The Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) is calling on the provincial government to permit the use of tax-reduced dyed diesel in truck trailer refrigeration units immediately.

Currently, trucking companies in the province are not eligible to use tax reduced dyed diesel to power refrigeration units on their truck trailers. Other industries in the province including agriculture and forestry are eligible to use dyed diesel on equipment that does not touch the highway, but the trucking industry is not, according to a STA news release.

George Henderson, STA director of operations and member services, is disappointed with the government for not allowing trucking companies to use tax-reduced dyed diesel, “This extra road tax on diesel fuel used for refrigeration units on truck trailers is not only unfair because of these refrigeration units never touching the road, but because of how these additional taxes from the government are driving up the price of food in the province.”

Each refrigeration unit on a truck costs an extra $24,000 to fuel each year with the 12 cents per litre road tax continuing to be charged on them, the release noted. These units transport food and critical medications across the province and the additional costs to fuel them are being passed on to consumers every time they visit the grocery store.

“It is crucial that government put the priorities of Saskatchewan people first and commit to stop raising the price of food and critical medications,” Henderson said.