Truck owners and drivers in Cairo and other governorates went on strike in protest against the decision to ban trailers as of January 2011, and against the Ministry of Interior refusing to amend the law and allow them to connect their trucks to trailers by means of a ‘plate' so as conform to the specifications that the Traffic Department stipulates. The strike has paralyzed the transport of goods between Cairo and the governorates, while the security services failed to pressure the owners to cancel the strike. They have appealed to the president, the prime minister, the minister of transport, the interior minister and the National Democratic Party policy secretary, demanding the cancellation of the decision. The strike caused a state of confusion within the Alexandria port, and containers have congested at the Damietta port, where an official source said that only four trucks have entered yesterday, and most others left unloaded. In Port Said, the truck drivers parked before the port and threatened to damage any truck that would load. They said they would stay on strike until their demands are met. For his part, an official source revealed that the Ministry of Transport would only ban 10% of the trailers, namely the old trailers that cannot be connected with a ‘plate'. He added that the Council of Ministers is considering covering the truck drivers and owners by the old taxis fund.
