Canadian Truckers Warn of Retaliation

SAN FRANCISCO — The head of the Canadian Trucking Alliance is putting the United States on notice: end unfair trade practices, such as restrictions on Canadian trucks hauling freight back to their home country, or the association will push Canada to strictly enforce its trade laws.

David Bradley, president of the alliance, also urged Congress to repeal a federal law requiring all non-U.S. citizens entering or departing the country to submit to an automated border check. Implementation of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 was placed on hold by Congress last year because of concerns that it would clog border crossings.

“We need to overcome these things, because it will cause retaliation,” Bradley said in a Dec. 7 speech to members of the Western Highway Institute. “If we don’t see moderation on the U.S. side, we will have to insist that our government enforce our laws.” Canada does not strictly enforce its immigration laws, according to Bradley.

Canadian carriers are upset that the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has not updated its cabotage regulations to mirror changes made by the U.S. Customs Service in February. Those rules allow Canadian trucks to carry freight if they are returning to Canada or going to pick up cargo for export to Canada ("INS Deportations Anger Canadian Trucking," 12-6, p. 3).

For the full story, see the Dec. 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.