Summary#
Montréal city council approved a direct contract with Transvrac Montréal-Laval inc. for truck rental with operators and transport services. The goal, as described by city staff, is to move excavated soil, snow-melt debris and other bulk materials for city services and boroughs.
- The contract covers soil from the Parc d’entreprise de la Pointe Saint-Charles and the BEST construction site, snow-melt debris from snow-disposal sites, and materials such as leaves, mulch and excavated soil from different boroughs.
- The approved maximum is $1,829,028.05, taxes included. The resolution describes the contract as lasting one year.
- The city also approved the agreement setting the contract’s terms. Staff say it takes effect on March 23, 2026, and ends on March 31, 2027; those dates do not quite match a one-year term.
What it means for you#
- City services and boroughs: They can use Transvrac’s trucks and operators to transport the materials covered by the agreement. The city does not own the trucks needed for this work, according to city staff.
- Taxpayers: The city may spend up to the approved maximum. The decision does not set out how much each service or borough will use.
- Transport providers: The city awarded the contract directly to Transvrac, a trucking-services broker. The materials give no call for tenders or bid count for this contract.
Money#
The approved maximum cost is $1,829,028.05, taxes included.
- The expense is charged to the operating budget of the Service de la concertation des arrondissements et de l’expérience citoyenne. If the environment service or boroughs use the service, staff say the expense will be transferred to the relevant administrative unit.
- Staff say the total is based on the Québec transport ministry’s bulk-trucking tariff schedule.
What is unclear#
- The resolution says one year, while the staff summary gives dates from March 23, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The materials do not explain the difference.
- The materials do not give expected quantities or a cost breakdown for each type of transport, service or borough.
- No renewal option is stated in the materials.
Case for#
- City staff say Montréal does not have the trucks needed for this work, so hiring a provider meets an identified service need.
- The contract combines several transport needs under one agreement. Staff say the cost is based on a published government tariff schedule.
Case against#
- The materials do not show bids or a comparison with other providers, so readers cannot assess the price against competing offers.
- The maximum cost is clear, but the expected use and spending for each service are not.