VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) has responded to the BC Trucking Association’s recommendations that changes need to be made to the port’s incoming Truck Licensing System before it takes affect on Jan. 1, 2008.

The VPA, according to the trucking association, recently made some adjustments to deadlines and opacity testing to the system, which, among other things, prohibits “substandard” emission-spouting trucks on port property.

One aspect of the rule, bans trucks older than 1989 from the port. However, thanks to BCTA lobbying, those trucks will be allowed until March 31, 2008 (adjusted from January 1, 2008) to apply for an exemption.

Emissions limits and anti-idling are part of VPA’s new
port licensing system, taking affect between Jan and March.

Trucks older than 1994 will still be banned as of January 1, 2009, however, but can apply for an exemption at any time. The exemption will be valid until VPA establishes the next set of truck age requirements, says BCTA.

Furthermore, container tractors with engines manufactured before January 1, 1994 must undergo opacity testing. But again, the new date for submitting opacity test has been extended until March 31, 2008.

The acceptable opacity standards are equivalent to those the provincial AirCare On-Road Program: 55 percent for 1990 & older trucks, and 40 percent for newer models. Trucks that achieve a 10 percent rate will get a 1-year exemption from testing.

Tests can be conducted at any facility, whether they are “certified” by the Ministry of Transportation or not. However, if a vehicle fails a random test at the port, it must be fixed or retrofitted and then re-tested at a transport department ministry-certified facility, says BCTA.

All vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1994 are exempt from opacity testing, but remain subject to random testing by the port authority.

Also, as part of the regime, trucks will be limited to idling no more than three consecutive minutes in a one-hour period.

Enforcement of the system will be three-tiered, based on warnings and then suspensions, and, for the most serious offences over time, cancellation of a company’s truck licence.

VPA is also in the process of developing an appeals model for companies and owner-operators who fail to meet the standards and are subsequently suspended from the port, BCTA reports.