BCTA’s seventh member survey regarding the impact of COVID-19 continues to show decreased revenues as the top impact for all members. Still, there are some revenue improvements, and the support for government COVID-19 measures remains high.

The surveys received a very strong response rate, at 14 percent of freight carrier members, 50 percent of motor coach members, and 14 percent of associate members.

Highlights include:

• Decreased revenue was the most common COVID-19-related impact to date for all members, affecting 48 percent of trucking companies, 100 percent of motor coach members and 32 percent of associated members.
• BC’s motor coach sector has been the hardest hit with companies experiencing an average drop in revenue of 87.2 percent in November/December. While this was a 9.6 percent improvement over May, when the average drop in revenue for motor coach members peaked at 96.8 percent, it highlights the ongoing challenges COVID-19 has created for an industry that depends heavily on tourism and events.
• On average, trucking companies saw a drop in revenue of 13.6 percent in November/December, a 5.4 percent improvement over September/October, when respondents reported an average drop in revenue of 19 percent.
• Associate members continued to see improvement in November/December, with an average drop in revenue of 9 percent. This is 11 percent lower than September/October when the average revenue drop was 20 percent.
• The percentage of respondents conducting temporary layoffs decreased for associate and trucking members. However, a greater percentage of motor coach members indicated that they have permanently laid off employees.
• Expectations regarding the timeframe for economic recovery improved for associate members and trucking companies and stayed the same for motor coach members. Trucking companies expect their recovery to be just over 7 and a half months, motor coach members expect 18 months, and associate members expect just over 6 months. In the sixth COVID-19 Impact survey, trucking companies expected their economic rebound to be over 10 months, motor coach members over 18 months and associate members over 7 months.
• On average, fewer trucks sat idle per fleet (an average of one truck per fleet in November/December compared to an average of four trucks per fleet in September/October).
• In November/December, 88 percent of trucking companies and 78 percent of motor coach companies supported government measures to “flatten the curve” and reduce the spread of the virus, compared to 83 percent for both member groups in September/October 2020. For associate members, 76 percent support government measures, compared to 85 percent in September/October.

Background

BCTA’s seventh COVID-19 Impact Survey (November/December 2020) had response rates of 14 percent for trucking company members and 50 percent for motor coach company members. The sixth survey (September/October 2020) received response rates of 12 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

For associate members, the response rate for the seventh survey was 14 percent (compared to 14 percent for the sixth survey). Most respondents (41 percent) were in insurance, transportation management systems, driver training or legal services. And, 22 percent of respondents were truck/trailer manufacturers, dealers, and/or dealt with sales, service, repair and rentals. The remaining respondents identified as “other.”

BCTA contacted members directly about the survey by e-mail, and we included a reminder in the January 18, 2021, Bulletin article, “BCTA COVID-19 Impact Survey #7.”

Percentages regarding expectations for economic recovery quoted above are based on weighted averages of the responses from each survey group.

These results show even essential services like the trucking industry have not been immune to COVID-19 impacts. BCTA plans to re-issue the survey in coming months to determine if there are changes to the main impacts to businesses and to assess the effectiveness of government supports.

Thank you to all members who participated – this type of data is essential to gaining an understanding of the actual impact of this crisis, and to support our continued advocacy with government on the type of supports needed now and in the future.