PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — While unions representing mill workers are up in arms over a plan to allow the export of up to one million cubic metres of raw logs, the news couldn’t be better for truckers.

That’s the message from Roy Nagel, the general manager of the organization representing logging and trucking contractors in the Prince George area.

“Anything that keeps truckers and loggers working is a good thing in the short term,” says Nagel. “I would be more concerned if it was the beginning of a sequence of events, but I don’t think it is.”

Approximately 28,000 loads of raw logs will be hauled out of the country from B.C.’s northwest coast. Some observers say the B.C. Liberals are paving the way for further massive exports, but Prince George-North MLA, Pat Bell, says this isn’t the case.

“They’re low value logs and the intent, I think, was to keep loggers in the area working,” says Bell. That is especially important for the region considering the uncertain future of Skeena Cellulose, the area’s largest mill.

Bell has also attempted to ease the concerns of mill workers by suggesting there is a current backlog at B.C. mills due to the pine beetle infestation and the increased allowable harvests.