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The province will be funding the installation of portable toilets at several commercial vehicle pull-outs, inspection stations and chain-up locations throughout B.C.

Installation of the additional portable toilets began this past weekend, with completion over the coming weeks to provide more options for commercial drivers.

“Approximately 20 portable toilets have been installed at commercial pull-outs and inspection stations, and the province will look at adding additional ones in the coming weeks,” the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a press release.

It is also keeping all rest areas open during the outbreak to continue to support the trucking industry.

Maintenance contractors are tasked with keeping these facilities clean, sanitary and well supplied.

If people encounter less than ideal conditions at any provincial rest area, they are encouraged to contact the appropriate maintenance contractor or nearest ministry office.

To make sure everyone in B.C. has access to the goods they need, the province has created a new Provincial Supply Chain Coordination Unit to assist with co-ordinating the distribution of goods and services.

It also launched the COVID-19 Supply Hub, a made-in-B.C. online platform to co-ordinate, find and speed up the delivery of medical supplies and personal protective equipment for provincial health authorities to support front-line health workers.

Truckers have been struggling in recent weeks securing places to shower, use the washroom and even eat.

To address the latter issue,  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, 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,  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.”

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