BC Highway Closures and Routing Information: AMTA
Current and confirmed information on the current BC floods emergency – for most up-to-date information, please visit drivebc.ca
Background
In mid-November 2021, the Province of British Columbia experienced significant rainfall which caused widespread flooding and mudslides. As a result, all major highway and rail transportation corridors into and out of Vancouver, BC and the lower mainland were cut off from the rest of Canada, resulting in stranded travelers and delays of currently-unknown magnitude.
AMTA is assisting in relief efforts as possible and will provide Alberta’s trucking industry with confirmed updates on this emergency as they are made available to us. The sections that follow provide details on the current situation, including:
BC highway closure updates
HOS exemption details
Freight options through the USA
Additional safety considerations
AMTA will update this bulletin and our #BCFlood information webpage as needed.
BC Highway Updates
Highways 1, 5, and 3 – the major truck routes connecting BC’s lower mainland with the rest of Canada – all received significant damage resulting in closures; many other routes in the area were also impacted by washouts and flooding. There are currently no estimates for complete re-opening of any of these highways.
Carriers and drivers should monitor DriveBC for accurate and official road reports for both construction- and weather-related issues. Specific route information can be found at this link. Oversize load operators may email questions to Commercial.Transport@gov.bc.ca.
Carrier HOS Exemptions for BC Flood Relief Goods
Transport Canada has made an hours-of-service (HOS) exemption available to Federally-regulated carriers who are transporting essential supplies and equipment as part of direct assistance to the current BC flood crisis. The full Transport Canada exemption can be found here.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has published information about flexibility potentially available to carriers operating in BC. This article can be found here.
Finally, Alberta carriers wishing to operate under the Federal HOS exemption need to notify, in writing, Alberta Transportation about their intention to operate under the HOS exemption. Specific details about what needs to be provided in writing can be found in the Transport Canada document and should be emailed to central.permits@gov.ab.ca.
Alberta Transportation recommends that Alberta-based carriers using the HOS exemption file copies of the Transport Canada exemption and their confirmation email from Alberta Transportation with driver HOS records and driver files to help with future audits.
US Interim Transportation Measures: Detouring Through the USA
The BC Trucking Association (BCTA) has announced interim special measures are in place for trucking companies wishing to bypass the route closures in BC by travelling through the Northwestern United States. These measures only apply at certain ports, goods illegal in the USA cannot be shipped through the USA, and a detailed list of measures can be found at this link.
Canadian and American carriers that routinely travel between the two countries should follow their standard operating procedures. It is recommended by US Customs and Border Protection that carriers provide all normal clearance documents to drivers in addition to electronic manifests; all proper documentation for individuals will still be required.
Canadian carriers without the necessary authorities to operate in the USA cannot take advantage of this detour; see the following section for details.
FMCSRs: Trucking Safety Rules in the USA
Trucking companies must follow all applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) when operating in the USA. According to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), at this time there are no exemptions from these rules or additional guidance for Canadian-based carriers wishing to detour through the USA.
This means Canadian carriers without a US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and FMCSR-compliant safety program cannot currently detour through the USA as part of these interim measures. It also means commercial drivers without the proper paperwork to enter the USA and who are not registered in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse may not enter the USA to drive commercially.
Insurance
Carriers are advised to contact their insurance provider to inform them of any unplanned operations in the USA.
Additional Safety Concerns
Drivers in BC need to take additional safety precautions when driving as already-challenging winter conditions will be made worse through impacts from the floods and closures.
Tire Chains and Adverse Conditions
BC requires commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 11,794 kg to carry tire chains during the winter season. Commercial vehicles under this weight must either carry chains or be fitted with winter tires. This law is in effect from October 1st until April 30th of every year. Some locations have signs that tell drivers when to use chains and can be researched ahead of time at this DriveBC link; other locations require the driver to use their judgement.
Drivers should check DriveBC’s Road Conditions and Events page for information about current conditions and restrictions.
General
All drivers need to be prepared for long delays, slow traffic, and high traffic volumes. Emergency supplies of food and water should be in all vehicles and drivers and passengers should have adequate and additional clothing for cold and wet weather. Ensure cell phones are charged and fuel frequently to ensure vehicles have a fuel reserve for delays.
Drivers and carriers using routes they are not familiar with should contact carriers and authorities local to the area for route information. Many BC roads which are open to truck traffic are still extremely challenging to drive and may exceed the capabilities of a particular vehicle or driver.
Ongoing Updates from AMTA
AMTA will be working with governments, trucking associations, carriers, and other reliable sources to bring accurate and timely updates on the BC flooding situation and its impacts on the trucking industry. We may be contacted for additional help during these times, and our eNews and website will be updated once we have confirmed updates on the situation.
References
Web references were imbedded into the above text to speed the publication of this bulletin.
Photo credit: BC Ministry of Transportation (www.flickr.com/photos/tranbc/with/51681484137/)