Food trucks for B.C. truckers project to launch nationwide following outpouring of support, donations
A project launched by the B.C. Trucking Association to station food trucks at truck stops has been a smashing success.
The initiative made its debut in Kamloops last weekend, with local Deanna Bell’s Cookshack Cravings stationed at the Chevron Cardlock on Versatile Drive.
"It’s been fun. They love the food, we made their day,” said Bell.
Many drove by and gave her donations, which she will donate to the Food Bank. Ocean Trailers also donated $2,500 so truckers could eat for free.
This week the B.C. Trucking Association implemented the project provincewide.
Currently, there are food trucks stationed in Chilliwack and Kamloops, and they will begin serving in Kelowna and Prince George April 9.
"The response has been overwhelming,” said Dave Earl, president of the B.C. Trucking Association.
“We got a lot of interest of course from food trucks, from sites that are interested in hosting food trucks, and corporate sponsorship.”
The B.C. Trucking Association has already received over $10,000 in donations.
"It’s just been remarkable,” said Earl. "Company after company stepping forward."
Due to restaurant closures, truckers were having trouble accessing food and washroom facilities at cardlocks.
In light of the issue, some chain restaurants have stepped up to provide access to these services.
Tim Hortons announced that in 450 of their locations across Canada, commercial drivers will not only be able to order food online, but they will also have access to the washrooms.
And they’re not the only ones.
“We actually saw one of (McDonald's) outlets posted a sign indicating that their washrooms are available for commercial truck drivers only, which is just a remarkable step and turnaround from what we’ve seen in the past,” said Earl.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is also putting in Portosans at all their scale locations.
“It's been an all hands on deck approach and it’s just been absolutely welcome,” said Earl.
Truckers working in other provinces will soon be able to access these services, too.
"We’re going to start just in B.C., but by next we’ll roll it out across the country,” said Earl.
The B.C. Trucking Association will soon be launching a dedicated webpage for the project.
“It’s going to provide the ability for our association to provide links between sites, trucks, sponsors and try to coordinate a lot more effectively where these are placed,” explained Earl.
The website will also list where food trucks are stationed, whether they have been sponsored and disseminate further information.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Brie Welton or call (250) 819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
