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Trucking permits in BC are going high tech. Commercial trucking carriers traveling within British Columbia will be able to apply for and receive a permit through a new online portal, called onRouteBC, as of October 3, announced B.C. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone on Monday. The onRouteBC platform replaces the current Transport Permit System (TPS) with which truckers now have to deal. “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.” Through onRouteBC, commercial carriers will be able to create a profile for their company and vehicle information through their existing BCeID, and then apply for permits, make payments and produce a map of the approved route, usually without ministry staff involvement, through an auto-approval process for issuing permits. The aim of the new plan is for commercial carriers to be able to access a self-service 24/7 method of applying for and receiving auto-approved permits, via a mobile device, simultaneously letting the Ministry know, through accessing the routing application, where each trip is taken and the time at which each trip is approved. Online trucking permit: BC will "benefit greatly.." “The trucking industry will benefit greatly from onRouteBC’s streamlined permit process and enhanced functionality,” said Louise Yako, president and CEO of the 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.” The government's infrastructure planning for clearance and width restrictions on secondary highways doesn't currently benefit from the knowledge that could be supplied by more detailed data relating to the 130,000 permits issued annually, 55,000 of which require routing. The Routing Utility Service will be able to automatically select a safe route for the specified vehicle configuration, and frequently auto-approve the trip without the cumbersome bureaucracy necessary to move goods and produce along the province's roads. From a commercial operator user perspective, truck operators can enter trip details relating to origin of cargo, destination and stops along the way, while hypothetical permits can be generated. The Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry has also added free Wi-Fi at nine inspection centres so that commercial operators can check their permit status online, with plans to roll out Wi-Fi at an additional nine inspection centres during the next year. The initiative is part of the province's 10 year transportation program, called "B.C. on the Move", which is aimed at improving the economic efficiency and safety of the commercial trucking industry. onRouteBC is also part of the government's multi-year B.C. Tech Strategy, which is meant to apply innovative methods to help improve all aspects of the real-world economy. TPS remains in effect until the onRouteBC roll out is complete. More from Cantech Letter

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