A local trucking company is bracing for the impact of the escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada.

Akita Equipment owner Chris Howlett says they’ve started noticing some changes in recent months, particularly as it relates to equipment used in the oil industry.

“Some of our oil field customers are noticing the difference,” said Howlett, “Drill pipe and stuff like that, and different tools that they use, have been hit with some major tariffs. So, it slowed things down.”

He says Ontario and Quebec-based carriers are seeing a softening in north-south trade traffic, and that’s expected to extend to this province.

“So now those carriers are starting to move into lanes…in towards Newfoundland, or towards Alberta. They’re trying to find other things to do. So, it’s actually making our market a little bit softer.”