Vancouver: The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) today introduced the most demanding container truck safety and environmental licensing standards in North America. In support of its strategic trucking program, the Port's new Truck Licensing System (TLS) will prohibit the access of substandard trucks on port property and develop a safer, cleaner, more sustainable container truck fleet to service the Port's container facilities. The new provisions will take effect on January 1, 2008.

"With our new TLS version, the VPA is following through on the promise we made in April 2007 to introduce industry-leading container truck safety and environmental standards," said Chris Badger, Vancouver Port Authority Vice President, Customer Development & Operations. "This new version of the TLS exceeds existing provincial environmental standards and raises the bar for container truck safety at the Port of Vancouver."

The new truck license includes more stringent safety and environmental enforcement, data qualification and audit provisions to allow the VPA to prevent non-compliant or substandard equipment from accessing port property.

New safety enforcement standards within the Port's mandatory licensing system include a three-tiered approach based on a cumulative system of warnings and suspensions and, for the most serious offences over time, cancellation of a company's truck license.

New environmental standards will require cleaner and more modern engine technology by phasing-out the use of older container trucks. By January 1, 2008, the Port will no longer allow access on port property to container trucks older than 1989. By January 1, 2009, the VPA will prohibit access to container trucks older than 1994. The TLS will include an appeals process to consider older trucks that meet acceptable alternatives to reduce emissions.

"These new standards will improve air quality in our communities and remove unsafe trucks from our roads," said Badger.

Other new environmental provisions address opacity, idling and driver education. To qualify for a TLS beginning January 1, 2008, trucking companies will be required to pass increasingly stringent annual opacity checks conducted by provincially certified facilities and pass random checks throughout the year. The Port will also enforce a new mandatory idle reduction provision on and around port property and introduce a compulsory annual driver education component to the truck license.

"The Port of Vancouvers economic, social and environmental impact reaches beyond the communities in which we operate," said Badger. "Setting very high standards for our operations and those of our service providers and supply chain partners reflects how sincerely the VPA takes its safety and environmental responsibilities."

The Port's enhanced truck safety enforcement provisions and new environmental standards will be fully implemented by January 1, 2008.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's flagship port, trading $53 billion in goods with more than 100 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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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

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