Artisan truckers, who are demanding compensation to absorb the rise in the price of diesel, could paralyze construction sites of the Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) if there is no agreement by Friday at the end of the day. -noon.

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The National Association of Artisan Truckers (ANCAI), whose members demonstrated on Monday in different regions of the province, plans to continue to put pressure on the government.

As of May 14, drivers who want Quebec to readjust its rates according to the new reality for the price of diesel will be invited to no longer go to MTQ work sites, whether for culverts, overpasses or the widening of roads, among others.

This invitation should be in effect until common ground is rectified with the department. Artisan truckers will be free to take part in the movement or to continue working.

“There are truckers from several regions who are going to stop,” warns the director general of ANCAI, Gaétan Légaré, referring to the impacts on sites such as that for the widening of Highway 50, in Outaouais.

His association, which has 5,200 members, figures “between $500 and $600 million” per year for the bulk transport industry of artisanal truckers.

“We will display a reference price for our fuel on our website. If people want to hire us at that price, yes, we will provide a service. Otherwise, we will stay at home, ”says Mr. Légaré.

The latter says that the ministry will most likely have to turn to private companies to maintain its services if there is no agreement by the end of the week, and that the bill may be higher.

According to the general manager, several Quebec truckers can no longer be profitable because of the price of diesel.

On Tuesday, the MTQ was unable to say how many sites could be affected by this break in service.

Impacts on timelines

According to Benoit Therrien, of Truck Stop Québec, this decision by the artisan truckers could indeed have an impact on the MTQ's deadlines, depending on the duration of this movement.

"It's certain. Removing just 50% of the trucks is 50% longer than it will take”, he underlines. “They can also use other means of pressure to slow down careers or sand pits,” he adds.

Mr. Therrien is of the opinion that many truckers could give up this job because of the multiple cost increases of recent years. Insurance has gone up, as have prices for repairs and tires, for the purchase of a truck and for fuel.