On July 5, 2021, BCTA submitted a letter to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) regarding mobile commercial vehicle inspections and backhauling opportunities for chip trailers. A key priority for BCTA and BC’s commercial road transportation sector is to reduce our carbon footprint without unduly affecting the affordability of goods for British Columbians, and both proposed actions will support the reduction of commercial road transportation emissions.
The letter outlined BCTA’s request to consider the two following actions:
- Mobile Trailer Inspections: Provide the ability for designated inspection facilities (DIF) to conduct annual mobile commercial vehicle inspections (CVI) for trailers, including jeeps and boosters; and
- Backhauling Opportunities on Chip Trailers: Amend the Commercial Transport Procedures Manual (CTPM) to allow chip trailers with the ability to back haul other commodities to do so, so long as they are in compliance with section 4.5.4 of the CTPM and are within legal axle weights.
Mobile Trailer Inspections:
Based on long haul tractors, heavy duty vehicles transporting trailers to DIFs, on average, emit up to 40 times the emissions to that of a passenger vehicle. Additionally, a limited number of trailers inspected require hoisting to remove wheels in order to complete an inspection, which means the majority of inspections can be completed at site by a professional mechanic and avoid unnecessary transportation-related emissions.
BCTA requested that MoTI support the BCTA Sustainability Committee’s request for the ability for DIFs to provide annual mobile CVIs for trailers, including jeeps and boosters. Specifically, the ask is to adopt the same procedure to that of Ontario where mobile inspections by DIFs can take place so long as they “have sufficient internal space or external hard standing area for the inspection of at least one vehicle of the class that the licensee is licensed to inspect.”
Backhauling Opportunities for Chip Trailers:
At present, only Super B-trains are permitted to back haul wood chips and residuals. Improving load factors for all wood chip trailers, so long if they meet overall length and width configurations and legal axle weight targets, is the most efficient way to promote economic development and reduce transportation related GHG emissions through better fuel efficiency and productivity.
BCTA requested that CVSE amend the circular to provide the ability for all chip trailers to backhaul so long as the vehicle maintains compliance with overall axle weights and vehicle configurations.
Find a copy of our letter here.
