LANGLEY, B.C. (Mar. 15, 2005) — The B.C. Trucking Association wants the provincial government to streamline the overdimensional permit system by issuing annual fleet permits instead of vehicle-specific permits.

In a letter to B.C. Minister of Deregulation Initiatives John Les, BCTA refers to the Alberta permit model, which is $60 per fleet for two years as opposed to the B.C. model of $15 to $30 per vehicle per month for overheight, overwidth and overlength (to 27.5 metres) permits, provided that the load is not also overweight.

The trucking group says that if accepted, the change would reduce the administrative and financial burden of trucking companies having to apply for, receive, pay for permits or copies in trucks. “Permit applications or refunds would also no longer have to be requested as trucks are added to or removed from the fleet. Trucking companies pay approximately $1.5 million per year for overdimensional permits,” BCTA says.

BCTA also recommended that overlength permits for unladen trailers beyond 27.5 metres be assessed a flat annual permit fee — around $30 — on a fleet basis, rather than a weight-based fee, given that these trailers are not overweight.

“The efficiency of the permit system will become critical as demand is anticipated to increase in light of several large anticipated construction projects in the Lower Mainland,” BCTA says, citing the RAV line, Golden Ears Bridge, new Olympic venues, as examples.