Overweight Logging Trucks

The chief industry in Williams Lake is forestry. With five major sawmills producing a variety of lumber products for domestic and international use, these mills require a great deal of logs on a daily basis. The problem being faced was that logging truck operators were hauling in more logs than legally permitted in order to make more money, cover their overhead expenses and pay their drivers. This was causing concerns because the overweight log trucks were posing a serious hazard on the highways, and were severely damaging the roads, causing a burden on the public purse to repair the roads annually.

A series of meetings were held with logging truck operators and mills, initiated by the police and I.C.B.C. (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia). We encountered hostility and a strong resistance at the proposal to standardize the local logging. This was dealt with by working through the issues, problem solving and involving everyone. The stimulus for the stakeholders was the issue of criminal and civil liabilities, in the event an overweight load be involved in causing a serious injury or death. The police did not approach them with ready-made solutions, but allowed the stake holders to find the solutions which worked for them.

Through this mutual approach, the mills made concessions in the way they would pay logging truck operators. This resulted in changing the system from weight to kilometres travelled. Any loads being overweight resulted in levying a fine against the truck operator. The fine is collected from the overweight of the load and goes directly into a fine fund managed by the truckers.

Benefit/Value Added

The truckers get a fair price for their load. They are also relieved that they do not have to carry more weight than permitted, thus removing liability from them. They are also happy over the reduced wear and tear on their equipment, thus saving them money. The mills still obtain the logs required to maintain their daily operation and have a much stronger relationship with the contractors. The money gathered by the fine fund is used to assist community non-profit groups. Road deterioration is much less of a problem, which has reduced costs in road repairs. Logging truck accidents have also decreased significantly.

Contact

Cpl. Mike Quinn
Williams Lake Detachment
"E" Division
(250) 392-8705
R.C.M.P. Williams Lake Detachment
575 Borland Street
Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 1R9

© RCMP-GRC September 14, 1999