BC Gov News

The Government of B.C. has listened to the truckers serving Port Metro Vancouver and is today releasing its proposed rate structure, which will soon be brought into force, providing fair wages for these truckers moving forward, plus other improvements.

The Province is taking steps to resolve undercutting within the container trucking industry that made it difficult for truckers serving the port to consistently earn a fair wage. This undercutting raised tensions and negatively impacted the port’s operations.

The B.C. government has worked hard with the Government of Canada, Port Metro Vancouver, mediators Vince Ready and Corrin Bell, industry, labour and truckers since March to improve wages and working conditions for truckers.

It is a complicated situation and it has been hard to find a solution that pleases everyone. The government thanks all parties for their input.

There are new rates for truckers, retroactive to April 3, 2014. A table with the proposed rate structure is available in the factsheet that follows.

In March 2014, a Joint Action Plan was agreed upon by the United Truckers’ Association, Unifor, and the provincial and federal governments.

With the imminent provincial regulations coming into force, 12 of the 14 actions in the Joint Action Plan will now be complete for this sector, including:

• Minimum rates for all truckers that serve the port on and off dock.
• A 2% fuel surcharge in place.
• A whistleblower line in place.
• All trucking companies now subject to enhanced audit.
• An end to all Port Metro Vancouver legal proceedings.
• Extended hours at Vanterm, Centerm and Deltaport.
• Wait time fees in place and 100% payable to truckers.
• Terminal Gate Compliance Fee waived by the port.
• Mediation assistance offered to truckers and their employer companies.
• GPS units installed within all TLS-licensed trucks.
• Steering committee (in place from April through September 2014).
• Vince Ready/Corrin Bell recommendations issued in September 2014.

Port Metro Vancouver is working on the two remaining Joint Action Plan recommendations:

• TLS reform - new licenses to be issued by Feb. 1, 2015.
• Reservation system - a new system is being built for early 2015.

In the coming weeks, a commissioner will be appointed to provide oversight to the industry. 

Truckers and trucking companies are important to B.C.’s economy. They help ensure the smooth operation and success of Port Metro Vancouver.

The new rates and rules are fair. They will provide fair compensation for truckers and their families, and they will help ensure Canada’s busiest and most-important port is reliable, stable and competitive for the long term.

A factsheet follows.

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241

FACTSHEET

New Drayage Trucking Rate Structure

Based on the March 27, 2014, Joint Action Plan, the Province is releasing its proposed rate structure for truckers, retroactive to April 3, 2014. Highlights of these new, proposed rates include:

• Trip paid independent operators will be paid Joint Action Plan trip rates on dock, and new Vince Ready/Corrin Bell rates off-dock for trips longer than five kilometres, both retroactive to April 3, 2014.
• Hourly employees will be paid $25.13 on hire and $26.28 after one year of cumulative service, including benefits, retroactive to April 3, 2014.
• Hourly paid independent operators will be paid hourly $50.13 on hire and $51.28 after one year of cumulative service, including benefits, retroactive to April 3, 2014.
• Employee trips will be paid at $40 for on and off-dock.
• Fuel surcharge multiplier of 2% will be paid to independent operators retroactive to March 27, 2014. Truckers who receive fuel at a discount will have their fuel surcharge multiplier apply to the actual price of the discounted fuel.
• 100% of all wait time remuneration paid to trucking companies will be paid to trip-paid truckers retroactive to April 3, 2014.
• Short trips of less than five kilometres made by independent operators will be paid $50 per trip.
• All truckers will be paid, at a minimum, for four hours work for callout. Independent operators paid by trip will be paid at least $200 and $160 for employees paid by trip.

Full rate structure follows.

INDEPENDENT OPERATORS PAID BY THE TRIP (UNION AND NON-UNION):

On Dock
Rate (minimums):       See On-Dock rate schedule available at  http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/On-Dock%20Rate%20Table.pdf
Application date:         Retroactive to April 3, 2014

Off Dock       
Rate (minimums):       See Off-Dock rate schedule available at  http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/Off-Dock%20Rate%20Table.pdf
Application date:         Retroactive to April 3, 2014

Move < 5km between facilities       
Rate (minimums):       $50 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Callout           
Rate (minimums):       $200 for four continuous hours of work.
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Wait Time Remuneration    
Rate (minimums):       100% of remuneration paid to trucking companies paid to I/O.
Application date:         100% flow-through payment to I/O retroactive to April 3, 2014

Fuel Surcharge
Rate (minimums):       2% multiplier calculated as per regulations
Application date:         Retroactive to March 27, 2014

EMPLOYEES PAID BY THE TRIP (EMPLOYED BY LICENSEE):

On dock         
Rate (minimums):       $40 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Off dock
Rate (minimums):       $40 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Move < 5 km between facilities
Rate (minimums):       $40 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Callout           
Rate (minimums):       $160 for four continuous hours of work     
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Wait Time Remuneration    
Rate (minimums):       100% of remuneration paid to trucking companies paid to employee
Application date:         100% flow-through payment to employee retroactive to April 3, 2014

INDIRECTLY EMPLOYED OPERATORS PAID BY THE TRIP (EMPLOYED BY INDEPENDENT OPERATOR):

*Note:  If an I/O is paid by trip, the IEO must be paid by trip
*Note:  Independent Operators are required to pay their IEO the rates set out below.

On dock
Rate (minimums):       $40 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Off dock
Rate (minimums):       $40 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Move < 5 km between facilities
Rate (minimums):       $40 per trip
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Callout           
Rate (minimums):       $160 for four continuous hours of work
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Wait Time Remuneration
Rate (minimums):       100% of remuneration paid to trucking companies paid to I/O employee
Application date:         100% flow-through payment to IEO retroactive to April 3, 2014

HOURLY DRIVERS (EMPLOYEES):

On and off dock
Rate (minimums):       $25.13 on hire and $26.28 after one year of cumulative service, which includes benefits.
Application date:         Retroactive to April 3, 2014

Callout           
Rate (minimums):       Minimum four continuous hours of work
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

HOURLY DRIVERS (INDEPENDENT OPERATORS):

On and off dock
Rate (minimums):       $50.13 on hire and $51.28 after one year of cumulative service, which includes benefits.
Application date:         Retroactive to April 3, 2014

Callout           
Rate (minimums):       Minimum four continuous hours of work
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Fuel Surcharge
Rate (minimums):       2% multiplier calculated as per regulations
Application date:         Retroactive to March 27, 2014

HOURLY DRIVERS (INDIRECTLY EMPLOYED OPERATORS (EMPLOYEES OF INDEPENDENT OPERATORS):

*Note:  If an IO is paid by hour, the IEO must be paid by hour                  
*Note:  Independent Operators are required to pay their IEO the rates set out below

On and off dock
Rate (minimums):       $25.13 on hire and $26.28 after one year of cumulative service., which includes benefits.
Application date:         Retroactive to April 3, 2014

Callout           
Rate (minimums):       Minimum four continuous hours of work   
Application date:         Effective upon enactment of regulations

Drivers paid combination of hourly and trip rates PROHIBITED

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241