VICTORIA — With a new minister in charge of the Transportation and Infrastructure portfolio in B.C., the province’s trucking association hoped to get a little face time to voice some concerns. 

In late July, the B.C. Trucking Association got what they asked for and had an opportunity to outline a number of their priorities to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond.

Among the items discussed with Bond was the Trucking Sector Climate Change Working Group, in which BCTA played a pivotal role, recommending a comprehensive program for fuel and GHG emissions reduction that includes an educational program for the industry, a financial incentive program for the purchase of proven technologies, and the removal of regulatory barriers.

The BCTA also hopes to continue to work with the ministry on other regulatory and policy changes that would promote efficiency for the industry as well as GHG emission reductions, including expanding the long-combination vehicle program, weight allowances for GHG devices, longer bulk chip trailers and B.C. regulations that hamper compliance with California Air Resources Board (CARB) GHG-reduction requirements.

The association also spoke with the new minister about safety compliance in the industry, as well as highway construction projects and improvements at the U.S. border crossings.

"Although the government is experiencing fiscally difficult times along with the rest of B.C., Minister Bond stated that the ministry can still show its support for an industry sector by implementing programs, regulatory and policy changes or other things that have no or limited financial impact on the ministry’s budget,” says the BCTA.