Shippers weigh in on Vancouver truck dispute

VANCOUVER—Responding to news that striking container truck drivers are asking for increases well in excess of 200 percent, Ian May, chairman of the Western Canadian Shippers’ Coalition said, “While that is not good news for WCSC members, it isn’t good for container truckers either.  At the time of this release every one of our companies was looking into either changing from containers to breakbulk, using a different port or both.  This news will force them to actually make those decisions.”

May went on to say that forest products account for 80 percent of all export container moves. “That means up to 25 percent of the current market will go elsewhere and it won’t be back any time soon. In order to secure space on vessels, or at a different port, it is necessary to make long-term volume commitments that lock in the traffic for up to 12 months or more. Each breakbulk vessel can carry the equivalent of 1,000 containers”, May explained, “and because it arrives directly by rail, there will be a significant reduction in the need for trucks and drivers. Port Metro Vancouver will take a hit as well.  Some members have already signed deals to move cargo through Seattle and Montreal container terminals.”

“I can give you a direct quote from one of our larger members,” he said: “We require two basic things of our transportation providers; affordability and reliability.  The UTA demands have just eliminated both from this market so we are now forced to take our business elsewhere.”