Victoria/Fraser Valley – A new, innovative system for the commercial trucking industry that will allow commercial carriers, traveling within B.C., to apply and receive a permit online is coming to B.C., the announcement was made by Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.
“We know that the current system of obtaining a truck permit takes time. With the introduction of a new automated online permitting system, commercial operators will now have the ability to obtain permits 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no wait times,” said Stone. “This system will help the commercial vehicle industry get goods to market faster, by automatically approving permits and showing drivers detailed information on the approved route to follow.”
onRouteBC is the first of its kind in Canada and will replace the current Transport Permit System (TPS). The new system is being tested with pilot partners this month. It will be available to all commercial carriers on Oct. 3, 2016. TPS will still be available until the rollout is complete.
Currently, carriers must call the Provincial Permitting Centre to have permits reviewed and issued, resulting in wait times for the applicant. With onRouteBC, commercial carriers will be able to create a profile with their company and vehicle information, apply for permits, make payments, produce a map of the approved route and receive their permits all online.
In many cases, the online system will auto-approve and issue a permit to carriers without ministry staff involvement. For those circumstances where a load is out of the ordinary, the Permit Centre staff will still be available or called upon for assistance.
“The trucking industry will benefit greatly from onRouteBC’s streamlined permit process and enhanced functionality,” said Louise Yako, president and chief executive officer, BC Trucking Association. “Importantly, onRouteBC will also free resources currently dedicated to routine permit applications, allowing ministry staff to focus its expertise on applications that require more in-depth review and planning because of the size of the load or challenges on the route. These improvements should result in a more efficient and timely permitting process. I’m sure trucking companies look forward to using onRouteBC.”
To further increase safety and mobility for the industry, the ministry has added free wifi at nine inspection centres so commercial operators can safely go online to check their permitting status. Another nine inspection centres are set to receive wifi in the coming year.
As part of B.C. on the Move, the Province’s 10-year transportation plan, the Government of B.C. has committed to delivering a provincial trucking strategy, to better increase the economic efficiency and safety of the commercial trucking industry.
onRouteBC is part of the government’s #BCTECH Strategy, which is a key component of the BC Jobs Plan to support the growth of B.C.’s vibrant technology sector and strengthen B.C.’s diverse innovation economy. The multi-year strategy includes a $100-million BC Tech Fund and initiatives to increase talent development and market access for tech companies that will drive innovation and productivity throughout the province.
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