Truck Licensing System

Port Metro Vancouver’s Truck Licensing System

An approved Truck Licensing System (TLS) licence is required by any party wishing to access Port Metro Vancouver's property for the purposes of draying marine containers to or from any of the terminals under the jurisdiction of Port Metro Vancouver. 

All container truckers, including long haul truckers, who access port container terminals must hold a valid TLS licence. Trucks without a TLS licence will not be granted access to Port Metro Vancouver property.

The TLS program grants two types of licences:

Full Service Operator Licence:

• Describes a drayage company that has a direct relationship with cargo interests (shippers, consignees, shipping companies, and their agents), provides a complete dispatch service, and has sufficient equipment at its ready disposal to efficiently and competently provide services to the Port Community on an ongoing basis. Full Service Operators are granted access to the Terminal Container Reservation Systems.

Independent Operator Permit:

• Describes a drayage entity that gains the majority of its cargo through subcontract arrangements with other drayage firms, does not have a significant pool of equipment or access to the Terminal Container Reservation Systems, and gains access to container hauling though sub-contracts to Full Service Operators. Independent Operators may or may not be incorporated companies.

To apply for a TLS licence or permit, please visit the Pacific Gateway Portal.

Federal, Provincial and Port Metro Vancouver Steering Committee on Container Trucking

Additional information for all TLS Licence and Permit Holders:

Background

In August 2005, the Canadian Federal Government requested the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) and the Fraser River Port Authority (FRPA) to introduce a Truck Licensing System (TLS). The TLS program requires that all drayage companies desiring to dray marine containers to or from Port facilities be approved for a TLS licence. Only those tractors approved for inclusion in the TLS licence will be granted access to Port facilities. All container truckers, including long haul truckers, who access port container terminals must hold a valid TLS licence. Trucks without a TLS licence will not be granted access to Port Metro Vancouver property.