Trucking Headlines
Acknowledging the significant role of the trucking sector, Port Metro Vancouver is committed to communicating with TLS licence and permit holders more frequently.
Trucking Headlines aims to keep you informed on trucking initiatives to improve efficiencies in truck movements at the Port's container terminals, and to answer your questions about current events and topics that relate to you.
Let us know what you think of Trucking Headlines. Contact us to learn more, provide comments and suggest topics for future issues.
Learn more
Announcements
Truck Traffic Pilot Program
- January 26, 2012
The Truck Traffic Pilot Program has come to an end.
Port Metro Vancouver would like to thank trucking companies and independent owner operators for their compliance during the Truck Traffic Pilot Program.
The City of Vancouver is introducing the following turn-restrictions for port-bound container trucks:
- While travelling northbound on Clark, no right turn at 41st Avenue (eastbound)
- While travelling northbound on Clark, no right turn at Broadway (eastbound)
- While travelling eastbound on Broadway, no left turn at Nanaimo (northbound)
- While travelling eastbound on Broadway, no left turn at Renfrew (northbound)
Additionally, on Nanaimo and Renfrew Streets, north of Broadway, the speed limit is being reduced to 30 km per hour for all commercial trucks.
Port Metro Vancouver encourages TLS Licence and Permit holders transiting from Richmond / Delta through Vancouver to use the following Major Road Network (MRN) route to access the south shore of Vancouver harbour.
- Clark Drive to Hastings Street
- Hastings Street to Cassiar / Highway 1
- Cassiar / Highway 1 to Bridgeway Street
- Bridgeway Street to McGill Street
Container Truck Steering Committee
Federal, Provincial and Port Metro Vancouver Steering Committee on Container Trucking Actions to Date
- posted March 2011
In January 2010, a Steering Committee comprised of officials from Transport Canada, the British Columbia Ministries of Transportation & Infrastructure and Labour, and Port Metro Vancouver was formed in response to a recommendation contained in the 2009 Review of the Vancouver Container Trucking Regulations.
The Steering Committee was established to identify, discuss and resolve issues related to the long-term reliability and stability of the container-trucking sector serving Port Metro Vancouver and, where possible, strengthen coordination of the actions of the parties.
In June 2010, the Steering Committee invited a number of representative stakeholders to one-on-one meetings in order to better understand the views of the industry and to seek their feedback on the current framework, including the potential for improvement.
The meetings with stakeholders clearly highlighted the diversity of views held by those with an interest in the local drayage industry and resulted in a broad range of observations regarding the workings of the current regulatory-dispute resolution framework.
The Steering Committee is examining the development of an amended framework for improving the long-term stability of the local drayage industry in the British Columbia Lower Mainland.
The Steering Committee will consult further with stakeholders later in 2011.
Dangerous Goods Routes
Proposed Major Road Network Dangerous Goods Routes
TransLink is seeking feedback about the proposed Dangerous Goods Routes (DGR) for the Metro Vancouver’s Major Road Network (MRN) by Wednesday, June 30, 2010. Attached are the maps depicting the proposed DGR network. Please send comments to TransLink at dgrstudy@translink.ca.
Please consider the following questions when reviewing the proposed DGR:
- Specify any gaps in the proposed DGR Network that need to be addressed.
- Does the proposed network meet your company’s operational needs?
Note: Travel on roads that are not designated as DGR will be allowed using the same principle as is currently applied to travel off designated truck routes. That is, if the point of origin or destination is not located directly on or adjacent to a designated road, travel with dangerous goods will be allowed on any non-designated road that is the most direct route between a DGR and the points of origin or destination.
Today, the movement of dangerous goods is generally allowed on all provincial highways and municipal roads on the MRN with the following exceptions:
- Dangerous goods are not allowed to be transported through the Massey Tunnel and the Cassiar Connector.
- Surrey restricts dangerous goods from travelling on specific routes.
- Heavy commercial vehicles, regardless of commodity being transported, must travel on designated truck routes in municipalities that have truck routes (e.g., City of Vancouver restricts the movement of trucks with GVW > 10,000 kg to specific routes).
The main objectives in designating a DGR network are to minimize the risks and consequences of dangerous goods spills (e.g., routes should avoid going through major population centres), ensure consistency among municipalities while taking into account existing municipal by-laws, and ensuring that dangerous goods continue to move efficiently and without undue restrictions.
TransLink is also in discussions with municipalities about potential conflicts between the proposed DGR network and existing municipal by-laws. Once TransLink has gathered industry input and has municipal agreement on a network, it will draft a new by-law to establish DGRs. A precise time-line as to when this will occur is not yet available.