Vancouver, B.C. - Today's release of the Final Report of the Task Force on the Transportation and Industrial Relations Issues Related to the Movement of Containers at British Columbia's Ports is being met with support from the Vancouver Port Authority, which notes that it is already well underway with implementing a number of the operational recommendations.

"The task force report does a credible job of considering the issues underlying this summer's trucking dispute. The port supports the task force's recommendations and will work with government and industry stakeholders to ensure their successful implementation," said Jim Cox, the port's vice president responsible for infrastructure development.

While the port still cautions that the permanent regulation of rates may not be in the best long-term interests of a competitive gateway, it is seen as a necessary step that will bring stability to the industry until a sustainable market-based solution is possible. The successful implementation of extended operating hours, mandatory reservations, the increased use of technology and other efficiencies will benefit truckers and may eventually eliminate the need for regulation of rates.

The port has already been working on a pilot program for extending hours of operation at truck gates. "Extended hours will increase capacity and efficiency by reducing congestion at terminals and on the region's roads, making better use of existing transportation infrastructure, reducing air emissions and enabling truckers to move a greater number of containers in a given shift," said Cox. The port also supports the recommendation for the establishment of a mandatory reservations system, noting that lack of participation in the current voluntary system is responsible for a number of congestion-related problems.

Another Task Force recommendation that the port is already implementing is a monitoring program of truck waiting times outside of terminal gates. As part of the port's commitment to container truck drivers to monitor and reduce wait times inside and outside port access gates, effective Wednesday, November 9, 2005, the VPA will implement a container truck monitoring program to measure container truck wait times on port roadways. More information on this program is available at www.portvancouver.com.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $43 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies annually. Port activities generate 69,200 jobs in total with $4 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $8.9 billion in economic output.

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To read the full report, visit Transport Canada's website:
Final Report of the Task Force on the Transportation and Industrial Relations Issues Related to the Movement of Containers at British Columbia's Ports


For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(778) 231-6978 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

For more information:
For more information on any of these stories, call 1-888 PORTVAN.
Or, send an email to:
public_affairs@portvancouver.com