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Gravel Haulers Protest Milton MTO Weigh Station
Posted: Apr 27, 2012 12:00 AM | Last Updated: Apr 30, 2012 12:00 PM

MILTON, ON - - Seventy four tractor trailers and 142 truckers occupied the eastbound MTO weigh station Thursday afternoon to register displeasure with what they perceive as inconsistent, unfair, and unnecessary enforcement of rules that, they say, don’t make sense.

One of the protest leaders was Michael McCallum of Woodbridge, ON-based KH  United Trucks.  He said that the truckers hope to have another meeting with Ministry officials Friday morning in Brampton to discuss their concerns.

“This is my first act of civil disobedience, ever,” he told todaystrucking.com. 

At the heart of the grievance, McCallum said, is that gravel haulers feel the rules that proscribe axle-weight loading specs are arbitrary and almost impossible to obey because the drivers are not allowed to interfere with the staff at gravel pits who load their trucks.

The day before the demonstration, McCallum said, he left a gravel pit loaded knowing that he was 3,100 kg over on his rear axles but drove directly to the MTO station to show the inspector that yes, there was an infraction but that the driver wasn’t able to do anything about it.

“The whole issue is how we have to balance our loads properly,” he said.

“Everybody is fed up with it,” he said. “But until now, nobody’s had the stones to stand up to them.”

Update: Bob Nichols, senior media liaison officer with the MTO, sent us this letter:

 As a ministry, our first concern is the safety of those using our highways. Safety is our top priority.

Aggregate haulers are protesting at one of our highway weigh stations after being charged for over-weight loads.

The rules we have in place about truck inspections and vehicle weight restrictions are designed to ensure that our roads are safe.

Ministry staff have met with representatives, and have scheduled an additional meeting for Friday (tomorrow) to get a clear understanding of their concerns and requests.

As always, we are open to listening to our partners’ concerns and to working with them on solutions.

We want to stress that the concerns being raised do not pose a threat to road safety.

We’re continuing to conduct truck inspections in the area. Trucks are being inspected at nearby stations, including at Whitby and Putnam.

 
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Filed Under: MTO Gravel haulers Milton
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Anonymous

2012/04/29

at 10:37 PM

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Perhaps most of you who have commented should reread the article. The problem these guys are having is not being overloaded as in over gross. The issue is axle weights. The type of equipment they operate does not allow them the luxury of sliders like on a van or reefer. As for why they load to the max, it is because they are paid by the weight and must max out to make any coin. As for the multiple dumping off comments, you won't get out of most of these pits if you are over gross because they too can be held responsible if they let you go over gross. When you go and dump off the excess that can actually redistribute the load in a way which could put you over on an axle but under gross. I find it hard to believe people who proclaim to have been in this industry so long and even to have pulled a dump can't grasp these facts. By the way I don't have anything to do with this and don't operate any dump or live floor equipment but have in years gone by.

Anonymous

2012/04/28

at 4:35 PM

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YOU are responsible for your truck being overloaded. If the operator overloads your truck, dump it. If everybody did that, all trucks would be in compliance. If Dick Jane and Larry all dumped a bit of their loads and Bobby didn't, shouldn't Bobby be charged? The problem is everybody takes it and the operators are taking advantage of that. You have a valid complaint, but your protest is misguided. You should be protesting the quarry, or a building excavation. By protesting MTO you are only asking for tighter regulations and nobody needs that. But any more of these protests and some politician will bring forth a motion to install axle scales with kill switches. They overload your truck and the truck won't start. Who do you think will pay for that?

Anonymous

2012/04/28

at 9:10 AM

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So here's what I don't understand. Why do they max out their load weights. I own a smaller transport company and we have been in business for over 23 years, we have had very few axle overload charges. A tandem/tandem application in dry van can legally haul over 55,000 pay load in Ontario. We rarely haul that heavy unless we are paid more or have made sure our axles are set to legal. Most of the time we keep our Canadian loads around 45 to 48,000. Is the issue not with the pits you load from or the rate you get per ton. Why do they load to their limit. Hats off to the comment to the guy who dumps some off before leaving the pit. I drove dumps at the start of my carrier, and that's what we did back then. Sorry but I'm having a hard time supporting the gravel haulers. Thanks to the MTO for doing their jobs. The laws are there to protect safety, I was charged once and took it to court, I did not give enough or proper evidence to beat me charge. After the court was over I walked across the room and shook the officers hand and said thanks for doing your job. No hard feelings I have my rights and can't be charged outside the regulations.

Anonymous

2012/04/27

at 2:45 PM

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Every time I was overweight I would circle around and dump some off.

Anonymous

2012/04/27

at 9:28 AM

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the mto are only doing their job thanks for making me late for work you as a truck driver must be responsible for your truck give gravel haulers overweight give every one a break only fair

Anonymous

2012/04/26

at 7:30 PM

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Way to mess up everyone's day. Selfish and misguided.

Ralph

2012/04/26

at 6:02 PM

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If I show up over weight I get a fine or a warning, why should a bunch of gravel haulers be any different? Their issue is with the shipper NOT with the MTO. Suck it up!

ONGTO

2012/04/26

at 5:16 PM

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I saw this and wondered what was going on. Thanks for the update.
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