Truckers and motorists must now tighten their belts in the face of the sharp rise in the price of diesel fuel, which has almost doubled in a few months in Quebec.
• Read also: Diesel more expensive than gasoline
• Read also: Rising fuel prices: truckers in the red
“We canceled our trip, a dream cruise to Alaska. It’s too risky. If the price of diesel doesn’t go down, we won’t have any more money aside for contingencies,” laments Mike Hollister, a trucker from Ontario whom we met at a relay station in Sainte-Julie, a suburb of Montreal.
To limit his expenses, he prepares all his lunches or cooks in his truck in advance. And he no longer stops for a good hot coffee while driving.
“My salary is our only family income, and with the truck payments, it becomes very difficult to save money,” he adds.
$2000 for a full
The man from Niagara Falls fills up his truck at least twice a week. Each fill-up can now cost him up to $2,000.
Father of four children, he believes that his work, which leads him to leave for long periods, was once worth the sacrifice. He is now thinking of reorienting himself if the soaring prices continue.
And he is not the only one to rail against the exorbitant price of diesel. Yesterday, hundreds of artisan truckers showed their anger across Quebec.
Whether for work or leisure, motorists are also feeling the repercussions of this increase at the pump.
Public transport
Except for groceries, Camilo Hoyos swaps his small diesel Volkswagen for public transport as long as he can.
Photo Toma Iczkovits
Camilo Hoyos pays almost twice as much in fuel for his diesel Volkswagen.
Philippe Raymond, he will have to cut in particular in the summer activities.
“We spoil ourselves and these are outlets. Obviously, our camping destinations will be modified accordingly to the price of diesel. my camper [de 220 litres] is empty, so it will be around $560 to fill up,” says the man from Quebec.
Owner of a gas station adjacent to his auto mechanic garage, Alain Blondeau says he loses money when a liter is above $2 each time a customer pays by credit due to card fees.
Photo Toma Iczkovits
Alain Blondeau, owner of a Sonic service station in Saint-Lambert.
“My contract with Sonic ends in 2024 and I do not intend to renew it. The station has been there since 1930 and it is the last with service in Saint-Lambert”.
Farmers are struggling
The situation is not much better in agriculture, where the fields cannot wait.
“A tractor takes up to 300 liters a day. Last year, we paid around $0.90 per liter for diesel and this year, we just placed an order at $1.97 per litre. And we have five tractors that operate during the day,” explains the owner of a farm in Saint-Ferdinand, in Centre-du-Québec.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com