Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Jill Sperling

Essential Workers

BC Trucking Association noting increase in commercial traffic during pandemic

Feb 18, 2021 | 11:20 AM

KAMLOOPS — Throughout the pandemic, commercial trucking has been deemed an essential service and the province is seeing an uptick in this sort of traffic.

While most Canadians are encouraged not to travel, those transporting goods from one place to another have been in greater demand. According to the BC Trucking Association, light vehicle traffic is down 30-to-40 per cent, while commercial traffic is up seven to 15 per cent in some places.

With a greater number of trucks on the road, BC Trucking Association President Dave Earle says safety is a priority.

“We are anticipating the provincial government announcing mandatory entry level training in the coming weeks,” Earle said. “What that looks like is B.C. will join the rest of the country in having a mandatory curriculum be delivered by all driving schools in British Columbia. It will have minimum amounts of hours spent in the classroom, in the yard and very importantly behind the wheel. What this will do is raise the floor for training. It’s not the be all and end all, but it certainly is a very important first step.”

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Due to their essential designation, commercial truckers are not subject to the same quarantine rules as others entering the country. However, the Trucking Association is working with various levels of government and health agencies to investigate opportunities for enhanced testing.

Earle says operators have taken COVID-19 protocols seriously and there has been low levels of transmission among drivers.

“We have no data to suggest that there’s anything untoward or that things are happening. It’s been a great success story. As we move into the next phase of the pandemic and move into vaccinations, we’re going to keep our eye on that ball and make sure that we’re doing everything we can to maintain the continuity of the supply chain and make sure that operators can operate as essential workers.”