Trucking safety records kept secret
Transportation report says carrier ratings public but official suggests commitment on transparency made in error
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, March 17, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Information on which trucking companies are operating safely in the NWT and which ones are not is not publicly available despite documents on the territorial government's own Department of Transportation website stating it is.
This aerial photo, taken from an RCMP drone, shows a tanker-trailer tipped over on Highway 3 at Deh Cho Boulevard on Feb. 20. It was the first of at least seven trucking incidents since then, including four fires and two other rollovers. - photo courtesy of the RCMP |
The NWT road safety plan, introduced by the territorial government in 2015, refers to publicly available "carrier safety ratings" that have been maintained by the registrar of motor vehicles with the Department of Transportation since 1990.
The document states, using this system, the registrar of motor vehicles reviews a company's safety record in terms of collisions, convictions, inspections and facility audits to form the basis of a safety rating for transport carriers in the NWT.
It also states making "these ratings (available) to the general public allows institutions and businesses requiring the services of carriers to make informed service procurement decisions.
"Carriers with good safety ratings have the benefit of being able to use their ratings to promote the business to customers, while carriers with poor safety ratings are easily identifiable.
The rating program provides an incentive to commercial operators to meet or exceed operational safety standards."
The problem is, the carrier ratings don't exist anywhere where the public can see them.
After at least seven trucking incidents over the past four weeks, four involving fires and three rollovers, Yellowknifer made an exhaustive search to find the ratings but to no avail.
Ioana Spiridonica, spokesperson for the transportation department, said she believes statements saying the ratings are public were made in error.
"We're looking to see if maybe there was some mistaken information included in it, including whether or not this kind of information can be made to the general public," said Spiridonica.
"It may be the case that you have to put in an (access to information) request, because that information could affect the commercial carriers. It's a matter of privacy."
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart said there is no good reason important information on trucking safety should be kept private in the NWT.
"The department has an obligation to follow through on its commitments," said Testart.
"In Alberta, which we partner with often, how to get carrier safety information is very clear and very easy, either though an online platform or through an e-mail or paper request. If you were to access someone's carrier safety rating - I'm not sure if it would cut down on these kinds of accidents but it's certainly an added incentive for businesses to do so.
Keeping those regulations hidden behind red tape doesn't help the public get a good sense of how safe our highways are."
Despite the apparent lack of transparency on trucking safety, Steve Loutitt, director of road licensing and safety for the department, said road safety is the number one priority for the department.
He said trucks are checked periodically for log books, load securement and hours of service for the driver, adding inspection patrols have been increased in light of the recent incidents.
"We've had a couple of safety blitzes. We've also met with the commercial carriers ... and we're constantly meeting with them and making sure that everything is being done to ensure the safety of the roads," said Loutitt. "They also have a vested interest - employee safety and getting their loads to the mine safely and intact."
Loutitt said the four recent truck fires and three rollovers have the attention of department officials but said they do not look into the causes of crashes or fires.
"We don't actually investigate the cause of the accidents. That's something the RCMP is tasked with," Loutitt said.
Yellowknifer asked RCMP for information on the incidents and whether charges are being laid but was told investigating the incidents was not its responsibility.
"In the recent instances the RCMP have responded and assisted with traffic safety but we are not the lead agency in any of the incidents so will not be speaking to them," stated RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon by e-mail. "You may with to follow up with the Department of Transportation."
No injuries have been reported in any of the recent truck crashes or fires.
