Immediate action on enforcement, rates to benefit container trucking industry

Claire Trevana

THE Province is delivering immediate relief for Lower Mainland container truck drivers by expediting tougher enforcement, and taking steps to improve the rate structure.

“Our government has heard clearly from the container truck industry that more needs to be done, urgently, to help make things better for truck drivers, and we’re taking action,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, who added that drivers haven’t seen a rate increase in four years. “We’re putting more money in the pockets of drivers by increasing trip rates and hourly wages, and empowering the commissioner to look at the overall rate structure. These are the first of many steps we are starting immediately to make sure Canada’s busiest port runs as efficiently as possible while ensuring the sector’s long-term stability and competitiveness.”

These actions support and advance the commitments made by the Province with the adoption of the 14-point Joint Action Plan, and will contribute to the future stability of container truck operations at Port of Vancouver terminals. These commitments include:

* Getting tougher on enforcement. The B.C. container trucking commissioner will have more capacity to enforce and investigate existing regulations with more auditors and investigative support, to ensure everyone in the industry is following the rules.

* Putting more money into the pockets of drivers. Effective June 1, 2018, trip rates and hourly wages will be raised 2.6% for licensed container truck drivers serving the Port of Vancouver, and the minimum daily call-out rate will be raised to $300, from $200. These rates have not changed since 2014. These rate increases will be enforced through the office of the commissioner.

* Taking a closer look at the overall rate structure. The commissioner has been directed to consult with industry on the sector’s regulated rate structure, including looking at payments on a round-trip basis and the regulation of off-dock trips, and delivering final recommendations to the minister in fall 2018.

* Continuing to monitor the implementation of the Tag Management Policy. The commissioner will continue to assess the policy, introduced in January 2018, and its impacts on industry. The commissioner will consider improvements by fall 2018.

 

Quick Facts:

* The Lower Mainland container trucking industry is regulated by the B.C. container trucking commissioner, per the mandate established in the 2014 Container Trucking Act and Container Trucking Regulations.

* The act and regulations set out the commissioner’s responsibilities for industry oversight, which include:
* Establishing and overseeing the Container Truck Service Licensing program (including truck tag management) in co-ordination with Port of Vancouver, and

* Enforcing regulated on- and off-dock rates for licence holders, which includes the drayage whistleblower line, and an audit program that informs the commissioner’s orders and decisions, which can include administrative fines.