CTA warns new pallet requirements could slow Canada/US trade
OTTAWA, Ont. — The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has voiced concerns about supply chain disruptions that could result from US requirements that wood packaging materials such as pallets be treated for bugs before crossing the border.
The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule in December that would eliminate a Canadian exemption on the treatment of pallets and dunnage entering the US, requiring them to be heat or chemically treated to eliminate the spread of harmful insects.
Current rules do not apply to products coming from Canada. According to the US Department of Agriculture, about 320 million pallets are used every year to transport goods across the Canada/US border. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has said it would also eliminate a US exemption for pallets entering Canada from the US. The whole thing has the CTA worried about more border backups.
“CTA takes no position on the science behind the decision to eliminate the exemption,” said CTA chief David Bradley. “Canada and the US share a common interest in protecting our forest resources, and if this means treatment of pallets and dunnage, then so be it. But at the same time, CTA’s discussions with industry and government officials have made it abundantly clear that we are simply not ready at this time to ensure that there is an adequate supply of treated WPM in circulation to meet the demands of Canada-US trade, and nor has APHIS outlined detailed plans on how it will apply and enforce the rules at the border.”
In a written statement to APHIS, the trucking group said enforcement should not begin until there are enough compliant pallets in circulation to meet demands.
“CTA is not trying to be obstructive, and we welcome the opportunity to work with officials in both Canada and the US on how to implement this change without disrupting trade,” said Bradley. “CTA has seen too many examples in recent years where new measures affecting the border have been rushed, only to be withdrawn at the 11th hour when it became apparent that they were unworkable. Let’s just take the time to get this right.”
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Oh please is there anything in this bloody world the government and CTA are not going to MESS around with. I have been in this industry long enough to know there sure has been one heck of a lot of “in bed under the sheets” shall we say talk and change…Can’t help but wonder with all these rules and regulations and with the economy the dollar and every other dense excuse that shippers carriers and consignees use to shortcut the money that WE the DRIVERS (SHOULD BE RECEIVING) who without us all of you and yes I do MEAN ALL OF YOU would be JOBLESS oh and BTW NO EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE and should have ZERO PENSIONS too but thats another story…simple just stay out of my pocket let me do MY damn JOB!!! this used to be fun but now with HOS RULES changed SPEED LIMITERS imposed (this is another axe to grind…its been Law in ONTARIO for 2 years but why is it I seem to be the only truck governed to between 100 and 105 kms? and no enforcement) hmmm interesting and now another HOS possible change to stay in bed with the USA, fuel rebates and exise taxes and now PALLETS OMG do you all have nothing better to do…well here’s something you can all do… FIND A BETTER WAY TO GET AROUND CITIES IN CANADA…ESPECIALLY TORONTO…MAKE IT JUST FOR THE TRUCKS AFTER ALL WE ARE THE DANGEROUOS DRIVERS WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC, CUTTING PEOPLE OFF, SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF 120KMS PER HOUR PASSING ON THE RIGHT IN A MERGE LANE, FAILING TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY…IMPROPER LANE CHANGES(FAILING TO SIGNAL)….THANKS BOYS AND GIRLS FOR THE LACK OF INTELLIGENCE AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT WE THE FREAKING PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS GET FROM ALL OF YOU..I AM GOING TO LOOK INTO THE SHIPPING AND RECEIVING END OF THIS AS A HORSE AND BUGGY CARRIER…WOW KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND PUT YOUR SELVES ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINES…YOUR JOBS ARE BECOMING REDUNDANT!!!! USE CAUTION AND SELF CONTROL MAKING RULES AND REGULATION CHANGES HURTS US ALL!!!!!