Closures, Floods Hit Trucking in Pacific Northwest

Floods and road closures in the Pacific Northwest have hurt the trucking industry this winter, the Olympian newspaper reported.

The closures have led to detours that have boosted fuel expenses and have frustrated their customers waiting longer for deliveries, the paper reported, citing Stan Vander Pol, vice president of the Washington Trucking Association.

Some detours forced by closures have lengthened trips to 560 miles from 208, in the case of Seattle to Spokane, Wash., the paper said.

A huge storm in early December caused major flooding in Interstate 5 in Oregon and Washington, forcing truckers to take a 200-mile detour to get up the coast.