Truckers fed up with port delays

by MARIA BRADSHAW

mariabradshaw@nationnews.com

CONTAINER TRUCKS were backed up at the Bridgetown Port for several hours yesterday, leaving drivers angry and frustrated.

The delays were reportedly as a result of a shortage of machinery – straddle carriers – which are used to move containers, as well as of staff to operate them.

While several truck drivers arrived at the port for its 7 a.m. opening, seven hours later they were still waiting to be served.

Time extended

Jane Brome, divisional manager business development & strategy, told the MIDWEEK NATION the port had extended its operational time until 11 p.m. to make up for the delays.

“Customers are advised that cargo deliveries from the Port of Bridgetown are delayed today, Tuesday, February 4, 2025. While resources are concentrated on vessel discharge operations, container deliveries will be slow. Truck wait times may therefore be extended. To accommodate for the shortfall, the port will extend opening hours to 11 p.m. today,” she said, adding that the port apologised for the inconvenience.

However, the truck drivers interviewed called for an urgent improvement in the system, pointing out that it was happening too often.

“I was here from early this morning and it is now 2 0’clock and my truck ain’t get out of here yet,” a driver lamented, adding that there were 15 straddle carriers “but the majority of them don’t work”.

“Right now, there’s only four working today, all for the same boats. As long as boats are in there and cruise ships, they are given priority and we, the truck drivers, have to suffer.”

The driver charged that the situation has been going on since last December but ignored despite several complaints from them and their bosses.

“My boss has had numerous meetings with management at the port; still nothing is happening. So this is the end result in here so,” he said, pointing to the many trucks lined up and waiting. He estimated there were about 20 on the outside and possibly another 20 inside.

“I would like, honestly, for the Prime Minister to come down and see what happening down here. This has been going on for years. You got a lot of machines and sometimes you ain’t got no labour, you ain’t got no one to work them and this is unacceptable.”

Taking a toll

Another driver complained that the delays were taking a toll on them, especially since they were also required to pay a monthly fee in order to conduct business at the port.

“We can’t get to do our jobs and we have to pay for a service – we pay monthly to come in here – and the customers are complaining. We are also tired complaining. Some of the companies we are working for, some people understand but some don’t. We had some people come down here to see for themselves what is going on.

‘Not good enough’

“This was something that was going on since last year when the tourist season start. You have all of this equipment and you’re telling me that you short of drivers? That is not good enough.

“You are supplying the tourist ships with containers but you’re telling the outside drivers that have to deliver containers to customers that we can’t get the containers. Something needs to be done about this.

“It looks as if the drivers are not doing the work. So that’s why the business owners have to come to the Bridgetown Port and stand up and see the situation that is going on here,” the upset driver said, adding that customers were complaining because it meant they would have to pay the truckers overtime.

Pointing to the recent upgrades at the port to modernise its operations, a driver charged that despite the enhancements, “we are going backward”.

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen the port. The port got modernised, it was supposed to be upgraded, but we are going backward instead of going forward.

“Back in the day, you could do 78 containers in a day but these days you can only get one or two containers. If you get one in the morning, you get one in the afternoon.

“That’s only two a day. So you have to ask yourself if it is worth it,” he said, stressing that the drivers also felt disrespected because of the lack of communication from management.