Vancouver port truckers delay labor actions

Following talks with port officials on July 30, truck drivers decided to postpone labor action at the Port of Vancouver for a few weeks, averting a possible shutdown at the busy West Coast facility this week. Truck News reported that, “United Truckers Association (UTA) spokesman Ganan Singh said in a news release the group met representatives from the port and federal government and ‘struck a temporary agreement to work together on introducing opacity level criteria for trucks instead of the Rolling Truck Age Program.’” Opacity tests ground trucks that generate thick clouds due to exhaust smoke. Although this will detect unwanted matters, it won’t identify greenhouse gases.

To improve air quality and community health, the port will prohibit container-hauling trucks with model years older than 2006 beginning September 15.