How to Hire a Traffic Control Company in BC

A traffic-control contractor should be evaluated against the work your project actually requires. The lowest hourly rate does not show whether the quote includes the right crew, supervision, vehicles, devices, setup time, travel, or permit conditions.

Start with the project documents

Before requesting quotes, gather the exact site address, road authority, work dates and hours, work method, affected lanes or sidewalks, equipment movements, current traffic-control plan, and permit conditions. If an approval is still pending, identify that clearly.

Contractors can only price the same scope when they receive the same information. A one-line request for “two flaggers” shifts important assumptions into the quote and makes proposals difficult to compare.

Verify training for the assigned roles

WorkSafeBC Part 18 requires a Traffic Control Person to complete a Board-approved training program. Verify the current requirement and approved providers on the WorkSafeBC traffic-control training page. The BCCSA TCP program is one place to review current course information.

Ask how the contractor verifies training before assigning people to a shift. Also confirm the experience required for the specific road, traffic speed, closure type, work phase, and communication setup. Training is essential, but a certificate by itself does not define the complete site scope.

Confirm supervision and field responsibility

Part 18 requires a qualified supervisor whenever traffic control is used. The written scope should identify who will:

• Review the approved plan and site-specific hazards with the crew.
• Verify TCP training and complete the required orientation.
• Inspect the setup and monitor it during the shift.
• Coordinate changes in traffic flow and work phases.
• Communicate with the site lead and permit holder.
• Stop or escalate work when the plan no longer fits the conditions.

Do not assume that a crew lead, lane-closure lead, project superintendent, or plan designer automatically holds every responsibility. Assign the roles explicitly.

Check business and insurance status

Ask for current WorkSafeBC clearance information and insurance evidence appropriate to the project and contract. Review the legal business name, policy limits, expiry dates, operations covered, and any certificate requirements in your agreement. Confirm the documents directly through the relevant issuer or registry when the project requires it.

Insurance does not replace safe planning, and a generic certificate does not prove that every requested operation is covered. Questions about additional-insured status, vehicle use, subcontractors, or specialized equipment should be resolved before mobilization.

Review equipment and operating capacity

The approved plan determines the temporary signs, cones, paddles, barriers, lighting, vehicles, radios, and other resources needed. Ask the contractor to list what is included, who inspects it, and how damaged or missing equipment is replaced.

For multi-shift or time-sensitive work, ask how scheduling, breaks, call-outs, and replacement coverage are managed. The answer should fit the project schedule without relying on unnamed personnel or last-minute assumptions.

Compare written scopes, not just rates

A useful quote identifies crew roles, quantities, dates, shift assumptions, minimum charges, travel, vehicles, devices, setup and takedown, overtime rules, exclusions, and the process for changes. It should also state who supplies the approved plan and who is responsible for permits.

When proposals differ, normalize the scope before comparing totals. A lower quote may simply omit equipment, supervision, travel, or a work phase included elsewhere.

Ask for relevant references

Choose references from recent projects with similar road conditions, authority requirements, and complexity. Ask whether the crew arrived prepared, followed the approved scope, communicated changes promptly, maintained access, and invoiced according to the agreement.

Send Safeside a complete scope

Safeside provides traffic-control crews, lane-closure support, event traffic control, and traffic-management planning support across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Use the contact form to send the project details and request a scoped quote.