Vancouver port defers truck age ban program to April 3, 2023

Have you heard of the Rolling Truck Age Program? It is a program that will ban container-hauler trucks with models that are older than 2006. This is part of an effort to control emissions which were initially expected to go into effect on September 3. The Port of Vancouver is now deferring the implementation until April of 2023.

According to the letter addressed to Truck Licensing System (TLS) participants, Transport Canada indicated during discussions that a final adjustment to the program schedule would provide additional flexibility to better enable operators to comply with requirements. TruckNews.com reported, “All container trucking businesses looking to serve the port’s marine container terminals must meet certain criteria – including minimum truck age, safety, and environmental requirements – to access the federally owned port property under the TLS.”

Different trucking groups, like The United Truckers Association (UTA), have opposed the program. They even threatened a job action but decided otherwise after speaking with port officials.

UTA spokesman Gagan Singh told TruckNews.com that the group will continue to push for an end to the program and will work with lawmakers in parliament in this regard. “We will hold a meeting every month, about 350 people attended our recent one on Sept. 3. The next meeting is on Oct. 9,” he said.

The port also expressed that 80% of the trucking companies serving the port have already become compliant and would have been by the September 15 deadline. Only a few dozen trucks would have felt the impact.