TORONTO, (July 15, 2004) — The operators of the recently launched “fast” ferry between Toronto and Rochester, N.Y. are complaining that U.S. Customs and Border Protection isn’t acting fast enough in accommodating commercial truck traffic on the U.S. side.

Canadian-American Transportation Systems says they were depending on truck cargo to boost revenues, but are still waiting for the Port of Rochester to be set up for inspections and be approved by U.S. Customs to ship or receive commercial traffic. So far, only the Canadian terminal is prepared to process truck traffic.

The ferry, nicknamed The Breeze, is capable of carrying 750 people, 220 passenger cars, and about 10 transport trucks from downtown Toronto to the mouth of the Genesee River in Rochester. The trip takes about two hours and 15 minutes. A one-way ticket for a truck is $105.

CATS’ U.S. president Cornel Martin told local news that the truck cargo is the missing link of the three-week old service. The company is asking CBP to allow low-risk, Free and Secure Trade (FAST)-approved trucks onboard as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, Howard Thomas, president for CATS on this side of the border, told Today’s Trucking that his company was conducting research to gauge interest in additional truck services. He says the company was examining conditions based on fuel prices, border wait times, hours of service, and just-in-time demand in order to determine what aspects of the industry the ferry service could target further.

“We’re starting to see opportunities to become very active in the industry,” Thomas said at the time — adding that a truck-only ferry or dedicated truck sailing as night on the Breeze might be possibilities for the future. “There are some very creative opportunities being looked at.”

— with files from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle