Truckers, Conn. Gov. Disagree on Truck Ban

Trucking companies and their drivers complained over this week’s 31-hour ban on large trucks on Connecticut roads, even as Gov. John Rowland continued to defend it, the Hartford Courant reported.

Rowland on Sunday issued a ban, to take effect at 5 a.m. Monday, on all tractor-trailer moves on highways in the state because a heavy snowstorm was predicted. Reports said some exception was made for emergency shipments.

Trucking companies said the ban was an overreaction to a moderate storm and cost them lost revenues, according to the Courant.

A trucking industry official in Connecticut earlier told Transport Topics that it left many grocery stores without bread even on Monday morning. Additionally, truckloads of perishable items were wasted as the truckers were stranded on their trips, the Courant said.

But Rowland’s spokesperson told the Courant that under the same circumstances he would impose the ban again, in order to minimize accidents. Rowland said he wanted to avoid problems such as the 300 crashes reported during a big storm Feb. 5.

As of Tuesday morning, the state police had issued 31 tickets to truckers who drove on the highways during the ban, the newspaper said. It added that many commuters, including some who found themselves stuck for hours behind 18-wheelers on Feb. 5, applauded the ban. Transport Topics

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