Due to the closure of I-40, truck drivers need additional time to deliver goods

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Hours of extra driving hundreds of miles and shipping products across state lines no longer costs.

The closure of Interstates 40 and 26 could have lasting impacts.

The president of BIR Transport in Knoxville said it costs hundreds of dollars more to transport goods around the 40 closure.

“Greenville, Spartanburg area is three and a half hours longer. Therefore, we had to give some of it back to our customers for price increases. So you know, 90 more miles, Charlotte 100, almost 200 miles to some of the areas,” said Jimmy Bir Singh with BIR Transportation.

As president, he said he had to adjust schedules and routes to meet customer demands.

“A lot of these tracks are being adjusted. “As we manage freight booking, we have to look at each load individually,” he said.

He said drivers being able to be home and back on the same day was now no longer possible. This is also the time when the goods are not moved.

“We have contacted our customers to adjust the tariffs. And of course if you go to Charlotte, that’s an additional two hours added, but to Spartanburg, Greenville, the drive time is added three and a half hours.”

He says the $500 to $600 increase will ultimately be passed on to consumers – leading to higher costs for the things we buy.

“Additional transportation and supply chain costs. You know, it’s the end of the day. The consumer pays for it, which is why we increase our tariffs with the shippers. I’m sure they’ll make adjustments at some point at some point,” he added.

He said he also noticed a difference in truck traffic and traffic on I 40 in Knoxville, another knock-on effect of the road closure and its impact.

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