LANGLEY, B.C. — WorkSafeBC recently released its projected base rates for 2009, which included a two cent increase for general trucking.

Despite the modest increase, the B.C. Trucking Association has taken exception to the rise in cost and is asking WorkSafeBC to leave the base rate at its 2008 level.

According to BCTA president and CEO Paul Landry, the general trucking increase from $4.87 to $4.89 comes in the face of five-year trend data that shows all key cost factors for general trucking, including the injury rate, total duration, and number of claims are declining.

In a letter to David Anderson, WorkSafeBC president & CEO, Landry explains that the industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Transportation costs are rising from a number of factors including the new 2007 engine standard, new hours-of-service regulations that lessen efficiency, high prices for diesel fuel, the B.C. carbon tax, and the mandated use of biodiesel blends, which suppliers could choose to implement as early as January 2009.

“While, theoretically, the costs associated with each of these challenges should be passed onto the customers, in reality this is not occurring or is happening at a slower pace than it should primarily because the economy as a whole is showing signs of sluggishness,” wrote Landry.

Given these pressures, and the fact that general trucking has a generous reserve already to use for WorkSafeBC claims, Landry recommended WorkSafeBC leave the current base rate as is.