Brampton - The Container Trucking Association of Ontario (CTAO) has  finalized a historic agreement at 6:30pm on September 16, 2015 This unprecedented settlement, which was reached with container trucking CEOS after 9 days of tense and difficult negotiations.  includes a fair percentage increase in rates for the first time in over a decade and is unprecedented in the North American Container Trucking industry.  This agreement which has been signed by both parties addresses wait times at terminals, and it reflects today’s inflation rates.  This was the result of a  collective desire to get the drivers back on the road. "Both parties came together in good faith and we thank the CEO's who have signed today, we applaud your leadership, courage and cooperation." After 10 years we have set the bar for container truckers and the standard that the industry respects.  “This is about catching for 10 years of rates  not being raised with the rate of inflation, costs of keeping trucks on the road. This is about the truck drivers who play an integral part of the economy and deserve an appropriate income that allows them to raise their families ” Patrick Rhodin, CTAO President The CTAO represents 800 and growing independent owner operators and drivers who transport inter modal containers from the rail yards of CN and CP and have been involved in a labour dispute since giving advance notice of their intent on September 8, 2015.   “After 6 months of tense and very difficult negations and 9 days of labour dispute we are elated that we have an unprecedented  agreement for the members of the CTAO. We applaud the CEO’s,  who signed our CTAO proposal and agreement. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship. Thousands of containers and commodities sat idle with an economic impact in the millions while CTAO members protested united, defiantly and peacefully for  low rates, high operating costs, extensive wait-times at rail yards, and unsafe and unhealthy long working hours, which contributed to an untenable situation for drivers, who are an integral part of the industry and our national economy. Although, the deal does not address all CTAO’s concerns it does dramatically improve the situation by increasing rates, which have not been raised in 10 years. This deal would not have been possible without the collective organization and unity of the CTAO membership and its supporters which the CTAO is extremely grateful to.