b'36American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comFORESTTrucking and other transport impacted by lumber disputePRODUCTS Higherdutyrateandpossibleadditionaltariffs have transportation modes on edge.2025 By Julie Gedeon, AJOTThe softwood lumber dis- mills and one two-line pulp-pute threatens to have repercus- millhaveshutdown,each sions on various transportationputting out five to seven saw-modes, particularly trucking.millsso its bleak in a lot Our members are saying theirofplacesandtheuncertain-businessisstillokay,eventies around tariffs and duties withthesofterratesduetoare making a bad situation so mill overcapacity, but theyremuch worse. worried that if anyone pushesTrucking has already been on this wall with more tariffs,dealing with the overcapacity theres nothing to hold it up,that was put in place for the saysDaveEarle,theBritishgreaterdemandsfordeliver-The Combi-FSE 8000 can handle structural timber, packs of sawn wood, panels, or engineered wood products. ColumbiaTruckingAssocia- ies for most everything during tions president and CEO.the pandemic but has not sub-SofterUSdemandissided. Earle says the B.C. gov-US-Canada dispute threatens supply andcoming at a time of weakerernment has been doing a lot Canadiansupplyduetotheto build other foreign markets, American homeownership availability beetle infestation, forest fires,but it takes a lot of time and curtailedprovincialharvest- effort to change building pat-By Julie Gedeon, AJOT ing in B.C., as well as hold- terns. The B.C. building code ingoffoncuttinginsomepermits mass timber construc-Majorconcernsarebeingexpressedonalready facing a shortage of 1.5 million newareauntilIndigenousrightstion of up to 18 storeys as of both sides of the border regarding the higherunits.SqueezingCanadafurtheroutofthearelegallyconsidered.SoApril 2024 following success-US duties on Canadas softwood lumber. TheUSmarketposeshugerepercussionsgiventheresamillonVancouverful projects that were the first countervailingdutieswereincreasedfromthe country provides 25-30% of the softwoodIsland, for example, that hadof their kind globally. 14.63% to 35.19% this past August. Thereslumber used in the US where 94% of homesto shut down for the balanceWhilelicensedtruckers also great apprehension regarding a further USare wood framed.oftheyearbecauseitcanthave no restrictions in driving tariffpossiblybeingappliedundernationalWere very disappointed with the latestgetthenecessarywood,across state or provincial bor-security considerations. dutyincreasebecauseitservesastaxesonEarle says. In Prince George,ders, what they can transport U.S. homebuilders warn that higher lumberAmericanbuildersandhomebuyers,sayswhere transportation fees arecan be restricted. When the prices will further dampen a soft demand forJesse Wade, NAHBs director for tax and tradesetformovingtimberand(IMPACTcontinued on newhousingatatimewhenthecountryis(DISPUTEcontinued on page 38) pulp,twosingle-linepulp- page 40)PLAQUEMINES PORT IS NOW THE LOUISIANA GATEWAY PORTEVERY SHIP The Louisiana Gateway Port turns thousands STRENGTHENS of ships annually, driving local growth by creating jobs, supporting business expansion, OUR REGION and revenue in our state. Learn all the ways the Port is driving growth in our region. $6.5B generated for Louisianas economy$136.6M generated from Port tenants $18.3B in total economic impactTurning bigger ships faster.Were Growing!Learn more and explore roles today at www.louisianagatewayport.com.'