A File Photo

Ray Hudson

Vancouver: Most of the trucking companies denied access to pick up and deliver containers at Port Metro Vancouver (PMV), following the port’s container truck licencing reorganization at the end of January, have taken their case to court in Vancouver.

Twenty-three of the twenty-five companies denied licences to continue transporting the port’s containers, were asking for judicial intervention against the process that left those companies, their six hundred drivers and an estimated 300 additional support workers with those companies, out of business and out of work.

The action is seeking to reinstate the previous licensing program, however, according to Paul Dhaliwal the owner of Sahir Trucking Ltd, said the Port asked the court for two weeks to prepare their case, however, the judge reportedly instructed PMV to present its case by February 25, just over one week’s time. The hearing is expected to take two days to complete, and according to Dhaliwal, the trucking companies are hoping to have interim permits issued allowing them to continue operating until a final disposition of the case is achieved.

Port Metro Vancouver has previously declined to comment on the case as it is before the courts.