Protesting truckers block highways in Brazil
Truckers want an end to regulations that stipulate they rest for 11 hours after 24 hours of driving, take a one-hour lunch break and take a 30 minute break after every four hours.
By STAN LEHMAN
The Associated Press
8/1/2012
SAO PAULO — Brazilian truckers protesting new government rules regulating how long they can work per day Tuesday blocked highways across Latin America's biggest country.
One of the directors of the protest movement said at least 120,000 truck drivers in 12 states are taking part in the weeklong work stoppage. She declined to be identified because she was not authorized to comment on the matter.
She said the trucks are carrying food, cars, lumber, electric and electronic goods and "just about anything else can imagine."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ADVERTISEMENT
Negative PSP report?
A company called CSA2010fix.com offers a service to remove bad inspection citations/warnings & dismissed/reduced tickets from your PSP report. Their service is a flat fee of $189.
You can contact them at 1 800 494.7517 or visit them at www.CSA2010fix.com
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Truckers want an end to regulations that stipulate they rest for 11 hours after 24 hours of driving, take a one-hour lunch break and take a 30 minute break after every four hours.
Movement leaders have said that because of the new regulations truck drivers will drive fewer hours and thus earn less.
Movement leaders and government officials were scheduled to meet later Tuesday to discuss ways to end the protest.
Truckers are also demanding higher freight costs, more security on highways and lower fuel costs and toll fees.
Truckers blocking parts of the 400 kilometer-long (250 miles) Via Dutra Highway have prevented the arrival from Sao Paulo and other states of fruits and vegetables at Rio de Janeiro's food distribution center.
Waldir Lemos, of the center's commercial association told reporters that because of the protest only 10 of 60 potato-laded trucks from Sao Paulo and Parana arrived at the Center.
Reflecting this shortage, potato prices skyrocketed by more than 100 percent, going from 40 reals ($20) to 100 reals ($50) a bag, he said.
He said other food products were in short supply.
Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.
Find more news and analysis from The Trucker, and share your thoughts, on Facebook.