The President and CEO of the BC Trucking Association says the country’s supply chains are healthy even as people panic buy supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the NL Morning News, Dave Earle was reiterating a point that has been made by many government and health officials, both provincially and federally.

“I’ll give you an example. One of the large distributors in British Columbia regularly moves 140 trailers a day,” he said. “That’s kind of their seven days a week, regular moves. During the really busy Christmas season, that organization will move up to almost 200 trailers a day. [There was a day last week where] they moved 280.”

Earle says its a chance for people to also realize the vital role that truckers play in ensuring that store shelves are well-stocked around the year.

“We don’t think about how that stuff that we buy gets onto the store shelves,” he said. “We only notice when its not there, and you know, it is a time for each of us to think about this and reflect on how important that seamless supply chain is for all of us day to day.”

On Thursday, the province banned ‘the secondary resale’ of food, medical supplies, personal protective gears like masks, as well as other supplies as it takes new measures to protect supply chains during the crisis.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the province is taking a more active role in coordinating the movement of essential goods and services by land, air, sea, and rail.

A new supply chain coordination unit will work to identify key roadblocks that have to be overcome.

Added Earle, “The Retail Council of Canada has been saying it, we’re saying it, and our members are telling us that the goods are there, the equipment is there, the drivers are there, and most important the supplies are there, and the trucks are there to move them.”