01 Introduction
Driving gateway efficiency
Smooth truck gate service any time of the day.
The Normalized Truck Reservation Fee Pilot Program which began June 2018, ended on December 31, 2018. Upon conclusion, GCT Canada returned to consult with our stakeholders and partners, and also reviewed data and comments received. As a result, effective May 1, 2019 the new flat fee of $48 on laden reservations was implemented as was outlined in this announcement.
Find our terminals:
02 Program Timeline
How did we get here? the pilot program timeline.
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2014 - 2017
Multi-stakeholder government led engagements and consultations with the drayage sector and supply chain partners.
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September 2017
Transport Canada holds an Intermodal Forum.
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November 2017 - May 2018
Through collaboration, outcomes of the forum are acted on by supply chain partners.
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May 1, 2018
GCT Canada announces pilot program launch for June 1, 2018.
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June 1, 2018
Pilot program launch.
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June 5, 2018
OBCCTC Special Industry Advisory Committee Meeting briefing on the pilot program.
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June 18, 2018
Briefing and feedback session with BC Chamber of Shipping and Shipping Federation of Canada.
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July - December 2018
Monthly Reports. Pilot ends on December 31, 2018.
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January 2019
Final report, debrief sessions and next steps.
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March 2019
GCT announces conclusion of the Pilot Program and new Normalized Gate fee
03 FAQ
Frequently asked questions We have answers.
A $48 fee is applicable for all day and night appointments for full containers.
No, the fee for empty container transactions was eliminated based on industry feedback.
Yes, the fee is applicable for all truck reservations: day, afternoon, and graveyard shifts.
Once the pilot ended, GCT Canada returned to consult with our stakeholders and partners, and also reviewed data and comments received. Feedback determined the normalized truck reservation fee worked best for all sectors.
No, the FAS program is independent of the fee. Refer to FAS program here.
The cancellation cut off time remains unchanged.
Day Shift (08:00-15:59)
Cancel without Penalty: 12:00 calendar day prior
Appointment Cut-off: 14:00 calendar day prior
Evening Shift (17:00-23:59)
Cancel without Penalty: 09:00 same day
Appointment Cut-off: 11:00 same day
Graveyard Shift (01:00-06:59)
Cancel without Penalty: 11:00 calendar day prior
Appointment Cut-off: 11:00 calendar day prior
Yes, this remains unchanged. $48 is applicable for all late cancellations.
Yes, the double-ended move program will continue until a new one is established in collaboration with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA). A 10% rebate is given for drayage companies that complete more than 100 moves in a month and achieve over 40% double-ended moves.
Increased productivity.
Operational autonomy.
Gateway efficiency.
04 FEE
GCT Canada: Normalized Truck Reservations 29 March 2019
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Pilot Program
Following consultation with our supply chain partners, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), Transport Canada, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and OBCCTCi , GCT Canada introduced the Normalized Truck Reservation Fee Pilot Program on June 2018, ending on December 31, 2018. During this trial, the fee was normalized to $35 for all appointments at GCT Deltaport and GCT Vanterm. In addition, a 10% rebate was provided to companies that had more than 100 transactions per month with 40% or more of those being double-ended container moves.
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Pilot Goals
The goals of the program were to smooth transactions for truck drivers and increase productivity within a driver’s operating hours. Moreover, the pilot also sought to provide increased operational autonomy to trucking companies and drivers, to improve capacity utilization, to increase efficiency, and as well to reduce road congestion through incentivizing double-ended moves.
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Results
Throughout the program, monthly status reports were published on www.gctpilot.ca. When fees were normalized to $35, the split of day and night reservations changed slightly, despite total number of transactions remaining consistent:
At the same time, terminal wait times remained unaffected and industry leading, resulting in no negative impact to truckers. While there was an initial uptick in double-ended moves at the start of the program, momentum had decreased by the end of the pilot.
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Conclusion
Once the pilot ended, GCT Canada returned to consult with our stakeholders and partners, and also reviewed data and comments received. Feedback suggested removal of the reservation fee for empty container transactions across all terminals in the Vancouver gateway.
As a result, following industry feedback on the pilot program, effective May 1, 2019, GCT Canada will:
- Implement the normalized truck reservation fee of $48 to all day and night appointments permanently.
- Starting in 2020, the fee will be indexed to account for labour cost increases.
Remove the reservation fee for all empty container transactions, and - Continue to incentivize double-ended moves with a 10% rebate, until an improved, more comprehensive approach is identified in collaboration with VFPA and OBCCTC.
While we continue to optimize our service in the gateway in cooperation with the VFPA and our supply chain partners, GCT Canada will continue to explore additional opportunities to increase gate productivity to benefit the drayage community and increase Vancouver’s competitiveness.
Thank you for your feedback, cooperation, and patience throughout the pilot program. If you should have any questions, please contact GCT Canada Customer Solutions.
05 Survey
Your feedback It is a pilot program, we value your input.
As this is a collaborative pilot project, receiving feedback is important. Please provide feedback on the pilot program below. Your answers may be shared with government, regulators, and other supply chain stakeholders. Your answers and contact information will remain confidential, unless you select that you would like your responses attributed to you.