Vancouver carriers sue over owner-operator rate increases, driver pay changes

Port of VancouverPort of Vancouver

Port Metro Vancouver trucking companies have filed a lawsuit against Canadian authorities, arguing recent federal rate increases that ended a recent truckers’ strike are unconstitutional.

Thirty-three carriers filed claim in the Supreme Court of British Columbia April 25 after Canadian officials elevated container trucking rates 12 percent and doubled owner-operators’ fuel surcharge. The carriers seek an injunction to end the hikes and unspecified damages.

The carriers assert the Canadian government lacked jurisdiction when it imposed these increases. The changes resulted from a back-to-work agreement negotiated between the federal and provincial governments, Port Metro Vancouver, union and non-unionized truckers.

The plaintiffs say they were excluded from discussions that resulted in the March 26 agreement ending the strike. The return-to-work plan also included setting a benchmark hourly wage and trucker wait time compensation.

The port’s independent owner-operator organization, the United Truckers Association stopped work Feb. 26, while the unionized Unifor-Vancouver Container Truckers’ Association began strike March 10.

The Business Manual for Owner-Operators
Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2022 edition of Partners in Business.
Download
Partners in Business Issue Cover