United Truckers Association endorses Commissioner’s new licensing plan

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The United Truckers Association (“UTA) is speaking out regarding this past weekend’s protest by the Port Trucking Association (“PTA”) against the new requirements to obtain a container trucking licence that were recently introduced by the BC Container Trucking Commissioner.

More specifically, the UTA continues to oppose unlicensed illegal fleets that have been taking away work from legitimate Independent Operators (“IOs”) for the past decade.

The companies that took part in the protest are supportive of using such trucks so they can pay rates that are less than those that are legislated and enforced by the Commissioner’s office.

“Claims that these illegal fleets are “affiliates” of the protest participant licence holders is a false narrative that only attempts to justify schemes to bypass the rules that the entire drayage industry must abide by,” according to UTA spokesperson Gagan Singh.

“The BC Container Trucking Act introduced a regulated system of pay for both on- and off-dock container moves,” explains Singh. “While the fact it took 10 years for the Commissioner’s office to crack down on the use of these illegal fleets is disappointing, the UTA is very supportive of the new rules, which will finally return the work that our members are entitled to.”

Any company that cannot earn a living playing within the rules should not be moving containers in the industry. The 2014 Port of Vancouver truckers strike took place as a response to an epidemic of undercutting and bribes, which created an unequal marketplace where honourable businesses couldn’t compete.

The UTA supports and welcomes trucking commissioners’ 50/50 policy of company trucks and IOs, which will preserve the presence of these small business owners in the drayage industry.

“Claims that this is an assault on smaller companies is once again, a self-serving perspective that does not reflect the reality on the ground,” adds Singh. “This is a debate between those who want to earn a living according to the law, and those who want to operate under their own set of rules.”