July 2007—One way the Conservative government can entice more workers into this industry is to ensure that they receive fair and balanced treatment with meal allowances.

 

Forecasts promise that the trucking industry is in for a difficult year.

They are looking for the Conservative government to proactively deal with several issues. There is a chronic shortage of truck drivers; billions of dollars are wasted in the industry yearly by clogged border crossings into the U.S. while the rising dollars threatens exports.

 

There are about 10,000 competing for-hire trucking companies facing difficulties with rising fuel costs. BC and Alberta is booming. The trucking companies have more business than they can handle. The Asian port market fuels BC and Alberta. Some trucking companies are missing contracts because they don’t have the drivers available.

Truckers are facing rising fuel costs and new service rules in Canada and the U.S. Low-sulphur diesel fuel and the more expensive smog-free engines are increasing their costs dramatically.

 

One way the Conservative government can entice more workers into this industry is to ensure that they receive fair and balanced treatment with meal allowances. Currently truckers max out their daily meal allowance at half of $51 per day without receipts. CRA is denying and reassessing owner operators that are not incorporated, denying claims on TL2s if they cannot produce receipts going back three years.

The federal government does not expect their employees travelling on business, be reduced to that state. Therefore, they pay their government employees, $78. The employee simply fills in an expense claim and the government cuts a cheque for the full amount.

 

TruckSpeaker’s German Connection

Bringing Skilled German, Dutch and Danish trades people to Canada.