Yellowknife (Mar 24/06) - Yellowknife has turned into trucker limbo as hundreds are stranded with no work, no accommodations and no idea whether they should just give up and head south.

Eric Brown, an independent trucker from Nova Scotia, waits along a long line of trucks. Up to 500 truck drivers have been without work since Sunday when the the winter ice road was shut down indefinitely. - David Ryan/NNSL photo

There’s a slight chance the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter road could re-open, so up to 500 independent truckers who are the backbone of re-supply efforts for Northern diamond mines and exploration camps are unsure if they should stay here or pursue other opportunities elsewhere.

“Life goes on. I’ll just have to find another job somewhere else. It’s better to close the road than end up in the drink,” said Eric Brown, and independent driver.

Some truck drivers were not as upbeat when dealing with the current situation.

“We’re just sitting around,” said trucker Steve Parker, of Calgary.

“I’m spending money while I just sit in my truck.”

The situation has been complicated, he said, by the fact Yellowknife has not been accommodating to rig drivers.

The road closed Sunday and since then many of the independents have been left with no place to park - which means access to even basic amenities for almost a week.

“They have kicked us out of parking lots,” he said. “It’s hard to find a place to eat and get a shower.”

The Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op is one business that has asked truck drivers to vacate its premises. “We understand the truckers are between a rock and a hard place, but the Co-op is not a truck stop and it never intended to be,” said Ben Walker, Co-op general manager.

While many of the truckers are respectful and only stay at the Co-op a short time, he said some have abused the situation and worn out the welcome for everyone.

“Some of those guys were staying 24 to 48 hours on the premises,” he said. “It’s a danger issue ... we’ve had complaints from our members.”

Instead, Walker suggested it is the City of Yellowknife’s responsibility to take care of the stranded drivers.

“We’re working with them as best as possible and we’re referring them to places to go,” said Mayor Gord Van Tighem.

Bylaw enforcement officers are doing their best to be diplomatic with the drivers, he said, adding he wants them to feel comfortable in the city.

The mayor said the mines still need their supplies and there is a chance the ice road could open up. “It’s pretty critical for the mines,” he said. “We don’t want all of the truckers going back south.”

Van Tighem said the number of truck drivers in the city is much higher than usual.

“We are not set to take this volume of truck drivers all at one time,” said Van Tighem.