VANCOUVER, B.C. – Building on a year of increased operations stability, the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) has laid out its plans in support of its strategic trucking program. For the past two years a cloud of uncertainty has hovered over the West Coast port, beginning with a lengthy labour dispute in 2005. Container haulers walked off the job, frustrated by not being able to make ends meet. The truckers eventually began trucking in the port again, after mediator Vince Ready issued a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

With the MOA set to expire in the spring of 2006, uncertainty again arose as the federal government announced it would not renew the agreement. Working with the port, the federal government essentially adopted the agreement under the Port Authorities Operations Regulations, giving the port licensing authority and allowing business to carry on as usual.

Policy details include:

* The VPA is now requiring all trucking companies that transport containers to and from the port to apply for a new licence that contains the new requirements. All previous licences expired Jan. 15, 2007. After that date the terms of the new licence apply.

* Effective immediately, the VPA will only accept applications for new licences from companies that transport containers to and from the Lower Mainland ports exclusively with company-owned equipment and employee drivers.

* Any trucking company that does not conduct business at the Lower Mainland ports for 90 consecutive calendar days will lose its licence. Long-haul carriers will be exempt from this provision.

* All trucking companies applying for a licence must provide the VPA a signed copy of the MOA. Any company that fails to do so will not be eligible for a new licence. New provisions will provide for the investigation, inspection and auditing of company records to ensure compliance with the MOA.

Applications for the new Truck Licence System can be found online, at www.pacificgatewayportal.com/TLSPortal.