Trucker faces challenges in Osoyoos as town opens bathrooms

Stock photo: Pixabay

Sophie Gray

Local Journalism Initiative

On his regular route driving from Castlegar to Princeton, South Okanagan trucker Reg Alford encountered some less-than-welcoming situations on his way through Osoyoos.

Stopping to go to the bathroom at the local Husky Truck Stop, a station known around the country as a place catering to long-haul truckers with parking lots designed for the 80-foot vehicles packed full of the goods that stock out grocery store shelves, he was denied entry.

Alford said this reception was unexpected, and made his job a lot harder to do. And, with all other facilities shut down, he was forced to go to the bathroom outdoors. 

“I stopped at the Husky in Osoyoos, because it’s a truck stop, to use the washroom and they wouldn’t let me in,” he said. “And of course when I stop to use the bathroom, it’s not to go pee so I had to find somewhere else to use the facility which was the side of the road. Which kind of isn’t nice.”

But the bad experiences didn’t stop there. The next day, while on the same route that he drives each night, Alford said he again faced hostility in town while trying to get a bite to eat at the local McDonalds.

“I stopped at McDonalds after finding a place to park in the grocery store parking lot, finally. So I parked there and walked over,” he said. “He said no, you need to use the app and I explained to them my truck’s 400 yards away from here and my phone’s in my truck. And like yeah, I have a smartphone but what about the guys that don’t? I know a lot of old truckers that still have flip phones.”

Alford said he was refused service and faced aggression and hostility from the staff. He was told he had to leave but couldn’t even get a contact number for head office to call and complain. 

McDonalds has faced similar issues throughout the country, refusing to serve truckers who walk through the drive-thru because most other restaurants are closed. On their Facebook page, the company addressed the issue claiming that it is unsafe to serve those walking through the drive though and they must use the app. But this isn’t always an option.

“Like yeah, I have a smartphone but what about the guys that don’t? I know a lot of old truckers that still have flip phones,” said Alford.

Alford drives the same route every night, from his home in Castlegar to Princeton where he switches trailers with one coming up from Vancouver and heads back home. It takes him roughly thirteen hours, he said, starting at around 6 p.m. and finishing up at 7 a.m. the next morning. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic took over, Alford said access to facilities has been hard to come by, calling the lack of bathrooms horrible and absolutely atrocious. Food in Osoyoos is also very hard to find, with gas stations and fast food joints open limited hours. That means that come 9 p.m., roughly three hours after he starts his drive for the night, Alford’s options are limited.

Alford said some areas of the province are doing better than others. In the Kootenays, where he starts his route, he said portable toilets have been placed at truck stops all along Highway 3. The province has also announced in a press release on Wednesday they will fund more of these around the province in the coming weeks. 

“I stopped and used one the other day and they’re still fairly clean. At least they’ve given us something,” said Alford. “But when you hit Anarchist Hill there’s nothing at the break checks, so there’s no real facility even.” 

Alford has noticed a change in the last week. Dairy Queen heard about the issues and has put up a portable toilet in their parking lot for the truckers coming through town. The Town of Osoyoos has also reopened public bathrooms at Goodman Park and the Marina from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and at Pioneer Walkway 24 hours a day. The Petro-Canada has a washroom provided the gas station is still open. But these only came after those transporting our goods back and forth from community to community spoke up and they don’t take into account the issue of parking.

“It’s not like I’m driving a Toyota Camri, it’s an 80-foot-long truck. There’s nowhere really.”

Alford’s avoided stopping in Osoyoos since the incidents at the Husky and the McDonalds, saying he’s just too irritated by what happened. Instead, he’s been using the facilities when he can at the brake checks in the Kootaneys. But he, like many other truck drivers, would still like to see some more places for those hauling our goods back and forth to go to the bathroom and get a bite to eat.