Truck Drivers Protest Faulty Reservations System

Marine Atlantic's commercial reservation system is coming under fire from small trucking companies. Last week, a protest was held by members of the Independent Truckers' Association who are tired of the time wasted waiting under this system. The reservation system is for commercial customers to book space on a cargo ferry ahead of time, providing a reserved space for trucks or units travelling. It is designed to give companies and carriers a more accurate estimate of travel and delivery times. Marine Atlantic believed that improvements to their booking system would reduce downtime for drivers, minimize fuel consumption overall, and reduce wait times.

For instance, by having commercial reservations paid for in advance, time drivers spend waiting to pay is cut. The idea was to make check-ins quicker and more organized, with regulatory information gathered when the reservation is made, including the size, weight, and contents of the vehicle. But some truckers oppose the reservation system. On Tuesday evening, protesters took up position in the westbound land of the Trans-Canada Highway outside the Marine Atlantic terminal in Port Aux Basques. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members from Port aux Basques and Stephenville detachments were monitoring the protest late into the night, directing traffic and maintaining road safety.

"Traffic in and out of Marine Atlantic is not impeded at this time, however motorists can expect some delays and are asked to enter the area using caution and reduced speed," the RCMP reported. Protesters reported personal stories about negative experiences with the reservation system. Some said it took many days, up to a week, to get a reservation to cross the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It's been said that the system is a disaster for small and last-minute trucking companies. Chris Howlett, of Akita Equipment and Auto Transportation, has lead a call to protest. A meeting he had with Marine Atlantic did not go well. "We've been at this - dealing with Marine Atlantic reservations system - now for over 90 days," Hollett said. "We're not getting any indication there's going to be a change, or (that) they're doing anything for us."

In an attempt to deter the protest, Marine Atlantic changed its cancellation deadline to 24 hours from the sailing date, doubling it from the previous 12 hours. They changed the deadline to arrive at the parking lot for three hours before sailing to two hours. They also implemented a waiting list and the beginnings of an online reservations system. However not enough people were swayed by these gestures and the protest continued. "We can't get reservations until Friday. We all called ahead. I loaded up in St. John's. I have to deliver in Corner Brook and then go on to the boat empty to go to Nova Scotia to pick up," said Howlett. "I can't get reservations until Friday so I'm going to spend my three days proactively by letting the people of Newfoundland know what we're facing every day." Protesters handed out leaflets and slowed traffic from the ferry to inform people about the impact of the reservations system on truckers.