Pandemic-related shortages at supermarkets are stressful, but not all shoppers know about the stress that truckers face in bringing those products to the shops.
Panic-buying at stores across the NWT has depleted stocks to such a degree that some food items like bread, milk and flour are rationed. Others, like toilet paper and sanitary products, are gone completely, in some cases.
The knock-on effect of those shortages is felt by truck drivers, who are hauling heavier loads, working longer hours and under less predictable schedules than before the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Heavier cargo
SA国际影视传媒淎s a grocery guy itSA国际影视传媒檚 been very busy. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e obviously carrying a lot of extra freight for the stores now because theySA国际影视传媒檙e selling certain things faster than they normally would,SA国际影视传媒� Kevin Morken, a long-haul trucker with Federated Cooperative Limited (Co-op) told SA国际影视传媒 on Friday.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been really pushed to the max and our loads are a lot heavier than normal. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e stacking the trailers as heavy as they can,SA国际影视传媒� said Morken, who lives just outside Edmonton.
On one of his regular trips from Yellowknife to Edmonton, he would take a single trailer to Enterprise before doing a trailer switch.
But since the pandemic he has been hauling a SA国际影视传媒渞ocky," a long trailer and a short trailer in tandem.
Longer hours
Morken used to work about 55 hours a week going between Yellowknife and Edmonton.
During the most intense period in mid-March he was working up to 70 hours a week.
SA国际影视传媒淔or two weeks I was doing back-to-back from Yellowknife to Edmonton. Which maxes out my hours. In Alberta weSA国际影视传媒檙e only allowed 70 hours a week. To do the back-to-back Yellowknife to Edmonton is about 70 hours and 16 minutes.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒�I am (now) back to around 55. See how long it lasts.SA国际影视传媒�&苍产蝉辫;
Disrupted schedules
With supply lines across Canada stretched and stressed from more consumer buying, warehouses run through stocks faster, sometimes leaving truckers with nothing to load up on when they arrive.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been a real struggle for the warehouses and weSA国际影视传媒檝e been up to 24 hours behind leaving with our loads. Before Covid we were maybe two hours behind, but nothing crazy. Now, instead of being at the store by 3 or 4 in the afternoon, there have been times when I was there at 3 o'clock in morning,SA国际影视传媒� Morken said.
If he arrives at a warehouse whose stocks are too low all he can do is wait. Sometimes heSA国际影视传媒檒l put himself off duty and get some sleep.
While sleep patterns and schedules that most of us would consider irregular are part of the job for truckers, the past few weeks have been uniquely difficult.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e allowed to be at work for 16 hours after we log the clock in and ISA国际影视传媒檓 only allowed to drive for 13 hours. LetSA国际影视传媒檚 say I turn my clock on at 4 a.m, so 16 hours from then is 10 p.m. but I canSA国际影视传媒檛 keep driving because ISA国际影视传媒檝e used up my 16 hours. You have to have eight hours off. But because of all this stuff with Covid it messes everything up.
SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e doing math all the time in your head. It puts a lot of pressure on everybody, the dispatchers, the truckers, the guys in the stores. Then all of a sudden they have to have staff coming in at 2 a.m. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of pressure.SA国际影视传媒�
Morken said that for now the panic-buying has subsided and work patterns at the warehouses are slowly returning to normal.
SA国际影视传媒淣ow weSA国际影视传媒檙e only two or three hours behind at the warehouse. But weSA国际影视传媒檙e still at very heavy volumes.SA国际影视传媒�&苍产蝉辫;
Bathroom closures
Out of concerns of vandalism and fears that people will steal toilet paper from truck stops along the highways, many bathrooms are closed and truckers have fewer options to answer the call of nature.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou canSA国际影视传媒檛 just go to a convenience store and go to the bathroom. They are either closed down or don't want anyone using their bathrooms,SA国际影视传媒� Morken said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a real hardship. When people work in an office the bathroom is just down the hall. But we don't have that luxury. All the restrooms along Highway 43 are locked up. So we canSA国际影视传媒檛 go to the bathroom.SA国际影视传媒�&苍产蝉辫;
He acknowledges that he is luckier than others because he carries a portable toilet in his truck.
SA国际影视传媒�(ItSA国际影视传媒檚) one of those camping ones. So I just take it out and use it in the storage compartment. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 bag for the waste that you take out and throw away.SA国际影视传媒�
Some of the highway pullouts in the NWT, such as those at Chan Lake and Dory Point have open outhouses, Morken said, but theySA国际影视传媒檙e meant for cars and tractor trailers like his canSA国际影视传媒檛 access them.
The silver lining is that warming weather is making the bathroom situation more manageable for many truckers, who wonSA国际影视传媒檛 have to worry about relieving themselves in -30 C air for at least another eight months.
Barred from some stores
The Globe and Mail reported in March that some businesses in Ontario and Alberta had prohibited truckers from using their washrooms.
But itSA国际影视传媒檚 happening in Yellowknife as well, said Mike Emblau, a trucker with Rig Logistics who makes two trips per week from Edmonton and delivers to the two Independent stores.
Since the pandemic started, TrevorSA国际影视传媒檚 has barred truckers from entering the store, Emblau said.
SA国际影视传媒淎 couple other drivers have been barred from coming in, they told me. On my last trip I tried to go into the store to get some cream for my coffee and the shipping and receiving guy said you canSA国际影视传媒檛 come in.
SA国际影视传媒淣one of us drivers will ever shop in that store ever again. Even when weSA国际影视传媒檙e able to again we wonSA国际影视传媒檛 shop in there again, weSA国际影视传媒檒l go to GlenSA国际影视传媒檚 instead. One of our drivers put on a mask and gloves and they still kicked him out. They don't want us in there at all because weSA国际影视传媒檙e from Alberta and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 more Covid cases down here, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 my interpretation.SA国际影视传媒�&苍产蝉辫;
Emblau said the GlenSA国际影视传媒檚 Independent allows truckers in as usual and that TrevorSA国际影视传媒檚 is the only open business on his route from Edmonton to the NWT that disallows truckers from entering the building.
In a statement to SA国际影视传媒, Independent's parent company Loblaw said that the GNWT has deemed truck drivers entering the territory as an essential service, and are exempt from quarantining for 14 days, but they should still avoid crowded places.
"Trevor's Independent store in Yellowknife is grateful for the service provided by trucks drivers and is allowing them to use staff washrooms when needed and is offering to shop for truck drivers, to both thank them for their service and to limit their time in store," Loblaw Public Relations said.
Emblau added that the inconveniences caused by Covid are spurring truckers to become more self-sufficient, and like Morken he carries his own portable toilet and a coffee maker.
Community appreciation
Despite the challenges the pandemic is throwing at truckers, the saving grace is acts of appreciation from members of the community.
SA国际影视传媒淭he last time I was in Yellowknife, a guy came up to me at the dock at the Co-op and said SA国际影视传媒榳hat a great job you did backing up. I just want to thank you for all that youSA国际影视传媒檙e doingSA国际影视传媒� and tried to give me a $20 bill.
SA国际影视传媒淭hen later a woman came up to me and said SA国际影视传媒榳eSA国际影视传媒檙e so thankful for you truck driversSA国际影视传媒� and gave me a care package. I told her SA国际影视传媒業 sure appreciate that but it would be better if you give that to the food bank or others who need it.SA国际影视传媒� People are really realizing how important the truckers are to every day needs.SA国际影视传媒�&苍产蝉辫;
Morken has also noticed more consideration for truckers on the road, with other drivers less SA国际影视传媒減ushySA国际影视传媒� than before, and perhaps more aware that truckers canSA国际影视传媒檛 brake or pass as fast as other motorists.
SA国际影视传媒淭he vast majority of us appreciate people even just saying SA国际影视传媒榯hank you.SA国际影视传媒� The fact that people appreciate I'm doing my job really means a lot to me.SA国际影视传媒�
