Dear Editor,

As a small family-run trucking business, we will eventually be forced out of business due to high operating costs such as taxes, tolls, maintenance repairs and the ever-increasing cost of fuel (which has escalated to double the price charged in June 1999.)

The recent demonstration at the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick border (as well as those in Newfoundland and Ontario) should be supported by every trucker everywhere, as well as by all consumers. We must have the attention of government and the business community.

We only have two oil refineries in Atlantic Canada, so these people can charge whatever they want. There is no competition.

But there is lots of competition in the trucking industry. Good competition is healthy. Fair competition keeps everyone on a level playing field.

Competition in today’s fuel industry is neither fair nor healthy. Our fuel costs 73 cents per litre, and many reports from drivers tell us that the large carriers are paying as low as 38 cents per litre because they have written contracts. Is that fair and competitive?

It is quite unfair for the large carriers and the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association not to support these demonstrations.

Truckers are not shutting down their rigs on a whim. This is a sincere cry for help. They don’t want to lose their trucks and their jobs.

Perhaps somewhere there is someone with either the government or the major companies who can lend an ear to our cry and help make right this wrong that has happened to the trucking industry.

Lyle Eisner

Nova Scotia