Truck shortage has effect on potato harvest

MOSES LAKE - A truck shortage is underway in Washington, Idaho

and California.

The situation is causing potato packers to scramble for

available vehicles to bring their product to market.

MOSES LAKE - A truck shortage is underway in Washington, Idaho and California.

The situation is causing potato packers to scramble for available vehicles to bring their product to market.

It's because of stricter emissions standards in California, a federal reduction in hours allowed trucks on the road and the credit crunch, said Matt Harris, the Washington State Potato Commission's trade director.

Credit is more difficult to obtain, so replacing obsolete equipment is challenging.

The demand is making it more expensive to obtain trucks.

Harris learned from a shipper it cost 44 percent more to get a truck this year.

California is also experiencing an extended shipping season with a cooler summer and has been able to ship products longer.

Another factor is the lack of westbound freight due to the economic slowdown.

In the Columbia Basin, potato harvest is underway until the first week of October.

"It's going to be a tough deal," Harris commented.

With California's new emissions standards, trucking businesses will close their doors, he predicted.

There are very few alternatives to the problem.

There is Railex service in Wallula, offering shipping to the East Coast.

There is also a produce rail car service that can come to businesses with a rail siding, or a space on the tracks to park a train car.

The produce cars can be ordered if available, but it takes almost a month to get them back.

Another alternative is the "Cold Train" service at the Port of Quincy, which transports freight to the Chicago area.

To help correct the problem, the potato commission is talking to its congressional delegation about changing the amount of hours trucks are allowed on the road.

"At this point, it's more or less, can you be profitable, can you sustain a business, that's the worry," Harris commented.

Mike Connors, sales manager with potato and onion packer Skone & Connors, is also experiencing the crunch.

They ship all over the U.S. and to Pacific Rim countries.

"Trucks are very difficult to come by," he said. "We're utilizing rail cars if they're available and if the customer can take them."

Skone & Connors is using intermodal train cars he calls "piggy backs."

With piggy backs, a specialized trailer is placed on a flatbed rail car, removed at a distribution point, off-loaded and delivered to their destination.

Last year, trucks were plentiful, he noted.

"The prices and availability for trucks are just outrageous right now," Connors said. "The prices are just going up exponentially."