While truckers have been deemed an essential service during this COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the CEO of the BC Trucking Association says not every trucker is immune.

Dave Earle says while truckers in the retail sector are in high demand, others like logging truck drivers are also feeling the economic impacts like everyone else.

“A lot of private fleets, a lot of larger fleets who have that big retail customer base are absolutely hopping and frankly are looking to hire drivers,” he said. “Other sectors are softening. The forest sector of course before this pandemic came to the fore was already experiencing a softening.”

Earle says smaller truck operators too are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 more than some larger operators both in B.C., and across Canada.

“Because the industry is so broad and we have so many different sectors and so many different customers, there are other areas certainly areas that certainly depend on the customer base that are softening just because economic activity is shifting,” Earle said.

Earle previously told NL News that the country’s supply chains are healthy even as people panic buy supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Province Adding Portable Toilets for Truckers

Meanwhile, the provincial government is funding the installation of portable toilets at several commercial vehicle pull-outs, inspection stations, and chain-up locations throughout British Columbia.

The move is to ensure that along with food, truckers have places than can use the washroom as needed. The installation of these portable toilets began last weekend, and its expected to be complete over the next few weeks.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is also keeping all 203 rest areas open during the pandemic to support the trucking industry, with highway maintenance contractors in charge of keeping the facilities clean and well supplied.

And if drivers find conditions that are less than ideal, they are asked to contact the highway maintenance contractor or the nearest ministry office.

Was nice to be able to help @toddstonebc with getting signs up for Meals for Truckers to know where they can find a meal pulling thru #kamloops. Thanks Greg Munden, Argo, MOTI, Visual Signs and Home Hardware for the help and materials. #ThankATrucker #COVID19 #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/3GqLK4Idok

— Peter Milobar (@PeterMilobar) April 7, 2020