Government of Canada acts to raise trucker rates at Port Metro Vancouver

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VANCOUVER, B.C.– The Government of Canada has brought in new regulations to increase the rates paid to truckers at Port Metro Vancouver, “delivering on its commitment to support the resumption of full operations at the port”, said a government release this afternoon.

Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s largest port. In 2013, the port handled a record 135 million tonnes of cargo, an overall increase of nine per cent over 2012.

The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, announced that following the March 26, 2014, back-to-work Joint Action Plan (agreed to by the federal and provincial governments, Port Metro Vancouver, Unifor and the United Truckers Association), the Government of Canada has amended the Port Authorities Operations Regulations to increase container trucking rates at Port Metro Vancouver by 12 percent and double the fuel surcharge paid to truck owner-operators.

The amendments came into effect April 3, 2014. These steps were agreed to after taking into account the concerns voiced by container truck drivers as well as input received from stakeholders, including the recommendations made by federally appointed advisor Vince Ready. They will be further complemented by the Government of Canada’s expedited 2014 Regulatory Framework Review which will address the longer-term approach to container truck rates and fuel surcharges.

Today’s announcement, in addition to actions planned by the Province of British Columbia and Port Metro Vancouver, aims to help bring long-term stability to the container trucking industry serving Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Approximately 2,000 Port Metro Vancouver licensed trucks service the port moving containers throughout the Lower Mainland. The local trucking industry moves approximately 1.3 million TEUs* per year through Port Metro Vancouver. Based on 2011 economic impact study figures, the value of those goods is approximately $46 billion or roughly $885 million per week.

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  • Interesting, the government deregulates the Transportation industry now they have to come back and fix the rates, hmm!! who would have thought that would happen?

  • Hi- The first time in Canadian history the federal Government sanctions a truckers rate hike! I read that a similar group of truckers in Ontario are now negotiating a monetary gain. Canadian truckers have never had this opportunity previously, and in my opinion this is a racial-political decision.

  • Two groups in Ontario would like to the bc port pay as quideline for their pay package. The fed gov.t need to set min. rates as many trucker refuse to work for $15. per hour.