, combined with depreciation, fuel and maintenance expenditures, according to the OTA.

Be that as it may, average costs per carrier were lower for payments to O/Os (-8.8 per cent) and purchased transportation services (-10.1 per cent).

The operating ratio (operating expenses divided by operating revenues) rose slightly to 94 cents on the dollar.

For-hire trucking transportation revenues from international movements increased by 21.1 per cent to more than $1.92 billion, from $1.59 billion in the fourth quarter of 2001, according to the OTA. Revenues from outbound movements were up to 19 per cent and revenues from inbound movements rose by more than 23 per cent.