Inconveniences like overpass strikes and other concerning issues stemming from Metro Vancouver and British Columbia’s trucking industry are prompting action from TransLink and other industry leaders to act.
On Friday, TransLink revealed some ways that standards could be improved and are currently improving, and even mentioned how these new simplified standards could prevent overstrike passes.
Some of the simplified standards are in the process of being adopted by local governments, and the hope is that permitting processes will be streamlined and the costs for commercial traffic could be reduced.
TransLink says that before introducing the simplified standards, “transport truck size and weight standards have not been uniform across the region.” It adds that the simplified standards would ideally ensure consistency for “rules across municipal boundaries.”
TransLink offered some examples of the simplified standards:
- “Heavy truck” would be defined as a vehicle with a gross weight of over 11,793 kilograms in most Metro Vancouver municipalities.
- Roughly 98 per cent completed by local governments.
- “Aligning oversize and overweight truck standards throughout the region to make permitting more efficient for carriers.”
- Roughly 50 per cent completion.
“In addition to providing transit services and funding roads and infrastructure in Metro Vancouver, TransLink co-manages the Truck Route Network (TRN) with government partners. The TRN is composed of regional roads designated for heavy truck use,” TransLink says.
To help with the operation of oversize and overweight trucks, TransLink has developed a new permit manual. Currently, TransLink says each jurisdiction has its own permits, often subject to different requirements.
TransLink hopes these changes could prevent problems like overpass strikes, which have become a frequent topic of conversation in recent years.
“As local governments continue working toward industry standardization, these changes should also help reduce transport truck strikes on overpasses and other overhead infrastructure, such as trolley wires, in the region. Such incidents can cause major traffic disruptions and costly damage to infrastructure and cargo,” TransLink said.
Dave Earle, the CEO of the B.C. Trucking Association (BCTA) also hopes these changes will improve the day-to-day operations of the Metro Vancouver trucking industry.
“This important work will refine understanding, compliance, and safety within our industry.”
We have contacted the BCTA for more information on how these changes could prevent issues like overpass strikes.
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