Ontario-U.S. Truck Border Crossings Decline
Truck crossings from the Canadian province of Ontario into the United States have fallen 5.6% in 2008 compared with the same period last year, the Ontario Trucking Association said Thursday.
Citing statistics issued this week by the Public Border Operators Association, OTA said that international truck crossings are down 8.4% from three years ago, which would mean about 1 million fewer truck crossings this year compared with 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,” OTA President David Bradley said in a statement.
Trade with the United States has been the cornerstone of economic growth for Ontario, with trucking hauling upwards of 75% of trade measured by value, OTA said.
“The removal of this many international trucking shipments from the supply chain is a reflection of many causes including a high Canadian dollar, a slumping U.S. economy and an ongoing glut of border security programs, “Bradley said.
PBOA President Stan Korosec, who is also vice president of operations for Blue Water Bridge Canada, also said that his members were concerned about crossing times at the border due to security issues.
He said the group’s members have met with U.S. and Canadian security officials to avoid the long delays experienced last summer, and were pleased with efforts to date to facilitate trade and tourism without affecting security.
“We hope that the Canadian Government allocates the proper staffing and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency, so that similar delays are not experienced coming into Canada this summer,” Korosec said in a statement.
