Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to Begin Phasing Out Older Drayage Trucks

A program to phase out old diesel-fueled trucks that serve British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver is expected to begin on Sept. 15, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority announced Wednesday, June 15.

The program, which aims to cap the age of trucks that come to the port to those built in the year 2006 or later, affects a fleet of 1,800 trucks that perform roughly 30,000 port moves on average every week.

According to the port authority about 80% of trucks already comply with the new mandate, which requires older models to be swapped out with “newer, lower-emission trucks that meet the program’s environmental requirements.”

“The container trucking sector plays a vital role in supporting Canada’s supply chains and keeping trade moving, but we also recognize that trucks produce emissions that have potentially harmful effects on residents,” Port Authority President & CEO Robin Silvester said. “Our Rolling Truck Age Program aims to better protect communities’ health by significantly reducing emissions from port-related trucking activities.”

Once enacted, the program is expected to help curb port truck-related air pollution in a big way. The port authority projects an eventual 93% drop in particulate matter, an estimated 80% drop in nitrogen oxides and a 2.5% dip in carbon dioxide.

By Karen Robes Meeks