The BC Trucking Association has submitted a letter to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) to express the need for expanded utilization of long combination vehicles (LCVs) in BC. Specifically, we are seeking support to establish:
- a BC – Alberta long combination vehicle road network, without the requirement to travel with pilot cars; and
- designated commercial rest areas for the coupling and de-coupling of long combination vehicles.
Consistent with the province, a key priority of BCTA is sustainable transportation to address the climate emergency. With the trucking sector transporting over 90% of all consumer goods in BC, and the fact that over the past decade the sector grew by an average of 4,049 MHD vehicles each year, it is imperative that we work together to discover solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Unlike other western provinces, very few BC carriers currently operate LCVs in the province due to the following challenges:
- the only approved east-west LCV corridor in BC is to/from the Lower Mainland to Kamloops & Kelowna as per circular CVSE1014, in sufficient lane capacity (dual lane highway);
- pilot car requirements for operating on dual lane roads; and
- inability to operate LCVs during adverse weather conditions, with limits operations from mid-Spring to early Fall on the east-west corridor.
LCVs are not only the safest commercial vehicles on the road, but they also have the potential to reduce commercial road transportation greenhouse gas emissions by up to 41% compared to two individual tractor-trailers moving the same amount of cargo.
Expanding the LCV network and establishing designated commercial rest areas for the coupling and de-coupling of LCVs, as we have requested, will increase the opportunity for LCVs to reduce emissions and assist in the Class 1 commercial driver shortage, which according to BCTA’s 2022 Compensation Survey currently has a vacancy rate of 18.4%1.
For full details, please see BCTA’s September 6thLetter to MoTI regarding the utilization of long combination vehicles on BC’s road network.
