Port Metro Vancouver will begin a last round of consultation to finalize details of its new Truck Licensing System. The new policy, expected to be finalized by late November, is one of the many changes to the sector as a part of the Joint Action Plan announced by the federal and provincial governments in March 2014, the company said in its press release.
The goal of the new system is to balance the number of registered trucks with the amount of available work and bring stability to port operations.
“The current licensing system is not responsive to the normal fluctuations of supply and demand in the marketplace”, explained Peter Xotta, Vice President, Planning and Operations for Port Metro Vancouver. “There are too many trucks registered for the work that is required, which has caused intense competition between trucking companies, not enough work for many truckers and reports of the undercutting of agreed rates.”
The Truck Licensing System, also called TLS, licenses container trucking companies that serve the port. The registered trucks under each license transport marine containers, which hold import and export goods, to and from the port to warehouses, distribution centres and retailers off port property.
In their report released jointly by the federal and provincial governments today, Vince Ready and Corinn Bell noted an understanding among stakeholders of the need for change to the licensing system.
Detailed analysis has been done based on GPS data available from all 2,000 trucks currently registered to serve the port. Preliminary findings indicate that there are more trucks registered than required in this market.
Final details of the new system are subject to another round of consultation with container trucking stakeholders. When the final TLS policy is announced later this year, all current license holders will have the opportunity to seek participation in the new system. Among the details will be a program to ease the transition by assisting owner-operators of trucks who do not meet the requirements for entry under the new policy.
It is expected the new TLS will become effective in February 2015. Together with other changes being managed by the federal and provincial governments, Port Metro Vancouver will be among the most sophisticated ports in the world when it comes to provision of stable, competitive trucking services.
About Port Metro Vancouver:
Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s largest port and the fourth largest tonnage port in North America, responsible for Canada’s trade with more than 160 world economies. Located in a naturally beautiful setting on Canada’s west coast, Port Metro Vancouver is responsible for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers, and integrates environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives into all areas of port operations. Port Metro Vancouver is committed to meaningful engagement with the communities in which it operates and the shared obligation to improve the quality of life for Canadians. Enabling the trade of approximately $184 billion in goods annually, the port generates an estimated 100,000 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $9.7 billion in GDP across Canada.