The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) over the past few weeks has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the City of Toronto regarding downtown deliveries. The current public focus is on the courier sector; however, it is very clear that the City of Toronto wants to develop a freight delivery plan for all commercial vehicles serving all sectors of the downtown economy – waste vehicles, straight trucks, dry vans, refers amongst a host of others.
OTA will be working with its members and other stakeholders over 2015 to develop a freight delivery plan for the City of Toronto that reflects the needs of all of its members, the demands of the supply chain and the political realties within the City of Toronto. This will not be an easy task, but with members’ input we can create a vision for the downtown core which our various membership sectors may be able to support.
To start this process, OTA will be hosting a meeting on Wednesday March 4 from 10 am – 2pm. Throughout the morning we are going to walk carriers through the various options and will be seeking guidance and volunteers to assist in the development of a study plan for freight delivery in the City of Toronto. This meeting will be an opportunity for carriers to plug themselves into the process, with a final goal towards providing the City of Toronto with concreate guidance in the development of a freight delivery plan.
Following lunch, and time permitting, OTA will also provide members in attendance with a briefing on off-peak delivery options during the Pan-Am Games; congestion information available during the Pan-Am games; roundabouts and municipal truck routes.
To attend the March 4 meeting at OTA’s offices please e-mail Jonathan Blackham at jonthan.blackham@184.107.41.74
