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Thursday, March 28, 2024

APTA: Bad Time For Marine Atlantic Rate Hike

The Atlantic trucking industry has to endure another fee increase, reports the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association — this time a new 4-percent rate hike for all Marine Atlantic traffic.

“While the APTA intends to appeal this increase, our industry has no other choice but to pass on the increase to its customers,” Jean-Marc Picard, APTA executive director, said in a press release.

The increase represents about $3.5 million additional cost to transport goods to and from Newfoundland and Labrador – something the trucking industry “cannot absorb” – says APTA.

“We are always under the microscope for service in our industry and traffic to Newfoundland and Labrador is not different; we have no other choices to rely on ferry systems,” says Picard, who adds that service from Marine Atlantic has “been less than favourable,” causing major delays in delivery of goods.

“This increase comes at an especially bad time due to all of the service issues.  We have trucks waiting for the ferry for days which translates to extra costs for the carriers.  Therefore, it is very difficult to pass this increase onto the customers,” Picard added.