Ontario OKs HOS exemption for fuel haulers during shortage
TORONTO -- Petroleum carriers will be allowed to exceed new hours-of-service limitations until the fuel supply situation is expected to be stabilized in mid-March, the Ontario Trucking Association reports. Effective immediately, gasoline, diesel and heating oil haulers are expect from elements of Ontario Regulation 555/06, including: 9(3), 11(2)(d)(iii) or 11(3)(d)(iii) in respect to the elapsed time accumulated; 13(1) in respect to the mandatory 24 hours off-duty time in the preceding 14 days; and 13(2) in respect to not driving after accumulating 70 hours on-duty time in a seven day period. The exemption, in place until March 15, 2007, covers drivers transporting these products or returning after transporting; or if the vehicle is empty and destined to a location to receive another load of gasoline, diesel fuel, or home heating fuel. "It should help ensure that the fuel haulers don’t run out of hours before making their deliveries," says David Bradley, president of the Ontario Trucking Association. "We anticipate that there will be long line-ups at the fuel loading depots for the next while." Bradley said that major diesel fuel suppliers told its customers that the situation went from “good” to “critical” in 24 hours yesterday. OTA has been in discussion with both the federal and provincial governments regarding the association’s proposal to allow truckers to temporarily use low-sulfur railway grade off-road diesel until production capacity is back to normal levels. Bradley says that OTA has been informed that there are millions of litres of this fuel available and that the Nanticoke refinery, even at low capacity, can produce off-road diesel much quicker than new ULSD standard. OTA has been waiting a week for Environment Minister John Baird’s decision. "It’s complicated, and legislation might be required, but where there’s a will ...," says Bradley. x