TORONTO (Nov. 14, 2002) — The Ontario Trucking Association yesterday announce a campaign to promote a better working relationship among carriers, shippers, consignees, and third-party logistics providers.

The association is encouraging carriers to distribute a new fold-out poster entitled, “You’ve Got a Lot Riding on Us … We’ve Got a Lot Riding on You” to their shippers and to the consignees and 3PLs where they unload freight.

The poster is the brain-child of a committee of carriers established by the association to examine concerns related to loading/unloading, driver-dock worker relations, and the general level of communication between all those with a role in the distribution process.

The brochure asks shippers, receivers, and 3PLs to follow some basic steps aimed at a stronger partnership with carriers, which in turn will enhance the commitment of carriers to providing the most efficient, productive, and responsive service possible to the shippers. The brochure also asks shippers to recognize the legitimacy of fuel surcharges and to use only legitimate load brokers who pay their bills.

“What we are trying to do is to begin to break down the barriers to communication and to get people thinking about how our efficiency is your efficiency,” said OTA president David Bradley. “It is not OTA’s role to become directly involved in the business relationships between carriers and their customers, but the members feel we can assist in the general communication of the carriers’ concerns and solutions.”

Copies of the brochure can be obtained by contacting OTA’s communications department at 416/249-7401 or info@ontruck.org.