Truckers, trucking companies coming to Windsor from GTA

BSD Line Haul opened a Windsor division in 2015 with less than 15 trucks.

In a year, they had more than 110 trucks. 

According to operations manager Carl Gatt, truck drivers at the company were moving down to Windsor from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), especially starting around 2017.

"We've got at least 25 drivers that relocated to Windsor already, just from Brampton, from Markham," said Gatt.

He said there are other trucking companies coming to Windsor-Essex and buying up commercial property "nobody really wanted."

"Because you gotta understand, they can buy an acre here for $600,000 to $700,000," he said. "Up in Brampton, they have to spend $1.8 million to $2 million an acre."

BSD contractor Sam Singh said truck drivers are also moving due to Windsor's proximity to the United States.

"They come from Toronto, get to Windsor and hook up [a load]," said Singh. And after the driver crosses the border and comes back, the driver then has to go back to Toronto. 

"In Windsor, they can go to the U.S. in the same day," said Singh — that's one of the main reasons he moved to Windsor from Brampton in June 2017. 

Lower costs of living

Singh said there's another advantage besides shorter runs — lower costs.

"A lot of families moved down here because it's easier to afford a house," said Singh. "There's less mortgage, less payments."

The same goes for Tarlochan Singh Manjh, who moved to Windsor from Brampton in March 2018.

"This city is very cheap," he said. He drives trucks for Chase Transportation and his wife drives school buses.

Both Manjh and Singh feel the environment in Windsor is safer than where they came from in the GTA.

"It's a peaceful community around here," said Singh. "Windsor is a wonderful place!"

Not only that, Manjh said the schools are better and it's less crowded in Windsor.

Since he moved, three of his friends have followed him down to Windsor. Another one is planning to move in April.