Truckers were forced to protest outside a Norfolk Marriott housing a “congestion symposium” for Port of Virginia executives yesterday because they could not afford to attend the $350 per plate event.
One of the signs held by a trucker outside the port perfectly summed up their argument: “We deserve to get paid for the work we perform. End the long lines.”
Long wait times at the Port of Virginia have been a problem for months. On-site reporters asked Virginia Maritime Association representative David White after the symposium what solutions they had discussed, but he declined to comment.
Truckers, on the other hand, outlined a clear series of actions to help ease congestion at the Port of Virginia.
- Truckers say the Port could improve efficiency with by making no empty moves on cranes.
- Drivers say that the Port should invest in more chassis.
- Truckers also want to do away with the recently implemented “final checkout” procedure, which they say is an unnecessary and time-consuming step.
Source:
WAVY