Co-op limits fuel usage for customers

Co-op cardlocks across the province are now restricting customers to just 300 litres of diesel and 100 litres of gas per card per day.

The company says it has plenty of fuel but is having trouble delivering it because of Unifor’s blockades at various Co-op properties.

Regardless of the reason for it, the fuel rationing isn’t sitting well with truck drivers in the province.

“We usually go through about 500, 600 litres that the trucks hold so we are only getting 300 a day so it’s not even filling the truck,” said Lloyd Gauthier.

“It’s half the income coming in for the truck so it’s a big problem for people that own the trucks and they are losing money that way. If I’m not rolling, (the) boss is not making money (and) I’m not making money.”

Drivers are now forced to either work about half as much or in some cases look to other companies for their fuel.

“It definitely sucks. It makes us have to go to other places to get fuel so now you are supporting people that you normally wouldn’t go to,” said truck driver Jason Dyck, who has been a Co-op customer for more than 20 years.

“It’s not really affecting (my business). I would just go to Petro or Shell and get a card there. Dealing here is (B.S.). I can’t believe that they do that, like cut a guy back like that.”