Some Truckers Hope For Exemption

Friday, May 12, 2006 03:59 AM

The President of local 1-424, Frank Evert says he believes the Provincial government will seek an exemption from the federal government on the number of hours that logging truck drivers can operate.

Under the federal regulations, scheduled to come into effect on January 1-2007, truckers would be restricted to 13 hours a day of driving plus one hour in service. The maximum hours per week is set at 70.

Under the present BC Regs, truckers are allowed to drive 15 hours a day, with no restrictions as long as its within 400 kilometers of their home base.

Evert says, ‘I think the province and industry will seek an exemption. In my mind that is totally unacceptable" said Evert. His union is seeking a 60 hour work week to which Evert says people need decent hours of work. "We want better hours for our truckers and we want a longer hauling season."

In the past, the season was extended by working more in the summer. The longer hauling season he says means that the average trucker can stretch his payments on his rig over a longer period of time instead of just a few months which results in them working unreal hours in order to keep afloat.

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Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on May 12 2006 2:06 PM

I'll back Frank Evert on this one. Its long over due.

Posted by: fedup on May 12 2006 2:34 PM

Why should truck drivers have to work 70 hours to make a living this is crazy.I can't believe this isn't a major issue with people who talk about the safety of our hyways.

Posted by: owl on May 12 2006 10:42 PM

The Ministry of Labour sets up a task force looking into workplace safety in the forest industry.

The task force recommends the creation of BC Forest Safety Council. One of the key issues the Council begins to deal with is logging roads and truck drivers.

The government's BC TimberSales thinks they do not have to comply the same as licensees and contractors do. The governemnt tells them, as well as MoF that they need to sit at the table and comply the same as everyone else.

The feds come up with stricter regulations since the problem of trucking safety is more universal than just BC and just Forestry.

Now the same government that was pushing for safety wants another exemption. There is some dumb report out that says that length of work days and accidents are not related, at least, it cannot be proven. The government is likely hanging its hat on that one which came out at a convenient time.

The licensees, whose representatives all signed onto the BFSC safety accord, are obviously a strong lobbying group.

Seems that it is not only City Councils that waffle.