Crisis of “Discount Drivers”: this CEO will have to let 100 truckers go

The CEO of a Quebec transport giant has a big heart because it will have to thank a hundred truckers due to the “discount drivers”.

• Read also: Quebec bosses of the transport industry exasperated by discount drivers from Ontario

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“If nothing changes. Nevertheless, I will be forced to let 100 drivers go for 415 in the coming months,” confirmed to Journal Réal Gagnon, CEO of Trans-West.

“For three years, we have had an illegal competition. Moreover, They are 25 cents less than us. Meanwhile, it is enormous, “denounces the majority shareholder of the company with a turnover of more than $ 100 million.

Réal Gagnon does not understand why scales are often closed on our roads.

crisis “discount drivers”: this ceo

He claims that this has consequences: drivers “no insurance. Similarly, no driving license and who do not speak French with a poorly maintained vehicle” can circulate freely on our roads. Nevertheless, He also deplores the fact that these workers are often exploited by crooked bosses. “It’s slavery,” he says.

“It’s sad. Reality joins them. It is killing the carriers. The sender is accomplices. They are the ones who use them, ”alerts Marc Cadieux, CEO of the Association du Caminage du Québec (ACQ).

Marc Cadieux, CEO of the Association du Caminage du Québec (ACQ) Photo Francis character

A crisis “discount drivers”: this ceo price fraction

Last March, our investigation office and the program J had looked into these truckers on their account who do not pay tax and deductions at the source.

Large bosses denounced the companies that make their deliveries by Ontario discount drivers for a fraction of the price. thanks to a stratagem.

The “drivers inc.”. Or “at a discount”, several of which are from Southeast Asia, crisscross our roads behind the wheel of heavy goods vehicles.

Often poorly paid. little formed and driving trucks sometimes leaving something to be desired, they pose a risk for road safety, according to industry officials.

At the end of May. Joël Arseneau, a spokesperson for transport in terms of transport, questioned the government on the management of granting transport contracts.

“The government gives the freeness contracts to truckers who do not hold a brokerage permit. opening the door in particular to corruption and collusion. crisis “discount drivers”: this ceo We are talking about 600 million regional economic benefits when we do business with local truckers, “he denounced.

Two months later at JournalRéal Gagnon, CEO of Trans-West, deplores the inaction of Ottawa.

“We cannot continue to lose money. We work at a loss, ”he breathes.

“When we play hockey, there are rules. There, we do not play with the same rules, ”he concludes.