Right now, there are rules on the books that require over-sized or over-weight commercial trucks to get permits before they drive on local Langley City roads.
The problem, according to a City staff review, is those requirements aren’t being enforced by the provincial ministry of transportation and because of that, many haulers don’t bother getting permits.
As a result, the municipality doesn’t know exactly how many bigger-than-usual trucks are rumbling along City streets and how much wear and tear is being inflicted to municipally-owned roads.
“It’s a cumulative effect,” said Coun. Paul Albrecht.
Albrecht moved a staff-recommended resolution at council that calls on the provincial government to enforce a requirement to obtain permits from local jurisdictions that are supposed to apply to provincially-issued transport vehicle permits for over-height, weight and width vehicles.
Without accurate information about the extent of such truck traffic, Langley City and other B.C. municipalities cannot “reasonably control such road use and cover costs for road maintenance associated with excessive loads,” the resolution says.
The vote was unanimous in favour.
The motion, which will be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities for approval, says the province should “review its regulation covering transport vehicle permits and make changes such that obtaining local jurisdiction vehicle permits is enforced (and) that the hauling companies must communicate and receive local jurisdiction approval to drive on local roads.”
It also says the province should streamline the permit process so haulers only have to make one application to get permits to travel through multiple jurisdictions.