Better Highways and the Trucking Industry

The Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway (EDBC) had its terminus at Grande Prairie until 1930. Those who wanted to travel to locations west or north had to travel by wagon. Those who wanted to transport their grain would have to haul it from various locations to the railhead. The dispersed communities in the Peace River country made the roads and highways more effective than the railroad. Better roads and highways allowed for trucking companies to take over a great deal of the freight business that had been handled by the railroads.

The Alaska Highway improved after the war, providing better transportation to the Peace country. The construction of the Mackenzie Highway in the late 1940s opened transportation corridors to Grimshaw, Manning, and High Level. These improved highways brought about the success of trucking companies like Grimshaw Trucking, Canadian Freightways, and Byers, as they had local business opportunities in addition to providing delivery of supplies for the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line.

Before many roads and highways were built in the north there was a need to transport freight aircraft, which was expensive.

One of the key players in the development of trucking was Albert Hamilton, who worked in the trucking business when the Alaska Highway was being built. Hamilton worked for E.J. Spinney Trucking. During the winter of 1945-46, Hamilton was involved in running a Cat train of freight from Grimshaw to Yellowknife and bringing back a load of fish. Hamilton then worked hauling gravel as the Mackenzie Highway was being built.

Hamilton purchased his first truck in 1948 and was able to establish Grimshaw Trucking in 1951. In 1954, Hamilton developed winter roads when he hauled freight around Great Slave Lake to Yellowknife. Hamilton learned how to build a road on ice. If a truck was taken over ice in 40° F below zero, the ice would break up as it becomes brittle and shatters. In warmer weather, ice is flexible and will support a large truck.

The progress of building a highway that would link the Peace River country to the Pacific coast was slowed by an agreement between the British Columbia provincial government and the Northern Alberta Railways (NAR) in 1932. The agreement stated that no roads could be built from the Peace country to the Pacific Coast until 1952. This agreement blocked the BC government from giving its support to the Monkman Pass Highway Association. The Hart Highway was completed as soon as the agreement with the NAR expired, opening a link between Dawson Creek and Prince George in 1952.

Well-maintained roads remain the best form of transportation in the Peace River country. Trucking continues to be profitable and effective.

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