Port Metro Vancouver president comments on the end of the BC truckers’ strike

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VANCOUVER, B.C.– Robin Silvester, President and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver released a statement today addressing the end of the 28-day strike that suspended Canada’s largest port.
 
The full statement reads:
 
The governments of Canada and British Columbia and Port Metro Vancouver have reached agreement with members of Unifor and the United Truckers Association to end the 28-day trucker work disruption. We are pleased that an agreement has been reached and are looking forward to truckers returning to work. 
 
The Joint Action Plan has been revised in recognition of the concerns voiced by container truck owner/operators. This comprehensive plan includes significant initiatives and actions with specific targets over the coming months. There is a lot of work to do, and we are committed to implementing changes rapidly to bring stability to the industry, prevent undercutting of agreed rates, diminish wait times, and prevent future disruptions.
 
We anticipate it will take some time for traffic at the port’s four container terminals to return to normal operations as terminal operators work to clear the backlog of containers that move by truck. Truck drivers, shippers and customers should expect longer than normal waits in the coming weeks as a result.
 
It is important to note that backlogs are specific to the movement of containers by truck. Containers have continued to move by rail to and from container terminals, while goods moving in Port Metro Vancouver’s other business sectors, including bulk, break bulk and automobiles, have been relatively unaffected by the trucking dispute.
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  • Now if all truckers across Canada could do what the guys/girls did in BC and come together they too maybe able to change a few things…like your pay.
    Just a thought…
    Martin

  • The rest of the trucking industry will have to take a good look in the mirror as to what happened at the Port Of Vancouver. The under cutting of rates in this industry is not just the truckers trying to get work or the trucking company’s trying to keep ungrateful customer’s. IT IS THE HUGE CORPORATIONS THAT BULLY THE TRUCKERS AND TRUCKING COMPANIES INTO LOWERING THEIR RATES AND LYING ABOUT HOW OTHER TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE WILLINGLY DROPPING THEIR RATES TO HAUL THEIR FREIGHT. THESE SAME COMPANIES REFUSE TO PAY FUEL SURCHARGES, WHILE THEY BILL THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS UNREAL CHARGES AND BLAME IT ON THE TRUCKING COSTS.TRUCKING IS A BUSINESS AND AS SUCH THERE HAS TO BE A PROFIT MARGIN SO THAT EQUIPMENT CAN BE MAINTAINED DRIVERS CAN MAKE A DECENT LIVING AND TRUCKS CAN MOVE THE FREIGHT SAFELY.

  • The trucking community is watching carefully to see if these are empty words or if there will finally be a useful agreement in place that will allow container truckers to make a decent living. Trucking is a 24/7 world everywhere except the container terminals; that has to change. Waiting time is a killer of productivity and morale; it saps energy and destroys home life. Don’t be surprised if there’s a return to the strike line if the agreed upon timelines for implementation of the 14 point plan aren’t met.

  • If you want to improve rates….stop lowering them. I have been in this business for 25+ years. Year after year I hear how some guy down the street will do it for less.

    Really …. No company has a pricing competitive advantage.

    What I have noticed is discount, low prices carriers go out of business. Unfortunately there always seems to be someone willing to take their place.

    Companies that know their costs and sell their services for what they are worth seem to show a profit and grow.

    Stop discounting your rates …. some one had to say yes to the lower rate to start the ball rolling.

    I have been told it’s not that easy … yes it is. Don’t be the guy that says yes to lower rates.

  • The Truckers all across canada would like the same deal for dock time . The CTA would wise to go to all their customers and the fed. gov. to get the same deal for all their members and make sure all U.S. plated trucks do the same.Many truckers would replate their their trucks and work for the rates in the bc port deal.In. ont the truck shortage would be solved in 30 days if that was done and lower cost insurance for part time truckers(farmers). the truck driver shortage is caused by shippers walking over drivers like what happened in BC.