‘Planned chaos’: Truckers in 'hurry up and wait' mode

Planned chaos is how a local freight company manager described the highway situation after torrential rains brought mudslides across the Coquihalla and Highway 3 Sunday.

Van Kam Freightways makes daily trips to and from the B.C Interior and Lower Mainland.

Regional Manager Kevin Highfield told Kelowna10 there was no immediate impact on his drivers as the organization made plans ahead of the weather system. That included making deliveries on the weekend and getting off the highways before any drivers could get stranded.

He has drivers currently in rest mode waiting to see what and when routes will open.

“We did turn a few guys back at the Lower Mainland so they can sit at home and reset the hours, and then we’re good to go with them for a 12-hour trip when the roads open back up.”

He said clients understand the challenges of the weather this time of year with rain at lower elevations, but snow higher up.

“Some of our regular customers, we’ll hold freight for a couple days, we’ll get a load out of it perhaps just so freight isn’t sitting in trucks,” he said.

It is not yet known when any highways into the Lower Mainland will reopen to traffic.