Truckers claim tractor trailer dumpsters are operating illegally on the Island and are taking away their livelihood.

More than 50 self-employed truckers have petitioned Government for answers, arguing that without a special permit from Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown or an amendment to The Motor Car Act 1951, the dumpsters are moving materials illegally.

Despite letters to Premier Dr. Brown, Transport Control Department Director Randy Rochester and Road Safety Officer Roxanne Christopher more than a month ago however, they say they are still awaiting a response.

The truckers say the dumpsters can take four times the load of their vehicles and so their average hourly rate has dropped to $50 as a result of these vehicles taking over the hire market.

Scott Lopes, one of the petition organisers, said HC class trucks can carry between five and seven yards of material, compared to 20 yards for the dumpsters.

He said: "A majority of the general public often criticise the size of the heavy trucks that operate on our roads on a daily basis, yet, it seems to go unnoticed the size of these dumpsters, which are approximately four times the size to that of a HC vehicle.

"These trucks can carry 20 yards at a time so they are doing five truckers out of a job. The average person might say 'Well that's five less trucks on the roads', but what about the roads themselves? Are our roads and for that matter, our bridges, structurally sound enough to support the day-to-day wear and tear of these vehicles operating on them?"

Mr. Lopes claims that since 1998 the number of these vehicles has risen from three to 15. He says there are two models on Bermuda's roads — modified attachment, with a trailer that tips, and purposely-built, with a box that tips.

"The law states trailers are not to be used," said Mr. Lopes, citing The Motor Car Act 1951.

"How are these dumpsters granted permission to operate in the same capacity as a general truck? Due to the influx of TCD granting permission to these companies to operate these vehicles unscrutinized — that is, moving the same materials that can be hauled by the general trucker, this has immensely affected our industry and our livelihood."

He said that while the dumpsters can operate in demolition, they are not allowed to transport aggregate materials, and claimed they also haul their loads uncovered.

"As far as we general truckers were aware, permits for these dumpsters were granted on a temporary basis.

"That was for the removal of demolition debris, and not for trucking loads, such as aggregates, including screenings, sand, soil, rubble and other processed material that can be transported in a truck. The definition of construction aggregate is material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, or recycled crushed concrete.

"Therefore we would like clarification of paragraph two, items (v) and (vi) of our permits, as stated in The Motor Car Act, 1951, Permit to operate trucks, tractors, self-propelled construction machines or trailers.

"If this Act has been amended to allow these trailers to operate in the same capacity as a general truck, then we as the general truckers, those most affected by this amendment, request to see it in writing."

Mr. Lopes said: "As long as these trucks are running around Bermuda, we are being forced to work for an average $50 an hour."

Deducting $22 as wages and $6.40 in fuel, he said this leaves truckers with just over $20 an hour with which to finance their $75,000 trucks and TCD permit and licence fees. Mr. Lopes said the average hourly rate more than 20 years ago was more than $60.

However, a Government spokesman said yesterday: "The Transport Control Department (TCD) wants to correct perceptions that tractor trailer trucks operating during certain hours of the day are in contravention of the Motor Car Act. Certain guidelines were relaxed several years ago to allow tractor trailers to be on the road during specific times. The relaxation of the legislation is at the discretion of the Minister of Transport.

"The TCD is aware of the various complaints by the select group of truckers, including the above mentioned grievance, and will be looking into their concerns."