Dear Editor,

(Ed: With regards to “FCA recommends increase in trucking rates” which appeared on the Truck News Web site.)

That’s something everyone has been waiting for. Where was this brainstorm some 10 or 20 years ago when trucking for the little guy was almost making a decent living?

It’s about time businesses started charging for ALL services and recouping expenses, maybe then the industry will attract more drivers, O/Os etc. It’s really sad to realize the quality drivers and O/Os the industry has lost to the current situation of low revenue, unpaid waiting time, unpaid border waiting time, higher fuel costs and repair and maintenance costs, also what is needed is quite a few more tax breaks to bring Canadian O/Os in line with their U.S. counterparts pertaining to depreciation of equipment.

It sure would boost sales and the economy if truck sales increased due to more effective depreciation allowances. I was an O/O for eight and a half years with the same four-year-old truck. I did fairly well but could have done quite a bit better with more revenue, assistance tax-wise as well as a watchdog to protect unscrupulous companies who exploit O/Os with unfair business practices and policies while they turn a fat dollar even when the O/O isn’t expected to.

Ron Elliott

Via e-mail