91原创

A long lineup of big trucks headed west on Highway 1 from 91原创 to the Port Mann Bridge Monday morning, March 14, slowing morning rush hour traffic.

One of the participants, Abbotsford trucker Ryan Hess, told the 91原创 Advance Times it was a rally to protest high fuel costs.

Hess estimated about 200 trucks took part in what he described as a peaceful protest, that was not connected to the Freedom Convoy against vaccine mandates.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not looking to shut things down,鈥� Hess explained.

鈥淲e wanted to see if the government would respond.鈥�

A large portion of fuel costs are government surcharges, as much as 70 cents of every $2, Hess estimated.

Hess predicted the result could be higher costs for consumers as truckers are forced to raise their rates, and disruptions to the supply chain if truckers are forced to stop working.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking out for everyone,鈥� Hess said.

鈥淚f we turn our keys off, then the economy will shut down,鈥� Hess predicted.

Hess said the rally was organized by an informal coalition of truckers who are struggling to cope with soaring fuel prices.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty hard to adjust your business model,鈥� Hess commented.

As of Monday, most gas prices in the Lower Mainland were running around $2 a litre, the result of oil prices rising in the wake of the Ukraine invasion by Russia.

READ ALSO: Gasoline prices to keep climbing, in spite of crude oil pullback

Gasoline costs across Canada were expected to keep rising despite a significant mid-week dip in the price of oil.

On Wednesday, March 9, the price of benchmark West Texas Intermediate closed at US$110.36, down nearly 11 per cent from the previous day鈥檚 trading. It marked the first significant pullback since the war in Ukraine started and sent oil prices soaring.

GasBuddy.com analyst Patrick de Haan said lower crude prices will only serve to slow the rate of increase at the pumps.

READ ALSO: Police, convenience store industry prepare for gas thefts as prices continue to rise