Thousands of Truckers Stuck at U.S. Border Amid IT Outage

URGENT UPDATE: Tens of thousands of truckers, including Canadian driver Kiratsimran Deol, are currently stranded at the U.S.-Canada border due to a major IT outage affecting border processing. This situation, which began on October 15, 2023, has left many drivers stuck for over 24 hours, severely impacting the supply chain.

The chaos began when the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) experienced a data entry problem during routine maintenance on Sunday. Although the outage was resolved by Tuesday, truckers are still facing significant delays as the backlog of requests is cleared. Deol, along with his colleagues, has been waiting at a gas station in Ripley, New York, after originally planning to cross into Canada via the Peace Bridge at 1 AM on Thursday.

Deol expressed frustration, saying, “I’m thinking about changing my job. This is the thought we’re all having right now.” The impact of the outage has been widespread, with the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) reporting that approximately 70,000 trucks cross the border daily. The delays have been especially severe at crossings in Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, and Windsor, where truckers are facing waits of up to five hours.

Stephen Laskowski, President and CEO of the CTA, stated, “We’re seeing trucks stuck for over 24 hours.” He noted that some drivers have been provided food by bridge authorities due to their extended wait times. Laskowski condemned the ongoing issues, highlighting that despite federal pledges to invest in border infrastructure, critical improvements to IT systems remain unaddressed.

Local port authorities have advised commercial truckers to avoid the Peace Bridge and Lewiston-Queenston crossings, as queues have reached or exceeded capacity. Laskowski criticized the lack of communication from the federal agency, stating, “We yet to get a clear message as to what is going on, and when this will be addressed.”

In a statement, the CBSA acknowledged the outage and is currently investigating the cause. They confirmed that while the issue has been resolved, commercial drivers may still experience delays as normal operations resume.

As the situation develops, the economic implications of these delays could ripple through the supply chain, affecting everything from grocery stores to manufacturing. Deol and his fellow truckers are left waiting, uncertain of when they will be able to return home. “It’s frustrating sometimes,” Deol added, capturing the sentiment of many in this critical industry.

For those following this urgent situation, it’s key to stay informed as updates emerge. The CTA continues to call for improved communication and solutions to prevent future disruptions. Stay tuned for more developments on this ongoing crisis affecting thousands of truckers and the broader supply chain.