Port of VancouverTruckers serving Canada’s Port Vancouver plan to stop work Feb. 26 in protest of excessive wait time and other issues.
The 1,200-member United Truckers Association scheduled the work stoppage after failing to resolve problems with Port Metro Vancouver. In a Feb. 24 UTA email to the PMV, the association “…Serviced a 48-hour notice of service disruption as truckers cannot afford to operate anymore.”
A representative of one shipper, West Fraser Timber, heard requests for better rates and to resolve other issues at the UTA’s Feb. 23 meeting.
Another port shipper, Inchcape Shipping Services, anticipates the protest will “severely impact” the port. “While not all drivers are members of the association, the result is likely to be a complete disruption in trucking and drayage operations, with the possibility of further action, after the initial two-days, further affecting loading operations,” ISS stated Feb. 25.
About 650 UTA members protested at the port Oct. 23, nearly two weeks after they formed the non-profit organization. Representatives of the association, the port and the Canadian labor department began meeting over concerns that included the financial hardship of the PMV’s Diesel Oxidation Catalyst standard for truckers.
On Oct. 31, the port responded to trucker concerns, noting on-going infrastructure improvements should mitigate delays. It agreed a turn-around time of 60 minutes or less was reasonable and gate hours should be expanded and coordinated.
The PMV defended its handling of rate enforcement, stating that it works closely with province authorities conducting investigations. It also publishes sanctions issued against drayage companies on its website.
