Maritime trucker, towing company expect to save thousands from carbon tax removal

The Maritime trucking industry is getting ready for new U.S. tariffs.

Excel Towing in Dartmouth, N.S., does around 45 tows per day around the city, which can rack up hefty fuel bills.

“We do about 500 litres or so on a truck every two days,” says Maziyar Samimi, the company’s owner.

Simply put, the farther they drive to do business, the more costly the tow bill is.

“Now that the carbon tax is not there, we definitely bring our fuel surcharge prices down,” he says. “Once the fuel surcharge prices are down, therefore, it makes the tolls cheaper for customers.”

The removal of the consumer carbon tax means diesel prices in Halifax dropped nearly 20 cents Tuesday, bringing the cost to about $1.63 per litre on Tuesday.

That means significant savings, especially when fuel costs are around $40,000 each month.

That’s a similar total paid by RoadWolf Trucking, based in Riverview, N.B., driving across the Maritimes and into Quebec.

“The carbon tax for my small business resulted in a donation of $4,000 plus per month to the government,” says Art Jones, the company’s owner and president.

He was partially reimbursed by the company he drives for, but it still leaves a big void.

Years ago, he says, fuel represented about 25 to 30 per cent of his business costs.

“Now, it’s running more like 40 to 50 per cent,” says Jones. “When you add the carbon tax on top of that, it comes to over 50 per cent of your revenue. Hopefully the books will balance a little better now.”

Diesel prices in New Brunswick decreased almost 25 cents per litre.

Jones says newer semi trucks are continuing to cut back on emissions.