The Minister of Transport has moved to quell fears in the trucking community that new restrictions on licences may lead to trucks being monopolised by a small number of owners.

Under new legislation passed in December of last year, trucks can now be classified as either passenger trucks or hire trucks and truck licences will be more restricted in the hopes of reducing congestion on Bermuda?s roads.

This has led to fears that only a small number of licences will be granted.

One trucker, who contacted The Royal Gazette but refused to be named, asked how new entrepreneurs might be affected by the legislative change ? which is due to take effect in September.

?What about guys coming back from college or finishing school, what will they do when they want to start a business?? the trucker asked.

?Do they expect people to put ladders on their cars? Is the one guy who gets to rent them out going to make all the money??

But Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown reassured truckers new licences will still be issued.

The Transport Department is trying to prevent the issuing of truck licences to businesses that may only need a truck for a one-off job or short period of time, he said.

In an effort to reduce the overall number of trucks on the roads, trucks will be available through certain rental agencies when they are needed in this manner.

?The purpose of all of this is the traffic decongestion programme,? Dr. Brown said. ?We will be restricting the number of truck permits issued. In order to do that, and not stop business, we are going to offer people who are turned down the opportunity to rent one.

?We have noticed that people sometimes need a truck for a limited amount of time for a certain project and get the permit but after that they have the truck for life.?

Dr. Brown said the granting of permits will become more stringent but those that have a legitimate claim to one would still be able to get the permit.