DIEPPE, N.B. — The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association is continuing to distance itself from an ad-hoc group of 500 independent truckers that have blocked parts of highways in northern New Brunswick. The carrier association is also urging officials and police to force an end to the three-day protest, which the APTA says is keeping its members hostage.
“This delay is having devastating financial effects on for-hire trucking companies which have hundreds of loaded trucks sitting at the side of the road, many of them with perishable goods such as meat, etc.,” APTA said in a press release.

The owner-ops — who call themselves the Truckers and Drivers Association of North America and appear to represent mainly the raw forest product independent carriers serving the pulp and lumber mills in northern New Brunswick — shut their trucks down on the Trans-Canada and are blocking truck traffic in Saint-Jacques and at exits in Saint-Leonard, Saint- Andre and Perth-Andover.

Traffic was also held up at Campbellton and Tide Head in the north, and Baker Brook and Saint-Quentin. The truckers are blocking other commercial vehicles and are asking motorists to sign a petition calling for government to cut fuel taxes and take action against oil companies who have raised energy prices over 20 percent in the last couple weeks.

Diesel in the area is between $1.16 to $1.20 a litre — about 50 or 60 cents more than what many of the contacted truckers negotiated a year ago.

The APTA has endeavored to mediate with government, the RCMP and the independents in facilitating meetings in order communicate on the issues of concern. “We are sympathetic to the independent’s concerns,” says APTA President Ralph Boyd, “however we have to ensure the unobstructed movement of consumables throughout our region.”

The RCMP has sent in a tactical troop to negotiate with the truckers, but talks failed yesterday. Police say they force the truckers to move along if the blockade continues much longer.

Boyd suggested the owner-ops work harder at recouping fuel surcharges to mitigate the rising cost of fuel. “Most of the carriers of the APTA already receive compensation from their shippers for the increase in fuel prices through a fuel surcharge,” explains Boyd. “In return, APTA carriers are compensating their owner operators in various formats. In today’s economic environment, a fuel surcharge is imperative if a trucking company or owner operator is going to remain in business.”

The APTA has asked all its carrier members to advise their on-road personnel to act responsibly and to avoid all confrontation with the protesters during this dispute in hopes of a swift painless conclusion.