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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-05-18, Page 29THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988. PAGE 27. 'Damned if you do, if you don't', says trucker Continued from page 1 few in the industry fully under­ stand what is happening at this time. But they do know it’s going to be tough to comply. They also know it’s going to cost them a lot to comply; as Mr. Alderson warned them, the cost of service is going to go up, and people are just going to have to realize it. But that is cold comfort to many managers and truckers already caught between a rock and a hard place in the vicious circle of rising costs and declining freight rates. And it’s going to be especially tough for municipal trucking man­ agers and drivers to handle, knowing that they can be replaced if they don't find ways of keeping township and county budgets in line. “They’ve got us by the short hairs,'' said one. who asked not to be identified. “You’re damned if you do and damned if you don't.’’ A key component of trucking deregulation is a national safety code for truck drivers and their equipment, and a key part of the new safety code for Ontario truckers will be the implementa­ tion. probably by the end of the year, of the Commercial Vehicle Operators’ Registration System or CVOR as it is commonly called. Under CVOR, each carrier will be assigned a registration number and a number of points, all of which will go on the MTC’s central computer to keep track of each and every conviction brought against either the trucking company and/ or its drivers. The point limit varies with the size of the fleet, ranging from a limit of 10 points for a carrier with one truck on the road to a total of 43 points for a carrier with a fleet of 47 trucks. ButtheCVORnumberis assigned to the carrier itself, and it is the carrier who will have to face the music as the demerit points against him add up, although the drivers that cause the loss will be not without blame. Points can be lost through virtually any conviction under the province’s Highway Traffic Act, theCriminalCodeofCanada, or the Liquor Licence Act, and can range from the loss of two points for just driving with liquor “readily available’’ in the vehicle, through the loss of up to six points per Stockyards market Continued from page 26 $103.50 with his total offering of six heifers, averaging993 lbs., selling for an overall price of $94.65. Four heifers consigned by Gord Roul- ston of RR 1, Ripley, averaging 1125 lbs., sold for $95.08 with sales to $98. Seven heifers consigned by Terry McCarthy of RR 1, Dublin, averaging 1136 lbs., soldfor an average price of $93.06 with sales to $96.25. A Hereford heifer consigned by Jim Rapson of RR 4, Walton, weighing 1020 lbs., sold for $95.50. A heifer consigned by Gary Van Camp of RR 4, Brussels, weighing 1000 lbs., sold for $95. A black heifer consigned by Bert Elliott of RR2, Blyth, weighing 920 lbs., sold for $94.25. Choice cows sold at $63 to $65; good cows brought $59 to $63; and canners and cutters fetched $53 to $59. ALimousinbull consigned by Wallace Harrison of RR 4, Durham weighing 2120 lbs., sold for $91. Thirty to 40 lb. pigs traded to a high of 96 cents per lb.; 40 to 50 lb. pigs traded to a high of $1.05 per lb.; 50 to 60 lb.. pigs traded to a high of $1.04 per lb.; 60 to 70 lb. pigs traded to a high of 86 cents per lb.; and 70 to 80 lb. pigs traded to a high of 84 cents perib. infraction of hauling an overweight load, right up to the loss of 30 points for a conviction of criminal negli­ gence causing death. “It’s pretty serious stuff,” Mr. Alderson said. “Especially if it happens to somebody who only works from May to December hauling gravel, and suddenly it’s July, and he’s lost the plates of his vehicles. Makes it a pretty hard summer, eh?” As the points on any CVOR add up, the ministry’s interest in that carrier mounts, and at some point he will get a letter telling him that the ministry is watching. The letter comes with an ab­ stract of the carrier’s record, including the dates and the licence number of the driver causing the infraction, and warns the CVOR holder that if he keeps racking up convictions, he will be called in to explain to the ministry why he feels he should be allowed to keep on trucking. The letter and the interview are automatic processes, Mr. Aider- son said, but the next step is discretionary, and the carrier’s future depends upon his being able to convince the MTC that he is going to take steps to clean up his act. If he doesn’t manage to convince the CVOR office of his intentions, it will recommend sanctions against him, which could range from a temporary shutdown of part of his fleet to the lifting of his CVOR number, which could mean a permanent shutdown of the whole business. Even attempting to apply for a second CVOR number while the first is under suspension could net a carrier a fine of up to $2,000, six months in jail, or both, Mr. Alderson said. “They’re out to get the bad apples (in the trucking industry), but they’re going to crush every­ body else in doing it,” concluded Dan Bailey of Blyth, owner and operator of Maitland Valley Truck­ ing. The future of long-distance livestock transports such as this one remain in doubt as the trucking industry fights to win exemptions from tough new hours-of-service legislation, slated to go into effect July 1. WEKNOW *A LATHION SANITARY CATLITTER CAT UTTER DON'T MISS OUR MAY 24th WEEKEND SALE ‘PACEMAKER’ CHAIR AT SEASONAL SAVINGS! 1788 Deluxe chair with 2-1/4” polypropylene web. Easy storage and transportation makes it a favourite for picnics and boat trips. 573-190. I CAT LITTER J24 ■T 10 kg. 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