Quebec truckers worry SAAQ hold-up will force them to park their rigs
CTV
As frustrated motorists continue to deal with long lineups at Quebec's automobile insurance board (SAAQ), truck drivers are worried that they won't be able to leave the province come April 1.
As frustrated motorists continue to deal with long lineups at Quebec's automobile insurance board (SAAQ), truck drivers are worried that they won't be able to leave the province come April 1.
The provincial auto insurance board has been dealing with lengthy lineups at many of its service centres since introducing a new online portal on Feb. 20, which users have had trouble accessing due to an authentication issue.
Richard Pellerin, a self-employed truck driver based in the province's Mauricie region, said that if he does not receive his renewed registration he will have to park his rig. Truck drivers who transport goods outside Quebec have to be registered under what is known as the International Registration Plan.
"This issue at the auto insurance board affects us all, but specifically for our industry, it's really the registrations that directly impact us, which expires on March 31 for all of us," Pellerin said in an interview.
The new website was expected to streamline certain transactions, including renewing licences, paying registration and booking exams. But it has turned into a major embarrassment for the board and for the Coalition Avenir Québec government.
Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault this week cut short a European trip so she could return home to deal with the foul-up, announcing a grace period for expired licences and other measures aimed at reducing the backlog at service centres.
But Pellerin said Thursday he hasn't seen any sign that the situation is improving for truckers. "I really need to have my international registration renewed in order for me to work past March 31," he said. "Otherwise, my company will be shut down until I get that official document." Failure to have it renewed could cost him $30,000 a month, he said.
