TORONTO — Declining rates of southbound truck crossing from Ontario reflects the province’s weakening manufacturing base, says the Ontario Trucking Association.

Statistics issued earlier this week by the Public Border Operators Association (PBOA), show international truck traffic is down 5.6 percent for the first part of 2008 compared to the same period last year.

If the time-line comparison is extended to 2005, says OTA, the decrease in international truck crossings is 8.4 percent, which could translate into just under one million (900,000) fewer truck crossings in 2008 compared to 2005.

“Trucking activity is a leading economic indicator, and these numbers are yet another sign that the Ontario economy is going through a series of challenges that requires rethinking on the parts of all levels of government,” said OTA President David Bradley.

“The removal of this many international trucking shipments from the supply chain is a reflection of many causes including a high Canadian dollar, slumping U.S. economy and ongoing glut of border security programs.”

Weak US demand, the Canuck buck, and a glut of security
at the border is hurting international trade: OTA.

The trucking group wants the Ontario and federal governments to ease the pain for the trucking industry by improving the tax treatment of its equipment, introducing incentives for the purchase of energy efficient equipment and changes in regulatory language that would allow the industry to utilize more productive equipment.

PBOA President Stan Korosec, who is also VP of operations for Blue Water Bridge Canada, agrees that overlapping security measures are pushing more carriers away from international business.

“Our members are also concerned about the thickening of the border,” says Korosec.

He said his group has met with Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs officials to discuss the problems, adding that Canada Border Services Agency should also add staff so that similar delays are not experienced coming into Canada this summer.