Carl and Shayne Patterson are in the market for a brand new truck. It’s a decision fewer and fewer Americans seem to be doing during these days of high gas prices.

“I have to haul a boat and I need a truck to haul but if it wasn’t for that I’d buy a hybrid,” says Carl Patterson.

The couple is considering buying a Toyota Tundra. But they’re not the only ones feeling the pinch of high gas prices. car dealerships are seeing a decline in truck sales as many consumers are trading in those gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient vehicles.

“We do get a lot of domestic pickups and SUV’s being traded in on sedans,” says Robert Derrick, internet sales manager with Dick Dyer Toyota.

He says the dealership has seen an increase in small car sales. “The family, they’re looking at their dollar, their pocket as you definitely have a spike as far as the sedans. And better gas mileage,” says Derrick.

And while Toyota and other import dealers are feeling the pain from the pump, domestic dealers aren’t fairing any better. Jeremy Carter, internet sales manager with Love Chevrolet says his car dealership may have more to lose.

“It’s definitely hurt our market especially Chevrolet and most American car companies. Our trucks and SUV’s are much bigger sellers than our cars. We’re trying to push and get all the cars we can and stay away from the trucks which is the complete opposite of what we would have done 2 years ago,” says Carter.

But he says the push toward smaller cars is not coming easy for some of their loyal truck customers. “We’ve heard a lot of, man I love my truck, but I just don’t know if I can drive it anymore,” says Carter.

Meanwhile the Pattersons say if they do decide to purchase a new pickup, they’ll be driving it as a last resort. “I’ll probably still drive my old truck that gets good gas mileage and just leave this one for hauling the boats and campers and stuff like that,” says Patterson.

As this morning’s rush hour winds down, about 150 dump trucks will hit Toronto-area highways for a rolling protest, carrying complaints of low wages and high pressure on drivers to operate unsafely.

The Ontario Dump Truck Association, a group that claims more than 600 drivers as members, is behind the demonstration, which comes less than three weeks after a couple were killed by a flying tailgate from a dump truck travelling too fast for its size.

“After 2003, we’ve had no raise,” Manjit Singh, an owner-operator and spokesman for the group, said yesterday. “They’re pushing for overloading and they’re pushing for overspeeding.”

Mr. Singh, who has been driving for three years, was referring to companies that hire dump trucks to haul material from excavation sites. Many expect drivers to exceed the trucks’ weight limits, and some demand unreasonably short turnaround times for trucks hauling repeated loads from a job site.

If several independent drivers are working one site, all are expected to match the fastest one, effectively forcing them to race, Mr. Singh said. Drivers who refuse to meet these demands are often told, “Go home, we don’t need you,” he said.

More than 400 trucks massed at a Mississauga mosque yesterday so drivers could air their grievances, which shut down several downtown condo construction sites.

With ever-higher fuel and insurance costs to pay since their last increase, drivers say they are more pressed than ever to earn an income. Their hourly rate of $75 has not changed since 2003, they said.

On April 19, Don and Elsie Lourie of Scarborough, both 75, died after their SUV, northbound on Highway 400, was struck by a tailgate that flew off a southbound dump truck. Two truck drivers travelling together were charged in connection with the incident.

Today’s rolling blockade will begin at Dixie and Derry Roads in Mississauga, follow Highway 410 south to Highway 401, then go east to Highway 427. There, the truckers will head south to the Gardiner Expressway, travel east to the Don Valley Parkway and turn north. They will then re-enter the 401, head west to the 410, then north to Dixie and Derry.

Toyota Canada has extended warranty coverage and could even buy back some trucks because of potential inadequate corrosion protection on the frames of about 10,200 older Tacoma models.

The company confirmed yesterday a “support program” was recently started for customers to extend the warranty to 15 years with no mileage limit on the 1995-2000 model year pickups.

The move came after the company received reports that a small number of trucks had shown excessive frame corrosion that caused metal perforation.

“When exposed to road salts and other environmental factors, these vehicles may develop corrosion beyond normal surface rust commonly found on metal after years of exposure,” the company said in a statement.

Toyota also said , as part of the program, the company may buy vehicles back if it finds metal perforation.

“When the condition is confirmed during the inspection process, Toyota will, at its option, repair or repurchase the vehicle,” the company said.

If it finds no rust perforation, the company will still extend the warranty to 15 years.

Toyota’s sales have grown strongly during the last decade on a reputation for durability and quality.

Two truck drivers are facing charges in connection with the death of a couple after a crash in King Township Saturday afternoon.

At about 2:05 p.m., a dump truck headed south on Hwy. 400 near King Road veered out of control due to a tire blow out.

After the truck hit a concrete barrier, the truck’s tailgate became loose, flying toward northbound traffic and crashed through the windshield of a Chevrolet Avalanche, according to the Ontario Provincial Police.

Two Toronto residents, a man and woman, both 75, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names will not be released until their family is notified, the OPP said.

Police arrested and charged a dump truck driver with two counts of criminal negligence causing death and two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. Officers determined a second dump truck was linked to the incident and have charged that driver with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

They are scheduled to appear in a Newmarket courtroom Monday.

The highway was closed in the area for hours while police investigated.

Police have extended thanks to witnesses who came forward to help with their investigation, as well as those who stopped to help at the scene.

A New Hyde Park man was fatally injured after he suddenly stepped into traffic on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park and was hit by a passing potato chip truck, Nassau County police said.

Frank Stine, 68, of Leonard Boulevard, sustained severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola.

Stine, who was hit at 3:18 p.m., Tuesday, “was standing on the center painted safety zone of Jericho Turnpike just east of 12th Street when he suddenly turned around and crossed southbound into the travel lane,” the police report said.

The 1988 Chevrolet truck, driven by Frank Decclesiis of Baldwin, was impounded for safety tests. No charges were filed against Decclesiis.