Unions oppose B.C. port's plans to test self-driving trucks

Canada's third-largest port plans to test self-driving trucks as it explores ways to increase its capacity, according to a port authority presentation first obtained by The Tyee and viewed by CBC News.

The Port of Prince Rupert could face a driver shortage as early as 2026, according to the presentation, at the same time that it's expected to see a dramatic rise in cargo due to two expansion projects scheduled to be completed in 2026 and 2027.

"Container transload volumes will grow significantly between now and 2035," the presentation said. Daily truck moves to and from the DP World container terminal in Prince Rupert, North America's closest port to Asia, are expected to increase from 176 today to 1,322 in 2030, according to the presentation.

The port authority conducted about 1,000 kilometres of autonomous driving testing last year and says it plans to do more in June and July.

WATCH | Union 'dead set opposed' to automated trucks:

Teamsters Canada, the union representing about 30 truck drivers working at the Port of Prince Rupert, says it's against the port authority's plans to test self-driving trucks this summer, arguing it could lead to job losses and safety issues.

The testing comes nearly two years after about 7,400 unionized employees at more than 30 ports along British Columbia's coast walked off the job, halting billions of dollars in trade, partly over concerns about how automation will affect the future of their work.

However, a port authority spokesperson said there are currently no plans to incorporate the self-driving trucks into port operations.

Unions representing truck drivers and other workers at the Port of Prince Rupert are opposed to the port authority's plans, saying it could lead to job losses and safety issues.

"We were angered and annoyed at it and obviously dead set opposed to the testing," Christopher Monette, director of public affairs at Teamsters Canada, told CBC News.

The union represents about 30 truck drivers at the port, who transport cargo between ships, warehouses and grain terminals at the port, a process known as drayage.

"It's not that the Teamsters oppose modernization or greater efficiency, it's just that we don't want to see mismanagement disguised as innovation," he said.

A performance assessment by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence placed Prince Rupert in 399th place out of 405 container ports for 2023, mainly due to vessel wait times.

But there is no consensus around whether robots on the waterfront hold the key to high performance.

Last year, a report from a U.S congressional watchdog found that automation was overhyped but nonetheless a potential path to improved port efficiency if other supply chain players come on board. High costs and a long recovery time for investment were cited as other hurdles.

A 2021 report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development concluded that "automated ports are generally not more productive than their conventional counterparts." A McKinsey survey from 2017 found port automation cuts labour costs, but also productivity — by up to 15 per cent.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority outsources the drivers who are employed by Gat Leedm Logistics, a Prince Rupert-based transportation company, which declined to comment on the testing.

According to the presentation, the port authority has engaged NuPort Robotics, an Ontario-based self-driving truck company, to conduct an autonomous drayage pilot. The company did not respond to an interview request.

Its website states that "autonomous trucks have the potential to transform the transportation industry, making it safer, more efficient, and more sustainable."

The port authority said autonomous drayage "would only be considered once the current driver pool is maxed out."

It said a safety driver will always be in the driver's seat during testing.

The port authority launched its first tests in early 2024, according to the presentation. An autonomous tractor drove nearly 500 kilometres through a gravel road over the span of 10 tests. The vehicle reached speeds of 70 kilometres per hour, the presentation said.

During another testing period, an autonomous truck completed cargo lifting operations, with a trailer and container attached.

Monette said the union has proposed other ideas to increase cargo capacity, including allowing workers to hitch up multiple containers to their trucks.

"We want to make sure that workers' jobs are protected and that we have a say in that. We have a future in what comes next for the port," he said.

Monette added that he's worried about worker safety.

"Our members report a lot of black ice and slippage. Truck drivers know how to handle these situations. There is a doubt as to how well an autonomous vehicle can handle these situations," he said.

"One accident is one accident too many."

Rob Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, said he worries automation could expand to other parts of the container terminal.

"I haven't heard if they are or aren't. But if they do try to automate that terminal, it's not like our members could go out and get a job in another industry here because there's very few, if any, major industries left in Prince Rupert," Ashton told CBC's Daybreak North.

The Port of Vancouver, Canada's largest port, confirmed to CBC that it doesn't have "any self-driving truck projects in the works."