Governments in Canada and the United States are imposing new COVID-19 vaccination requirements on truck drivers. Decision analysts say they can only push costs up, slow border traffic and disrupt supply chains.
Barry Prentice, a professor of supply chain management at the University of Manitoba, believes that the government does not properly assess risks and benefits.
“I really don’t know why they’re doing this. Perhaps it’s a concept of injustice between modes because it forced airlines and railroads to ensure that everyone was vaccinated. And they think they have to do this for trucking, but that’s irrelevant, “Prentice said in an interview.
“It doesn’t make much sense if you’re just taking a taxi.”
Effective January 15, fForeign truck driver The Public Health Agency of Canada announced on November 19, 2021 that it can only enter Canada if it is fully vaccinated.
Similar requirements, which came into effect on 22 January, were created for non-US truck drivers across the United States and were announced by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on 23 November.
Prentice said the move was $ 500 for goods shipped across the US border in dry vans or flatbeds, compared to goods shipped the same distance in Canada, according to a recent price analysis. It suggests that it represents the premium of. He predicts that the price of agricultural products will rise.
“In the margin, the price goes up and the quantity of goods in stock goes down. That’s a pretty straightforward forecast,” Prentice said.
“What the government people don’t seem to understand is that without the truck we would all be pretty hungry. We depend on them. They are as much as nurses. It’s important to the economy and our health. “
“Fine balance”
Ron Foxcroft, President and CEO of Hamilton’s Fluke Transportation Group, believes this policy is more disruptive to the supply chain than any virus. His company specializes in transportation, warehousing and distribution, transporting 125 trucks and 500 trailers to grocery stores, large supercenters and pharmacies. The winner of the Order of Canada is Fox 40 International Inc, which ships sports and marine products to sports leagues, the military and police in 140 countries. Also established.
“We have two employees who are not vaxxed. And God blesses them and I respect them. And I change their minds and discuss with them. I’m not going to do that, “Foxcroft told The Epoch Times, adding that he was triple-baked.
“Our truck drivers are on their trucks. They live on their trucks. They work on trucks. Their office is on their trucks and they wear masks. They are not COVID spreaders. We are the lowest COVID spreader industry on the planet. “
Nonetheless, Foxcroft predicts less traffic as authorities have confirmed the legitimacy of vaccine passports at the border, which has only added to the annoyance of recent years.
“Since the pandemic began, the cost of trucking has skyrocketed. You already know the cost of fuel. But all the equipment, hand sanitizers, and three-layer Fox 40 masks needed to operate according to the rules. It costs more to operate because of the social distance, “Foxcroft said.
“I don’t think they weighed the delicate balance between keeping North America safe and feeding North America. Well, what the law is trying to do. [is] Soar the price of important services, including groceries. “
Foxcroft wants the government to rethink and provide amnesty, even if it is temporary.
“I resist littering to the government, but I say this: you are given two ears and one mouth. Government, use proportionally,” Foxcroft said. ..
“Give our trucking industry on both sides of the border a six-month exemption from this law in order to carry out change, change, strategic direction, recruitment, recruitment and maintenance strategies.”
“Industry slack”
January 11th Canadian Truck Alliance (CTA) Released data According to Truck HR Canada and Statistics Canada, it had a vacancy rate of 8% in the third quarter of 2021 and the second highest vacancy rate in the country after the accommodation and food services sector.Currently, the number of vacant seats for truck drivers is 22,990, the highest ever, and the CTA is 12,000 to 16,000 truck drivers can leave Vaccine duty industry.
Jim Wraith of Canada, the owner-operator of his own refrigerated truck, leases his service full-time to a Toronto-based company. He also opposes the policy, but it’s unclear how significant the short-term impact will be.
“Virtually every driver I know runs less and works less than before COVID. There is a lot of slack in the industry, just there. And the supply chain is already ruined. So if some drivers decide not to go to the United States anymore, I don’t know how important that will be, “Ray said.
The US Supreme Court has ruled against President Joe Biden’s administration’s order to require workers to be vaccinated or weekly tested by US companies with more than 100 employees. In addition, US OSHA said the vaccine obligation does not apply to solo truck drivers and other employees who “do not report to workplaces with other individuals such as colleagues or customers.”
Nonetheless, this obligation applies to team drivers and is a border restriction and is not affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling, according to The Wall Street Journal. Thus, new immigration requirements remain in both countries, and Ray, who has been double vaccinated, calls him “stupid.”
“When you leave a big city, everyone ignores it …. New York is probably blocked. If you go to a receiver or truck stop, or somewhere in New York, I don’t wear a mask. I don’t. Almost no one does.
“That is, the world is different … but in Ontario, everyone is surprised about it here.”
follow
Lee Harding is a Saskatchewan-based journalist and think tank researcher and contributor to The Epoch Times.