VANCOUVER, B.C. — B.C.’s Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone says six recently conducted audits of container trucking companies has found all six are failing to live up to their trucker compensation requirements under the Container Trucking Act.

“The office of the container trucking commissioner continues to fulfill its responsibilities under the Container Trucking Act with one of its primary duties being to conduct a robust and ongoing audit process,” Stone said in a statement. “The office has concluded six audits and found that each of the six licensees did not meet their obligations to pay their drivers retroactive rates, which is required under the Container Trucking Act. The commissioner’s office is currently evaluating what sanctions it will take against the six licensees.”

Legislation introduced by the government through the Container Trucking Act outlined minimum rates and retroactive pay requirements for container truckers. Stone said the legislation is being enforced, even following the recent resignation of the commissioner responsible for overseeing the Act.

“It’s clear that even as government looks to find a new commissioner, the office of the container trucking commissioner continues to enforce its legislative responsibilities,” Stone said. “A number of other audits are ongoing and when complete, the status will be posted to the commissioner’s website. If an audit finds a licensee isn’t meeting its obligations under the Container Trucking Act and its regulations, the commissioner’s office has the authority to issue an order of repayment of monies owed to drivers and impose sanctions to achieve compliance under the Act.”

The province didn’t detail how much money was owed, or by which trucking companies, however NDP critic Shane Simpson told the Vancouver Sun “There’s a significant amount of money owed to truckers under this situation. I’m told it could be up to as much as $15,000 per trucker.”