The reliance on trucking services to support communities and the modern supply chain in Ontario, has resulted in tremendous growth in trucking operations and an unprecedented demand for the need to establish transportation terminals within municipalities and other strategic locations.
The discussion paper, commissioned by the association and endorsed by its Board of Directors identifies the challenges in finding available lands that are suitable for trucking operations but counters these challenges with a host of recommendations that can bring the trucking industry and the planning process in line with each other to support economic development and job creation.
“Trucking is the lifeblood of the Ontario economy. There is not a domestic or export portion of the economy that is not reliant on the trucking industry and its services so the goal with this exercise is to understand how we can all work together, both governments and industry on solutions through the planning process that will benefit the province and its communities”, said Geoff Wood, Sr. VP, Policy, Ontario Trucking Association.
Historically, trucking operations have been located in areas where they can effectively run their businesses and successfully service their customers, and where the real-estate economics could be supported by supply chain economics, but competing land-use factors are changing this equation at rapid pace and it requires necessary attention.
“Significant groundwork has been done to make all municipalities successful in supporting the trucking industry and the supply chain through the planning processes and we need to continue understanding the successes and build on them for all communities and the industry”, continued Wood.
Additional recommendations also stress the need support enforcement processes to combat the illegal use of lands for trucking operations.
Over the course of 2024, OTA will be working with federal, provincial, municipal, supply chain partners and its membership to introduce the paper and work on solutions.