A new online trip planner, the first of its kind in Canada, will help commercial vehicle operators plan their routes across B.C., the provincial government and TransLink announced Friday.
Using information such as truck dimensions, bridge weight load limits, and facilities designed for truck drivers, the planner provides a “holistic picture of the region’s commercial vehicle network,” according to a joint announcement by the transit authority and the B.C. government.
To use the planner, truck operators input the dimensions of their vehicle, along with their destination and starting point, to find the best route.
In addition to truck dimensions, the Truck Route Planner suggests optimum routes based on:
- Municipal bylaws
- Height clearances
- Bridge weight load limits
- Major road closures on truck routes
“The Truck Route Planner supports trucking companies in finding safe, viable routes for goods movement in Metro Vancouver, taking some guesswork and frustration out of their operations,” said Dave Earle, president and CEO of the BC Trucking Association, in a statement.
The free, online tool also provides COVID-19-related information, such as which businesses and facilities are open. The locations of washrooms and parking spots specifically designed for commercial vehicle drivers, as well as restaurants and hotels currently open to the public, are also shown.
The tool was developed with support from municipalities, the BC Trucking Association and the Greater Vancouver Urban Freight Council.
“This online tool makes truck operators’ jobs easier and safer in and around Metro Vancouver and will help keep our provincial economy moving,” said Anne Kang, minister of citizens’ services, in a statement.
The Truck Route Planner is free to use at https://translink.apps.gov.bc.ca/trp/
The tool is a pre-trip planner, meaning it’s not designed to provide real-time directions to drivers. Operators of oversize or overweight vehicles on provincial highways are asked not to use the tool, and instead plan their route through other resources:
- DriveBC’s Commercial Vehicle Clearance Tool
- Pre-approved weight routes listed in Chapter 6 of the Commercial Transport Procedures Manual (Section 6.3.3)
- The Project Cargo Corridors website
- CVSE staff advice at the Provincial Permit Centre (1-800-599-9688)
