Frequently Asked Questions
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A “container” is defined in the Regulation to mean “a metal box furnished or approved by an ocean carrier for the marine transportation of goods.”
Some of the indicators of a “container” may include:
- markings consistent with International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
- a four-letter prefix followed by a six-or seven-digit identifier (e.g., TXCU123456).
- A valid CSC Plate issued in accordance with the International Convention for Safe Containers as adopted by the International Maritime Organization which permits the container to be used for the marine shipment of goods.
- Containers or similar containers having been observed or identified as being on an ocean vessel in close proximity to the dates they were in the Lower Mainland.
- Ownership by companies in the business of shipping containers by ocean or supplying containers to companies that do.
Reference Decisions – CTC Decision No. 20/2016, CTC Decision No. 9/2023, CTC Decision No. 11/2024
In the Container Trucking Act, “container trucking services” are defined as the transportation of a “container” by means of a truck.
Section 2 of the Regulation only requires a person who performs container trucking services that require access to a marine terminal in the Lower Mainland to have a licence. If a person performs container trucking services that do not require access to a marine terminal, they do not require a CTS licence.
Reference Decision – CTC Decision No. 12/2020
Licensees have exclusive access to marine terminals, and in exchange for this they are required to pay the regulated off-dock rates for off-dock container trucking services in the Lower Mainland.
Reference Decisions – CTC Decision No. 20/2016; CTC Decision No. 12/2020; CTC Decision No. 9/2023; CTC Decision No. 11/2024
Licensees are required to pay their drivers the minimum regulated rates anytime the driver is performing container trucking services within the Lower Mainland.
The PMR is $25 per on-dock or off-dock trip rate if the I/O moves 1 container on a single chassis, and 1.5 times the same amount if the I/O moves 2 containers using multiple chassis.
Licensees are required to identify and separately account for the PMR payment on all eligible drivers pay statements.
The Positioning Movement Rate (“PMR”) is paid to I/Os to compensate them when they are “positioning” their truck without a container. You can access the Rate Order here.
Licensees should determine the applicable regulated rate by referring to the Rate Order published on the OBCCTC website. The Rate Order sets out the minimum regulated rates for different types of drivers and services.
You can access the Rate Order here for detailed information on applicable rates and remuneration.
Licensees must pay overtime to company drivers and indirectly employed operators at 1.5 times the hourly rate if the driver has performed more than 9 hours in a day, and/or more than 45 hours per week.
See the Rate Order here for more details.
Business Costs are defined in the CTS licence as:
The costs of operating a business for which a Licensee is responsible and includes, but it is not limited to, chassis rental, wear and tear on tires, cargo insurance, Smart Phone costs, bridge or road tolls, loading fees, Access Agreement charges, fees related to the Terminal Gate Compliance Initiative, GPS-related expenses, (unless the Sponsored Independent Operator has unreasonably failed to cooperate in the return of the GPS unit to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority or to the Licensee).
Other costs than those in the definition have been considered “business costs” for the purposes of the CTS licence, including chassis repairs, red light camera tickets, administration fees for gas cards, and fees for failure to follow company procedures
Reference Decisions – CTC Decision No. 14/2016, CTC Decision No. 08/2023, CTC Decision No. 21/2017
The I/O List is not published. If a licensee has a question about the status of an I/O on the I/O List, they should contact the OBCCTC.
Section 6.27 of the CTS licence provides that the licence terminates upon the change of control of the licensee unless the Commissioner has expressly consented to the change in control in advance.
See the OBCCTC change in control policy here.
Section 6.25 of the CTS licence provides that CTS licences and truck tags are non-transferable, meaning that they may not be sold as assets in an asset sale.
For share sales, please review the OBCCTC change in control policy here.
No. CTS Licences and truck tags are not transferable. See Section 6.25 of the CTS licence.
In each calendar month, if the reference price of diesel for an I/O is more than $1.05, a licensee must pay the I/O a fuel surcharge, calculated in accordance with the following formula:
(A – $1.05) x B x 2%
$0.05
where:
A = the reference price of diesel, in dollars
B = the minimum compensation payable by the licensee to the I/O in that month, as determined by the required rate payment (exclusive of the PMR), in dollars
Reference price of diesel means the lower of the following:
a) the average retail price per litre, including taxes, of diesel in Vancouver as reported by Kalibrate (formerly the Kent Group) for the month immediately before the date on which a fuel surcharge is calculated, rounded down to the nearest $0.05
b) if an I/O obtains diesel at a discount from the ordinary retail price for the purposes of providing container trucking services, the amount paid per litre by the IO, rounded down to the nearest $0.05
Drivers who eat while in line at a marine or other terminal are working and are entitled to be paid for their work.
Drivers must actually take the break before a licensee is entitled to deduct the time.
Employees are entitled to vacation pay, statutory holiday pay and sick pay under the Employment Standards Act.
For more information, you can contact the Employment Standards Branch here.
A Sponsorship Agreement is required to ensure that the CTS licensee (sponsor) and the I/O understand and comply with their respective obligations under the Container Trucking Act, Regulation and CTS licence. A Sponsorship Agreement also helps the OBCCTC monitor compliance.
The truck tag belongs to the OBCCTC and issued to licensees. Truck tags cannot be transferred, bought, or sold.
I/Os can move to a licensee who has a vacant truck tag.
The OBCCTC closely monitors industry needs and determines when it is necessary to add more I/Os to the I/O List. The OBCCTC will open applications for the same on the OBCCTC website. Interested I/Os can then submit their applications.
Review the OBCCTC Truck Tag policy to understand how the process works generally. Contact the OBBCTC for additional guidance.
Visit the OBCCTC Contact Us page here
The I/O List is not published. If an I/O has any questions about their status on the I/O List, they can contact the OBCCTC.
Visit the OBCCTC Contact Us page here.
There is no minimum truck age requirement set by the OBCCTC. However, you should contact the TLS Administrator at Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) to confirm their truck age requirements to access port property, at 604-665-9333.
No. Licensees cannot subcontract container trucking services work to a non-licensee or perform on-dock or off-dock container trucking services for a non-licensee who performs container trucking services in the Lower Mainland. See sections 6.2 and 6.3 of the CTS licence.
The OBCCTC plays a key role in regulating the container trucking industry in the Lower Mainland. Its primary responsibilities include issuing Container Trucking Services (CTS) licences and truck tags, rate regulation, compliance and enforcement, and complaint management.
No. Only licensees with I/Os are required to pay the fuel surcharge.
Here is the list of the CTS licensees that currently have I/Os.
The current CTS licence expires December 1, 2026. The OBCCTC will open applications for companies to apply for the next CTS licence period in or around June, 2026. Information will be posted on the OBCCTC website.
Interested applicants should watch for communication with specific details and dates on the OBCCTC website. Applications are likely to open in June 2026.
No. Licensees must not agree to perform on-dock or off-dock container trucking services for a non-licensed company that performs off-dock container trucking services in the Lower Mainland. See s. 6.2 of the CTS licence.
Licensees are also prohibited from subcontracting non-licensees to perform container trucking services in the Lower Mainland. See s. 6.3 of the CTS licence.
If you are considering purchasing a company with a CTS licence, it is crucial to review the OBCCTC change in control policy. As set out in the policy, the Commissioner’s express consent to a change in control of a licensed company must be obtained in advance of the change.
For more information, read the OBCCTC change in control policy here.
The OBCCTC is the regulator and does not directly deal with customers of container trucking companies. You can find a list of licensed companies here.
* These FAQs are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.