Dump truck protest hits GTA roadways

If you were on any of the highways in the Greater Toronto Area between 10 this morning and into the lunch hour, you would've ran into some delays.

CFRB's Ryan Bird met with a group of dump truck drivers early this morning as they gathered at Dixie and Derry in Mississauga before their planned protest over poor working conditions.

Listen to Ryan Bird's report

About 150 dump truck operators rolled out in convoy formation to protest against what the Ontario Dump Truck Association calls "inhumane working conditions." The drivers say safety is a main concern because their trucks are often overloaded and puts them at risk of getting into accidents with the public. The group also says they haven't received an increase in five years and with gas prices on the rise they are feeling the pinch. They also say they are forced to work up to 12-hour shifts with no breaks.

CFRB's Amber Gero met the group of protesters in Mississauga and joined their convoy as the protest began shortly after 10 am.

Listen to Amber Gero's report

The group formed up at Dixie and Derry in Mississauga and rolled out along Derry to the 410, south to the 401 ... 401 east to the Don Valley Parkway ... down the DVP to the Gardiner westbound ... north on the 427 to the 401 and then back to the 410.

The OPP asked the group not to break any laws. The drivers did comply by driving in the center lanes of the highways to allow regular traffic to merge without any disruptions.

Amber Gero describes the protest along the 401 at 10:30am

The group managed to make it's way along the 401 rather quickly because the flow of traffic was moving well, but slowed down once they got on the Don Valley Parkway because of the volume heading into the downtown core.

Amber Gero describes the protest live at 11 on the DVP

As the group made its way towards the Gardiner Expressway, the drivers were receiving support from the public.

Amber Gero describes the protest as it approached the Gardiner Expressway at 11:30am

Even though the front of the convoy had made its way towards the Gardiner Expressway the back was slowly making its way on the DVP.

Ryan Bird describes the protest at back of the convoy at 11:30am

As the front of the convoy approached the 410 back half was still making its way along the 427.

Amber Gero describes the protest along the 410 at noon

Ryan Bird describes the protest at the back of the convoy along the 427 at noon

The group made its way back to their destination at Dixie and Derry shortly after 12:30pm.

Reports by CFRB's Amber Gero and Ryan Bird

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