VanPort truck licence deadline tonight; changes made to rule

VANCOUVER — Lower Mainland container carriers that haven’t yet been issued a new port hauling licence have until the clock strikes midnight, tonight, to get one.

Companies that don’t meet the deadline will have trucks turned around at port gates starting the morning of Tuesday, January 16, 2007, warns the Vancouver Port Authority.

Having simply submitted an application for a new license by today is not sufficient, says VPA.

The controversial truck licensing system, enforced by the Vancouver Port Authority, was officially enshrined into law by the federal government in November.

Every trucking company accessing the port must apply
for a new licence, regardless if it currently holds one

Under the new regulations the Vancouver and Fraser River port authorities must establish, set conditions, and enforce a licensing system for all truckers entering the ports.

The rule essentially solidifies a previous Memorandum of Agreement, which — based on government mediator Vince Ready’s 2005 recommendations to end a six-week strike by independent container truckers — establishes standard haulage rates container companies must pay truck operators who access port facilities.

The licensing scheme, begrudgingly accepted by most drayage companies, was extended by several Orders in Council before becoming law.

Every container trucking company accessing the port must apply for a new truck licence, regardless of whether it currently holds a licence.

Meanwhile, according to the B.C. Trucking Association, the VPA has made two amendments to the Truck Licensing Agreement.

At BCTA’s behest, the authority has eased prior restrictions on maintaining a licence while transferring ownership or shares of the company. The VPA acknowledged revoking licences under such circumstances could devalue the company. However, VPA requires notification in a timely manner of “any share transfer, sale, assignment or other transfer of ownership or change in control.”

The VPA also reduced the comprehensive general liability and automobile liability insurance requirements from $5 million to $2 million.

BCTA noted it’s unusual for local drayage companies to carry $5 million general liability insurance. In some cases, those companies may not even qualify for that amount of general liability insurance and, there are few insurers that write policies this large for local drayage trucking companies.
About $1 million general liability is the average.