Truckers to Marine Atlantic: Them’s fightin’ fares

SYDNEY, N.S. – While the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association delegation (APTA) tries to talk some sense into Marine Atlantic about the ferry company’s proposed surcharge hikes, a few Cape Bretoners have joined the fight to voice their opposition.

Earlier this month, Marine Atlantic announced plans to raise its fuel surcharge by 7.8 percent to 13.8 percent and its rate for handling drop trailers from $101 to $210. 

In response, the APTA voted last week at its annual conference to strike a special committee to negotiate with Marine Atlantic. That was then.

This week, a Sydney-based trucking company and a local polico have come out punching. According to local media reports, Eddie Hillman, president of Hillman’s Transfer, a century-old family-owned carrier boasting about 40 tractors and 50 trailers, estimated the two increases would mean a 29.5-percent hike of $1,178 for moving one drop trailer from North Sydney to Newfoundland return. 

Hillman says he doesn’t think the surcharge increases are justified and that he can’t absorb them so he would simply have to pass the costs along to customers.

Marine Atlantic states the surcharge, which applies to private as well as commercial vehicles, is set on a quarterly basis following a direction provided by the federal government.

The latest marching orders were based on current projections that put fuel costs next year $3.8 million more than they were in 2006.

Regional councillor and former Marine Atlantic terminal manager, Gordon MacLeod echoed Hillman’s views and adds he thinks Marine Atlantic’s aiming to get out of the drop-trailer business altogether.

MacLeod has also called for an inquiry into Marine Atlantic’s operations, including its recent acquisition of the ferry Atlantic Vision, which has been plagued with problems since setting sail

Marine Atlantic now says they’ll put the fare hikes on hold until they’ve finished negotiating with the APTA.


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