CTA chief lobbies U.S. to rethink truck security; reform cabotage rules

HOUSTON, Tex. (Jan. 22, 2003) — Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO David Bradley was south of the border yesterday lobbying U.S. government and industry officials to review a growing list of new U.S. security measures that may potentially hamper just-in-time delivery between the U.S. and Canada.

The top issue discussed was a recent security proposal that would require the electronic submission of cargo data to U.S. Customs four hours before a truck is loaded in Canada for shipment to the U.S., and 24 hours prior to loading a truck in the U.S. destined for Canada.

“Carriers and shippers on both sides of the border are united in the view that these rules if implemented, would cause mayhem within the North American supply chain and inventory management systems,” he said, adding that the world’s largest trading partnership is being put in jeopardy. “The proposed pre-notification time frames are unthinkable under just-in-time inventory systems.”

Bradly said such security measures — including a new U.S. Safe Explosives Act that will ban Canadian drivers from shipping explosives into the U.S. as of this Friday because of a technicality in the bill’s language — will “scupper the gains made to date under the 30 Point Smart Border Plan.”

Bradley also took the opportunity to speak to the Highway Committee of the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), calling for reform of current North American cabotage rules.

Bradley asked the shipper organization to support a modernization of the rules in both countries. Presently, Canadian and U.S. immigration laws are at odds with customs rules that allow point-to-point movements by Canadian or US vehicles in the other country as part of an international movement or for the movement of empty trailers.

“Drivers moving empty trailers or switching trailers in the other country are not engaging in the local labour market,” he said. “Modest reform of the immigration cabotage rules would create major opportunities for efficiency, productivity and service gains and would help carriers deal with the growing driver shortage and compliance with other regulatory requirements like hours of service.”