Unvaccinated Canadian truckers won’t face extra COVID-19 rules after returning from US

Canada has reportedly scrapped plans to require Canadian truck drivers who aren’t fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to get tested and quarantine after returning from the United States.

The about-face happened late Wednesday, just three days before the requirement was set to take effect Saturday. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated U.S. truckers will still be turned away from Canada beginning Saturday, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency told Global News.

The reversal came as industry groups continued to raise alarm about vaccine mandates coming from both the Canadian and U.S. governments over fears that thousands of drivers will leave cross-border trucking. 

The Canadian Trucking Alliance had also voiced concerns that the additional requirement for Canadian drivers returning from the U.S. could lead to delays at the border.

Canada’s decision to walk back additional restrictions on Canadian drivers has effectively bought them a week. The U.S. is expected to begin barring unvaccinated foreign truckers from entering the country starting Jan. 22.

More coverage

• Canadian truckers forced to choose: COVID vaccines or forfeit US runs
• Report: US to require vaccines for cross-border foreign truckers starting Jan. 22
• Canada to require COVID vaccines for US truckers

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Source: https://www.freightwaves.com/news
Editor: Nate Tabak