Proudly Surrey Mayoral candidate Pauline Greaves is announcing today a series of measures to improve commercial trucking in the city with a view to helping small operators stay competitive, reduce air and noise pollution, improving working conditions for professional drivers and pointing towards a more sustainable industry. With over 60% of BC’s 26,000 trucking firms having a single vehicle and an owner-operator, with hundreds of those living in Surrey, it is important to ensure that logistics remain a family-supporting job during the transition to a zero-emission transport sector.
“As a key trans-shipment point for Western Canada, with Robert’s Bank, the Tsawassen Ferry, three major border crossings and the Port of Vancouver’s Surrey Docks, we will establish a Logistics Office in our city government,” explained Proudly Surrey Candidate for Mayor Pauline Greaves. “This will be a one-stop shop for logistics companies in our city, one where all permits fees and regulatory matters can be handled. It is this kind of storefront approach that can help keep small owner-operators in competition with the larger firms.”
Council Candidate Adam MacGillivray added “We also have a problem of unregulated and informal truck parking in Surrey. Drivers need to know that their equipment is secure while they are at home with their families” MacGillivray explained.
Greaves added, “We need to ensure that local operators and those who do not regularly travel through Surrey have a clear understanding of where they can park so they do not use our residential streets to get to the unregulated spaces in Surrey. Public and private lots passing inspection will appear in a registry and be easily accessible online and through the Logistics Office. “Private lot owners are generally eager,” she explained, “to be part of a network of authorized, well-lit, well-secured spaces. Our vision is not to compete with these owners but to work in partnership.”
“We also need to point the way forward when it comes to future technology in the industry. That’s why we will offer free parking to heavy, commercial zero-emission vehicles in city-owned and city-managed lots and waive licensing and other regulatory fees for zero-emission commercial vehicles in the city. While zero emission vehicles may be years away, we will ensure that they are welcome in Surrey. As with our plan for BNSF, we recognize that government must step up when it comes to the transition to a zero-emission future.”
She also noted that leaving TransLink, as per Proudly Surrey policy, the city would regain jurisdiction over truck routes within Surrey. “I think that is something all Surrey residents would support,” she concluded.