Driving Toward a Greener Future: BCTA’s Blueprint for Heavy-Duty Trucking 2030 Climate Targets

The BC Trucking Association (BCTA) is pleased to unveil our comprehensive white paper, “Pathway to Achieving BC’s Heavy-duty Trucking 2030 Climate Targets.” This landmark publication outlines a strategic roadmap for reducing carbon emissions within the province’s heavy-duty trucking sector.

At the heart of BC’s intricate supply chain lies the indispensable role of medium and heavy-duty (MHD) trucks, a facet often underestimated in its significance. Approximately 50% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the province’s road transportation sector come from these vehicles. Surpassing mere statistical relevance, these trucks transport over 90% of all consumer goods in our province by weight, shaping the essential backbone of our commerce and daily lives.

In the fight against climate change, the challenges our industry faces are due to growth in population, e-commerce, and road congestion, coupled with our vehicles transporting virtually all consumer goods British Columbians depend on. As a result of this growth and dependence, the number of medium- and heavy-duty trucks on our roads increases on average by 7,113 vehicles each year, further adding to our sector’s GHG footprint.

While zero-emission vehicles are here, transitioning to these vehicles will be a long process due to range and payload limitations, vehicle turnover rate, and vehicle operating life. Based on these factors, BCTA forecasts that 78.2 - 87.9% of heavy-duty trucks (GVW greater than 11,794kg) in 2040 will be diesel.

Unfortunately, there is no single lever that governments or industry alone can pull to achieve success. Implementing an MHD zero-emission sales mandate (such as California’s) may appear necessary, but still will do more harm to our shared fight against climate change as 83% of carriers will run diesel vehicles for longer to avoid the mandate.

There is a path to 2030, 2040, and 2050 emission reduction targets, however, achieving them rests on all of us. The purpose of the BCTA white paper is a call to action by offering a blueprint for not just reducing emissions in the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle industry but also for steering the entire sector toward a sustainable and environmentally conscious future. By embracing innovation, prioritizing education, and advocating for strategic measures, we can redefine the narrative of our industry and the future we want to leave for the next generation.

The pathway includes the following recommendations:

GOVERNMENT

Mandates

• Province-wide idle management regulation: prohibits MHD vehicles from idling for longer than five minutes in a 60-minute period when the vehicle is stationary.
• Long-combination vehicles: by allowing their use to operate from the Lower Mainland to the British Columbia-Alberta border, as well as the ability to couple/de-couple at designated provincial commercial rest areas.
• 230 and 460 power off-takes mandate: at commercial loading bays, both for new builds and for loading bays that undertake a significant renovation for utilization by diesel-electric and full electric refrigeration units and battery-electric vehicles. 

Financial Incentives

• CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program: extension for an additional two years.
• Government-backed loan: with low-interest rates for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles.
• PST credit/exemption for zero and low-emission vehicles:¹ to accelerate vehicle turnover to newer, cleaner vehicles.
• SCRAP-IT Program: for MHD commercial vehicles with increased rebates for the purchase for low-and zero-emission vehicles.

Infrastructure

• Commercial public charging infrastructure: Nordel Way/Delta, Highway 15 near Pacific Highway Border, Highway 17/Surrey, Highway 11 near Abbotsford Huntingdon Border, Kamloops, and Kelowna.
• Extensive hydrogen network development: on key corridors in coordination with neighbouring jurisdictions (Highway 1, 5, 15, & 13).

Education

• Workshop series: to coordinate with BCTA in 2024 to collaborate with original equipment manufacturers, truck dealers, carriers, and shippers to establish a low- and zero-emission vehicle mandate for MHD vehicles.
• CleanBC Heavy-duty Vehicle Efficiency Program: leverage the program’s fuel management course to educate carriers on new low- and zero-emission technology and government incentive programs, to encourage vehicle turnover to newer, cleaner vehicles.

CARRIERS

• Documented fuel management plan: established by all BC carriers that promotes decarbonization by lowering the fleet's fuel consumption through a variety of measures including:
  • Fleet data management and tracking of drivers, vehicles, and trips through telematics.
  • Fleet turnover, from high-emitting vehicles to lower-emitting vehicles, and where feasible to low- and zero-emission vehicles.
  • Idle management, to minimize unnecessary idle time of the vehicle beyond the required, up to five minutes of vehicle warm-up time.
  • Sustainable driving training program for both new and existing drivers focused on RPM targets, momentum management, and pre-trip inspections.
  • GHG-reducing technology such as aerodynamic equipment, low-rolling resistant tires, and automated transmissions.
• Clean Carrier Program: carriers to participate in the BCTA eco-certification program.

• Power off-take installation: for utilization by diesel-electric and full electric refrigeration units, with the potential future use by battery-electric vehicles where feasible.  

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS

• Hybrid vehicle manufacturing: including, but not limited to CNG/LNG-electric hybrids, diesel-electric hybrids, and diesel-hydrogen co-combustion.
• Electric vehicle battery charging standardization: across OEM vehicles. 
• Hydrogen refueling standardization: across OEM vehicles. 
• Payload capacity increase: of battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles to Canadian weights.
• Range capacity increase: of battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles to near parity with diesel.

FUEL PROVIDERS

• Hydrogen fueling station installation: with priority at Kamloops, Surrey (Port Kells), Abbotsford, Surrey (Cloverdale), Prince George, Kelowna, and Merrit.
• CNG/LNG fueling station installation:  with priority at Kamloops, Abbotsford, Surrey (Port Kells) and South Surrey.
• Carbon credits transferability: for both renewable natural gas and natural gas to carriers.

SHIPPERS:

• Hire carriers who are Clean Carrier Certified: carriers who are certified through BCTA’s eco-certification program.
• 230 and 460 power off-take installation: at commercial loading bays for utilization by diesel-electric and full electric refrigeration units, and where feasible battery-electric vehicles. 
• Carrier profile review: as part of their carrier selection process.

PUBLIC:

• Stop click and deliver behaviour
• Demand shippers implement clean, sustainable transportation practices

 

As the backbone of BC’s economy, our industry recognizes its responsibility to lead the charge toward a cleaner, greener future. By embracing the recommendations outlined in the white paper and working together, the BC trucking industry can play a pivotal role in achieving our province’s ambitious climate targets for 2030.

DOWNLOAD THE PUBLICATION HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen ICE, hydrogen co-combustion, compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, hybrid vehicles.