BANDSTRA TRANSPORTATION has hired one former Canadian Freightways employee here and as many as eight others in Prince George following a decision by the company to close its operations west of that city along Hwy16 and have Bandstra act as its agent in the region.
Speaking Jan. 23, Terrace Bandstra official Sid Bandstra said more hirings could take place once Bandstra has fully absorbed Freightways' operations in Prince George, Smithers, Terrace and Prince Rupert.
“What we are doing is taking care of their freight from Vancouver and Edmonton to the northwest,” he said.
“This is a slower time of the year so we'll be better able to sort out and consider what we will need to do.”
But Bandstra did say there are no plans for Bandstra to occupy the Freightways docking facility and warehouse on Kalum St. on the southside.
Part of that building is being rented by DHL Loomis.
“We'll be doing everything from here,” he said of Bandstra's Blakeburn location just off of Keith Ave. in the city's light industrial area.
The company last year purchased some bare land adjacent to its Blakeburn facility in anticipation of expanding.
Published reports indicate the decision by Canadian Freightways to close its operations west of Prince George affected 30 employees.
Canadian Freightways senior vice president Ken Enns told the Truck News, a trucking industry publication, that the closures were “strictly a financial decision to change the operating structure.”
In an email sent to customers, Enns also spoke of “the economic conditions” of the northwest in the decision to close facilities.
Affected employees will be eligible for severance payments based on the provisions of their collective agreements.