OPINION * Canada - Steering clear of freight congestion

Major drain on GTHA economy

Toronto,ONT,CAN -The Spec -Mar 8, 2011:  --  Truck-only lanes on highways, commuter buses and trains to carry parcels and tax breaks for companies making off-peak deliveries are among a host of suggestions to improve urban freight movement and head off growing gridlock in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area...  The ideas are among 17 action items to come out of a year-long study conducted by GTHA transit authority Metrolinx in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and industry players...   Metrolinx says there is a “pressing need” to improve goods movement in order to maintain economic competitiveness for the region. The study examines everything from tractor-trailers loaded with auto parts or apples to small courier trucks delivering mail...  Urban freight is sometimes described as the “the last mile” — the final leg of delivery of goods to retailers or consumers after those goods come off a ship or a rail car. But it also includes the movement of raw materials and parts between factories and warehouses and finished goods from producers to distribution centres...  Though Metrolinx cautions that data is incomplete, it’s believed the volume of urban freight could come close to tripling over the next 20 years...    (The Hamilton Spectator - Some bold changes and many smaller ones are needed to battle congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, according to an urban freight report by transportation agency Metrolinx)

* Ohio trucking company president says congestion is choking economy

Northwood,OH,USA -Refrigerated Transporter -Mar 7, 2011: -- Keith Tuttle, president of Motor Carrier Services Inc, Northwood, OH, told the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that congestion is choking the nation’s supply chain and economy...  Tuttle, chairman of American Trucking Associations’ Small Carrier Advisory Committee, said congestion across the country can prevent his trucks from making their appointed rounds...  Tuttle told the panel those congestion problems would only be exacerbated by proposed changes to the hours-of-service rules that govern truckers since the Obama administration is contemplating reducing the allowable driving time to 10 hours from the current limit of 11 and making changes to the 34-hour restart that would require it be taken over two nights...  Those changes would put more trucks on the road, adding to already congested roads, he said.