Transportation director hears truckers’ concerns
Frustrated truckers who say they are losing business to private truck owners last night voiced their concerns to Government.A meeting of the Bermuda General Truckers Association (BGTA) was held at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club, with director of public transportation Dan Simmons representing the Transport Control Department (TCD).BGTA president Richard Foggo said: “We called the meeting to discuss the issue of illegal trucking. We would also like to hear something more direct back from Government. I have been in touch with the Minister of Transport and the Director of TCD to take back our concerns to the Minister.”Licensed general truckers are concerned that the owners of large private trucks undermine their business.“The amount of work available to us today is nothing compared to what it was three years ago,” one trucker said, with trucker Peter Bromby throwing in: “How long can we truckers continue with the food getting yanked right off our plates?”Mr Simmons told the small gathering of eight truckers: “The wheels of bureaucracy turn at a slow speed. But in this case, time is of the essence.”He promised to pass on their concerns directly to Transport Minister Terry Lister and urged truckers to document any cases they see of illegal activity.“The law is the law, and any contravention is a ticketable offence,” he said.