Toronto's major roadways are back to normal after a "rolling protest" that saw 150 dump trucks take over the city's most travelled highways at mid-day Thursday.
The Ontario Dump Truck Association protested what it considers to be unfair working conditions, long hours and low pay by driving through the city in a lengthy caravan of trucks.
The trucks hit the road at about 10 a.m., travelling west on Derry Road to Highway 410. The "rolling protest" route included Highway 401, the Don Valley Parkway, the Gardiner Expressway, Highway 427 and Highway 410.
The end of the route brought the truckers back to the parking lot near Dixie and Derry Roads where the protest began. The entire path took just over three hours to complete at speeds of about 70 kilometres per hour. In many places, the trucks were so spread out that their presence hardly affected highway traffic.
Drivers say their wages haven't increased since 2003 despite heightened insurance and gas prices. Their current hourly rate is $75 per hour; they would like it to be raised to $90.
"Right now I'm not making money with this," one driver told CTV Toronto. "I lost my house I have three kids. I have to support them."
Other concerns include 12-hour workdays and overloaded rigs that pose concerns to others on the road.
"The trucks, the way the companies are loading them, sometimes it's overweight," one driver told reporters before the protest. "It's not safe for the public."
Association representative Harsimran Gill told the Toronto Star they chose a 10 a.m. start time because they didn't want to stop people from getting to their jobs.
"We hope people will understand our situation," Gill said. "If the public is with us, it makes all the difference."
With a report from CTV Toronto's Matet Nebres
