Fluke transport CEO Ron Foxcroft feared trucker protest would ‘turn nasty’
Ron Foxcroft enjoys talking about the history of 102-year-old Fluke Transportation Group, where he has been owner and CEO 40 years for one of the largest trucking, warehousing and logistics companies in the Golden Horseshoe.
But there is no historical precedent, at least in Canada, for the ongoing trucker convoy protest that the 76-year-old said has shocked" him.
At the same time, Foxcroft, who still works each day and jokes that he's retiring in 25 years," said he feared from the start that the protest had the ingredients to possibly turn nasty."
The protest began last month ostensibly aimed at a new mandate requiring long-haul, cross-border truck drivers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Foxcroft, who is also an inventor, philanthropist, and chair of the board of Hamilton's airport, spoke with the Spectator about the impact of the protest on the trucking industry, and how he feels about the driver vaccine mandate.
Questions and answers have been edited for length.
Jon Wells: When you first heard of the trucker protest, what did you think of the concept before it grew and got bogged down in Ottawa and on the Ambassador Bridge and so on - did you feel it had any merit at the start?
Ron Foxcroft: To be honest we disagreed with it, and our drivers and our management made a key decision not to participate, and we agreed with the CTA (Canadian Truckers Alliance) on that. Ninety per cent of our industry is vaccinated. And we were concerned from Day 1 that professional protesters would infiltrate the trucking convoy ... We felt that we could all agree that the real enemy is COVID, not the government.
Q: Did any of your drivers say anything like, I'd like to get involved in the convoy?'
A: Not one. They did say we are sympathetic to the anger, but not one said they wanted to join. We are too busy delivering essential products, and too busy to take 12 days off work ... And Canadians have to eat. Drivers accepted that responsibility ever since (the pandemic) broke. I also want to give a shout-out to Cargojet for bringing vaccines and essential supplies from everywhere in the world to (Hamilton International Airport.)
Q: Did you have any concerns about the cross-border trucker vaccination mandate in itself?
A: I did have concerns. We didn't disagree with the regulation, just the timing. And so we asked (the federal government) to delay the mandate until June, because it's already difficult to operate in winter. But that didn't happen. And we asked them to throw the industry a bone and reduce the carbon tax. And that didn't happen. The problem is, we have to pass along the cost to the consumer, with the weather, driver shortages from COVID, and fuel costs the highest they've been since 2018. There is a ripple effect. But we didn't protest. We are professionals and we accepted it and regrouped.
Q: Where do you draw the line between when protest is justified and it is not?
A: You have a democratic right to protest, but you draw the line when violence erupts, or the law is broken. And then it should not be tolerated.
Q: How do you feel when you see reports of the situation in Ottawa?
A: Emotionally, I'm disappointed and upset. I think, in some eyes, this tarnishes the reputation of the trucking industry. But our drivers are professional, hard-working family people who accept responsibility, and have been heroes who came to work when there were no vaccines ... This time of year is traditionally when they take vacation, but there is more demand for product, and we asked them to stay and they agreed. They aren't tired, but there is mental strain. There is more stress.
Jon Wells is a feature writer at The Spectator. jwells@thespec.com