MONTREAL, Que. – Canadian National president Paul Tellier is continuing his public focus on revenue lost to the trucking industry, looking for his industry to be more competitive, and asking for tax breaks along the way.

In another speech, Tellier told the Canadian Railway Club that CN faces daunting competition from the four largest American railways. But he left little question that his company’s largest competitor is the trucking industry.

Canada’s railways have lost 21 per cent of their share of intercity freight since the 1960s, while the trucking industry now claims 88 per cent, up from 67 per cent.

“Our service in the past was lousy,” he admitted in the speech. “We have had a tough time getting our act together, but we’ve come a long way in a short time.” n