KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Bob Stocking Jr. hauls wood products – mostly softwood – for T.C. Trucking, so it’s little surprise the U.S.-imposed softwood lumber tariffs are weighing on his mind.

He is already feeling the effects of the 19.3 per cent countervailing duties that were slapped on softwood exports this summer.

“We used to do regular runs, but now we don’t know where we’re going ahead of time,” says Stocking.

Although things have slowed down considerably for the company, he isn’t concerned that layoffs will occur any time soon at his fleet.

Stocking feels he drives for a decent fleet that pays reasonably well and treats its drivers well.

But there’s nothing his company can do about the other concerns he has to face on a daily basis – like bad drivers.

“I can’t wait until summer ends so we get all the tourists off the road,” he says.