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By Caden Fanshaw

Forestry

Local trucking companies concerned about forestry downturn

Feb 14, 2023 | 4:17 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As forestry continues to waver in Northern BC, there are many companies feeling the residual effects in addition to the workers impacted.

One of the main industries impacted is trucking, where a slowdown in forestry comes in addition to challenges companies have faced for years around finding drivers to meet increased demand for services.

All major players in the region including Excel Transportation, Lomak Bulk Carriers, and others have felt the effects of a driver shortage, which may soften the blow of less material to haul for now.

“We’ve heard for years there was going to be one pulp mill going down, so that makes sense. Another pulp mill going down would be devastating to our whole community, not just our trucking industry,” said Annie Horning, CEO of Excel Transportation.

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Horning said the sawmill closures won’t have serious effects on Excel although she is watching closely as the unpredictability of the industry is too often leading to “sleepless nights.”

Excel has been hauling chips, hog fuel, and pellets to local mills in our region since 1985, far from the first economic storm the company has weathered.

Since Canfor announced the PG Pulp Mill would close at the end of March, several other operations have also been affected. Those include the previously dubbed ‘super-mill’ in Houston, the Chetwynd Sawmill and Pellet Plant, in addition to all operations at Sinclar Forest Products being curtailed, and most recently West Fraser putting workers on curtailment notice at Cariboo Pulp and Paper in Quesnel.

Pattison Media is owned by Jim Pattison Industries, a majority shareholder in Canfor