Truck and Harvesting Advisory Group (TAG)

The Trucking Advisory Group (TAG) was established in January 2014 by key forest industry representatives in response to a cluster of log trucking incidents that occurred in the late summer/fall 2013.

TAG’s objective is to improve log hauling safety performance within the forest industry. In general, safety performance within the industry has improved significantly throughout British Columbia since 2005.

In 2010, the reductions plateaued, and in 2011 and 2012 the injury and fatality rates have increased. In 2013 and 2014, we have seen a higher than normal number of on highway logging truck incidents, as well as a high number of trucks spilling their loads off highway.

Currently log hauling has one of the highest injury and fatality rates in the industry.  TAG has been formed to facilitate the efforts of industry to shift safety back to an improving trend.

The TAG structure consists of both a task team and steering team. The task team works directly on determining safety issues and trends that need to be addressed within the log hauling sector, formulates specific objectives to address identified concerns and defines a set of actions to achieve the objective. The task team reports to the steering team for verification of the objective(s), and action plan(s). The steering team is tasked with providing direction to the task team and aiding in key recommendations and initiatives being implemented within the industry. The BCFSC supplies facilitation and ongoing support to the TAG.

TAG has initiated the following actions:

  • Development of a data acquisition and analysis strategy aimed at improving our understanding of safety issues and trends within the industry as a whole.
  • Investigation and development of training programs for log truck drivers, log loaderman and supervisors in managing for and reducing rollovers.
  • Development and implementation of overweight management programs.
  • Development of best practices for and expand the use of log truck telematics to monitor and improve driver performance/human factors and improve cycle time accuracy.
  • Development of seat belt use objective for consistent application across TAG operations and raise awareness regarding the importance of seat belt use.
  • Participate in the development of log truck driver training and mentorship programs and options.
  • Development and Implementation of speed management activities across TAG operations.
  • Work with provincial regulatory agencies such as CVSE and WSBC to improve log hauling safety through careful review of regulatory requirements and associated guidelines.
  • Investigate levels of fatigue within log hauling sector, determine contributing factors and actions to address.
  • Development of a communications strategy and related communications that inform stakeholders of industry’s safety initiatives and its ongoing commitment to continuously improve safety performance.

Steering Team

  • Mark Cookson, West Fraser Mills
  • Nick Arkle, Gorman Bros Lumber Ltd.
  • Larry Price, Interfor
  • Mark Todd, Canfor
  • Marty Hiemstra, Mercer Forestry Services Ltd.
  • Greg Munden, LOTS Group Canada
  • Todd Chamberlain, Interior Logging Association
  • Andrew McLellan, Conifex
  • Craig Tilander, BC Timber Sales
  • Bruce McLean, Sinclar Group
  • Norm Druck, Weyerhaeuser
  • Mike Reagon, Mosaic Forest Management

Task Team

  • Vern Woods, Vern's Ventures
  • Dale Jones, Tolko
  • Ken Pedersen, Canfor
  • Mark Todd, Canfor
  • Ryan Weltz, Interfor
  • Greg Hislop, Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd.
  • Marty Hiemstra, Mercer Forestry Services Ltd.
  • Marla Nicol, Conifex
  • Ron Volansky, R&A Logging
  • Mike Reagon, Mosaic Forest Management
  • Mark Cookson, West Fraser Mills
  • Shawn Byrne, Weyerhaeuser
  • Trish Kohorst, LOTS Group Canada
  • Mark Roller, Sinclar Group

BCFSC Staff Support

  • Dustin Meierhofer, Director, Transportation & Northern Safety
  • Dorian Dereshkevich, Manager, Transportation & Northern Safety

Email us to learn more about TAG