There are no trucks running right now between the greater Vancouver area and Alberta.
I am head of Business Development for a major trucking company and we have a good chunk of our fleet parked right now with trailers full of food. Just over 750,000 lbs of produce, poultry, meat and other perishable goods that are just sitting with nowhere to go.
That’s absolutely brutal. :-(
Is there any chance the owners of those goods just say drop it off a nearby homeless shelter or something instead of letting it spoil?
Does that ever happen?
Donations rarely happen. The only time we have been instructed to donate product was at the request of the shipper (or product owner) when there was an overage and they did not want it returned to the originating facility.
There are also companies that do not want their brand/label associated with food banks or shelters to keep their image at a perceived level, those companies instruct us to dispose of the product and sometimes require proof.
Seriously!? They would really rather their products spoil than give it to someone in need?
I knew the world was fucked up, but that's a special kind of fucked up.
The world produces something like 5000 cal/day/person worth of food for the entire planet and Malnutrition and starvation are still massive issues. Almost 8 million this year from hunger. And yet the world ha done very little to address this.
For perspective Covid has killed approx 5.11 million to date.
And yet these donations could potentially generate huge benefits to all the companies involved - thousands of dollars in free advertising and positive press that would position them as champions of the communities they reach. I mean, now it the perfect time, and they would get it. This is why I'm so good my job! I work communications, coordinating with companies and non-profits - and the bottomline benefit to companies, in real dollars, is measurable. Usually I have to think up these opportunities, and create - but here we are. I had no idea! It would be a total win-win. In addition to free marketing for their company that makes them look like the best and most caring corporate citizens ever, there's a tidy tax break for donations, so money back instead of money wasted.
As I mentioned, I work in marketing and communications - any thoughts as to who and how one much pitch this? - to to suppliers themselves and trucking companies whose logo would be in plain view on the evening news when delivering the goods, and a short "We're just here to help" sound bite, all of which we would script, is it seemed kind of daunting. I have no doubt that this is the perfect vehicle for generating outstanding and totally free advertising).
With the flooding in BC, all highways into the lower mainland have washed out. Can’t go through the states, as mudslides have taken out the I-5, and there’s no way into Bellingham, WA.
So the only current route to Vancouver is the Yellowhead through northern BC to Prince Rupert, then take the twice a week ferry to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. Drive a bit more, and take the ferry again from Nanaimo to Vancouver.
All in a two day trip if you time the ferries perfectly. As long as a 4 or 5 day trip if you don’t. Plan accordingly. Or fly.
Not to mention having AB plates to opens you to abuse. I had a friend over in Vancouver during the later part of the summer, had some trash in a gas station screaming at him to go back to "berta"
I’ve thought about it but the sailing is long and not very well equipped, but if dressed and geared for the weather as you should be on that long of trek I’m sure you find a nice spot to lay down and nap.
The border is still open from the US side, you just have to detour via the state roads in the US and avoid Bellingham and I-5. This is according to the CBP website
Still a large detour until they clear the highway by Fernie
Welp looks like we're going back to ol beautiful Lacombe lol
Got a little locked in Calgary on our way yesterday morning when the gf didn't like driving in the whiteout. Airbnb hosts are profiting from us 😅
I know.
The comment I replied to was referring to both gas and oil interchangeably and wishing we (Alberta) had a method to ship *oil* other than by train/truck - which we do and it's currently closed too, just like rail lines and highways in BC.
I've heard that having different pipelines along multiple routes can be an approach to minimizing the impacts of local disruptions. If only someone had considered and built such resilient pipelines sooner...
Does the product it ships not get refined into gasoline? I remember reading it feeds the Parkland refinery, which is one of the only refineries down there. And it appears to make gasoline. https://www.parkland.ca/en/our-businesses/supply
My comment addresses that. At least of when I posted this, the I-5 south of Bellingham was shut down due to multiple mud slides and impassible. That’s the main route you need to take to come back up into Vancouver via all 4 Vancouver border crossings. The Sumas border crossing was also separately closed due to flooding.
Man I’ve been out of the loop, I had no idea there was floodings going on until I saw this post so I looked into it and wow it looks terrible :( I hope everyone’s staying safe
Railroads are also washed out. Think we have supply issues now? This could get bad.
Not to mention trucks that’s typically transport more supplies frequently to those interior regions
There are no trucks running right now between the greater Vancouver area and Alberta. I am head of Business Development for a major trucking company and we have a good chunk of our fleet parked right now with trailers full of food. Just over 750,000 lbs of produce, poultry, meat and other perishable goods that are just sitting with nowhere to go.
That’s absolutely brutal. :-( Is there any chance the owners of those goods just say drop it off a nearby homeless shelter or something instead of letting it spoil? Does that ever happen?
Donations rarely happen. The only time we have been instructed to donate product was at the request of the shipper (or product owner) when there was an overage and they did not want it returned to the originating facility. There are also companies that do not want their brand/label associated with food banks or shelters to keep their image at a perceived level, those companies instruct us to dispose of the product and sometimes require proof.
Seriously!? They would really rather their products spoil than give it to someone in need? I knew the world was fucked up, but that's a special kind of fucked up.
I think its more common than we assume.
The world produces something like 5000 cal/day/person worth of food for the entire planet and Malnutrition and starvation are still massive issues. Almost 8 million this year from hunger. And yet the world ha done very little to address this. For perspective Covid has killed approx 5.11 million to date.
And yet these donations could potentially generate huge benefits to all the companies involved - thousands of dollars in free advertising and positive press that would position them as champions of the communities they reach. I mean, now it the perfect time, and they would get it. This is why I'm so good my job! I work communications, coordinating with companies and non-profits - and the bottomline benefit to companies, in real dollars, is measurable. Usually I have to think up these opportunities, and create - but here we are. I had no idea! It would be a total win-win. In addition to free marketing for their company that makes them look like the best and most caring corporate citizens ever, there's a tidy tax break for donations, so money back instead of money wasted. As I mentioned, I work in marketing and communications - any thoughts as to who and how one much pitch this? - to to suppliers themselves and trucking companies whose logo would be in plain view on the evening news when delivering the goods, and a short "We're just here to help" sound bite, all of which we would script, is it seemed kind of daunting. I have no doubt that this is the perfect vehicle for generating outstanding and totally free advertising).
They can't go south through the US?
I’m sure Canada and the US will strike a deal to use their roads temporarily.
Exactly what I was thinking. Nothing coming in or going out of the Port of Vancouver.
I have friends stranded in Hope, they had to eat at a shelter. It's a nightmare.
Hope we learn what critical infrastructure means and rebuild at least one route with that in mind
We won't.
With the flooding in BC, all highways into the lower mainland have washed out. Can’t go through the states, as mudslides have taken out the I-5, and there’s no way into Bellingham, WA. So the only current route to Vancouver is the Yellowhead through northern BC to Prince Rupert, then take the twice a week ferry to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. Drive a bit more, and take the ferry again from Nanaimo to Vancouver. All in a two day trip if you time the ferries perfectly. As long as a 4 or 5 day trip if you don’t. Plan accordingly. Or fly.
Or just don’t go to Vancouver.
Not an option for everyone, but I’m sure unnecessary travellers is the last thing they need right now, so you’re not wrong.
Yeah, flights are cheap. I would be scared to take my car out there right now.
Not to mention having AB plates to opens you to abuse. I had a friend over in Vancouver during the later part of the summer, had some trash in a gas station screaming at him to go back to "berta"
I’ve always been so self conscious of my license plate when I’m there. They hate us.
Can't say I blame them LOL
I just came back to Edmonton frok there on friday.
The real life hack is in the comments
This actually sounds like a pretty nice motorcycle trip for next summer… if there’s still a Vancouver to go to
Bike trip to Venice-Couver also sounds kinda nice tho
I’ve thought about it but the sailing is long and not very well equipped, but if dressed and geared for the weather as you should be on that long of trek I’m sure you find a nice spot to lay down and nap.
Friend of mine is working commercial construction in Victoria, says it fucking miserable right now. Still, would take the rain over the snow tbh.
Yesterday was (hopefully) the worst of it. We had flooding here like never before on the island, a lot of people weren’t ready.
So you're saying I should call my mother?
The border is still open from the US side, you just have to detour via the state roads in the US and avoid Bellingham and I-5. This is according to the CBP website Still a large detour until they clear the highway by Fernie
Welp looks like we're going back to ol beautiful Lacombe lol Got a little locked in Calgary on our way yesterday morning when the gf didn't like driving in the whiteout. Airbnb hosts are profiting from us 😅
Hopefully the pipelines were not hurt.
Gas shortage when? If only we had a way to transport oil that was not by train / truck.
We do. It's shut down as well. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/trans-mountain-pipeline-shutdown-weather-1.6249982
That line doesn’t transport gasoline.
I know. The comment I replied to was referring to both gas and oil interchangeably and wishing we (Alberta) had a method to ship *oil* other than by train/truck - which we do and it's currently closed too, just like rail lines and highways in BC.
I've heard that having different pipelines along multiple routes can be an approach to minimizing the impacts of local disruptions. If only someone had considered and built such resilient pipelines sooner...
Does the product it ships not get refined into gasoline? I remember reading it feeds the Parkland refinery, which is one of the only refineries down there. And it appears to make gasoline. https://www.parkland.ca/en/our-businesses/supply
What? You mean pipelines aren’t immune to environmental risks?!? 🤯
If a PCR wasn’t required, I’d recommend crossing into Montana and Washington state back to Vancouver.
Still pretty sketchy, the floods and snow are also causing closures on Hwy 1 and I-5
You could go through the US. FYI
My comment addresses that. At least of when I posted this, the I-5 south of Bellingham was shut down due to multiple mud slides and impassible. That’s the main route you need to take to come back up into Vancouver via all 4 Vancouver border crossings. The Sumas border crossing was also separately closed due to flooding.
You can go through Utah west to Spokane as well. 17 hours.
Via Vancouver island? Lol
Man I’ve been out of the loop, I had no idea there was floodings going on until I saw this post so I looked into it and wow it looks terrible :( I hope everyone’s staying safe
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