CBP Temporarily Reducing Hours at Several North Dakota Ports of Entry
Due to a significant reduction in vehicle and pedestrian traffic along the northern border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will temporarily reduce hours of operation at several ports of entry in North Dakota beginning on Monday April 6. These reduced hours will remain in place until April 30, or until the U.S. government lifts the current travel restrictions. CBP will return to its previous hours once the COVID-19 emergency has subsided. To view a copy of the CBP notice and the ports slated for a reduction of hours please click here: 20-05 CBP Temporarily Reducing Hours at Several North Dakota Ports of Entry_public
Information on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is now open for applications. This program is designed to provide assistance to those who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19.
You can find more information on where to begin here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html
The federal government is asking applicants to apply Based on the month that they were born, in order to improve the efficiency of the application process and to manage system demand.
- Applicants born from January to March are asked to apply on April 6, while those born from April to June are asked to apply on April 7. Applicants born from July through September are asked to apply on April 8, while applicants born from October through December are asked to apply on April 9.
- Applicants can also apply using the toll-free line 1-800-959-2019 using the same birth date based schedule, and should have their social insurance number and postal code ready.
- It should also be noted that both the web portal and the toll-free line will not be available between 3 AM and 6 AM Eastern Time to allow for system maintenance.
- Applicants can also help to speed the process by logging into their My CRA account and making sure their direct deposit and mailing address information is up to date.
- The benefit is currently available for the dates March through October 3rd.
Free Meal For Truck Drivers April 7-9 Off The Trans-Canada HWY In Brandon
From April 7-9 from 11 AM to 3 PM each day, Maxim Truck & Trailer in Brandon, Manitoba will be thanking the many truck drivers travelling the TransCanada Highway with free meals. Maxim’s heavy-duty International Truck dealership is situated directly off the TransCanada Highway in the center of Canada where trucks regularly travel from coast to coast with essential supplies.
Maxim is prepared to hand out up to 3,000 meals over the three days to show their appreciation to truck drivers.
Portable bathrooms have also been set up for the convenience of truck drivers.
Sask Provides Resources for Taking Care Of Mental Health During Pandemic
Mental health services and supports are readily available to Saskatchewan residents who need them during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2020/april/01/mental-health-during-pandemic
In The Media
“We launched a campaign nationally, #ThankaTrucker, to create awareness for this,” says Jean. Marc Picard. “And it’s actually starting to bring a lot of good out of this.” – #ThankATrucker aims to support industry through pandemic
“It means a great deal. Just a total stranger greeting you on the side of the road with a hot meal. You don’t see that everyday,” — truck driver Tony Power In it for the long haul:
“Truck drivers weren’t recognized for doing anything more than we have always done — but for doing it under circumstances no one has experienced before, in the face of recommendations for the public to stay home.
- Opinion By Jude Groves: Truckers touched by new-found admiration during outbreak
“Due to the shutting down of non-essential businesses across the country because of COVID-19 restrictions, truckers are racking up more and more “empty miles” – driving empty trailers that generate little or no revenue.”
“A lot of carriers could go into bankruptcy without help .. But a 75% wage subsidy from the Canadian government offers hope for vulnerable trucking companies and freight demand hit by COVID-19.”
“But as North America is quickly becoming the new epicentre of a global crisis, Klassen, 27, is among tens of thousands of truck drivers steering into the storm”
Toronto Star: Missing home, with few places for rest, Canada’s truckers embrace their ‘essential’ work amid the pandemic
Trump Says He Wants to Restore Tax Deductions for Business Meals
Have things improved for #CdnTruckers? @angelakokott4AB talks to Marco Beghetto w/ @CanTruck @OnTruck at 9:35MT Tune in https://t.co/rnwRycRiaB #COVID19 #coronavirus #ThankATrucker
— 770 CHQR Global News Radio (@770CHQR) April 5, 202
MTA Updates
1 – The Manitoba Trucking Association is looking into the manufacture and purchase of face coverings for drivers. At this time, we are just trying to gauge interest/determine if this is a need our members want us to fulfill. Before we commit to this project, a couple of items to consider:
- These will NOT be medical grade face coverings. Governments have requested that those resources be reserved for health personnel, and we will, of course, respect that. These are not N95 masks or surgical masks.
- No decisions will be made on the materials used for the face coverings until such time as the Government of Canada makes a recommendation. We don’t want to invest in a resource that is later deemed unacceptable or not approved.
- Face coverings will be sold at cost; we anticipate less than $5.00/face covering.
- If you are interested, please click here to provide an estimated number you would be interested in purchasing.
2 – A number of members have contracted us with concerns that the exemption for essential service providers is not being regarded for their drivers. Attached is a letter, addressed “to whom it may concern”, outlining the exemption for drivers during this pandemic; please feel free to make use of it as required when your drivers are being denied access to basic services. Please consider that many resources have moved online only (MPI and some banking, for example) and make sure that those online resources have been considered.
3 – From April 7-9 from 11 AM to 3 PM each day, Maxim Truck & Trailer in Brandon, Manitoba will be thanking the many truck drivers travelling the Trans-Canada Highway with free meals. Maxim’s heavy-duty International Truck dealership is situated directly off the Trans-Canada Highway in the center of Canada where trucks regularly travel from coast to coast with essential supplies. Maxim is prepared to hand out up to 3,000 meals over the three days to show their appreciation to truck drivers. Portable bathrooms have also been set up for the convenience of truck drivers. Full details
4 – Our list of resources in Manitoba has been updated. Also, we are working on moving our courses to a remote learning environment; we appreciate your patience as we make this transition.