The Saskatchewan Trucking Association is calling on provincial and federal governments to reduce operational obstacles for trucking companies across Canada, as looming tariffs threaten the health of the industry.

Executive Director Susan Ewart says 25 per cent tariffs on truck parts, fuel, and imported goods will increase operating costs for Canadian trucking companies. If goods aren’t able to be transported back and forth across the border, she says “we’re going to see lower freight volume, and export demands may decline.”

She adds that these additional costs and requirements could be detrimental to smaller trucking companies.

“We do suspect that there are going to be carriers that aren’t going to be able to weather the storm, especially in Saskatchewan where we are made up of a lot of smaller companies here, and it could be problematic for them.”

She says these costs will ultimately trickle down to the consumer, especially for goods in the agriculture and automotive sectors.

To mitigate some of these challenges, the STA is calling on levels of government to remove interprovincial trade barriers, improve border patrols such as fully staffed weigh scales, and remove the carbon tax on diesel fuel, which is costing each truck and trailer an extra $20 thousand in fuel per year.

The STA has also instructed its members to talk to their U.S.-based customers about the incoming tariffs, as “they are going to see increased costs there, as well.”