Swift, Knight Enroll in Clean Truck Progra

[HardTimeTrucker]

L.A. port:
Swift, Knight plan to enroll in Clean Truck Program

By eTrucker Staff

The Port of Los Angeles announced that it received letters of intent from Swift Transportation and Knight Transportation to plan to become drayage concessionaires under the Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program.

Also last week, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach filed their opposition in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in response to the preliminary injunction motion from the American Trucking Associations that seeks to stop the ports’ CTP concession requirement.

Swift and Knight, both Phoenix-based companies, plan to begin drayage operations in October, port officials said. While the number of trucks they will operate in the market is still to be determined, port officials expect that, collectively, their pool of trucks will exceed 2,000. From the outset, these trucks will meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 diesel emissions standards using a mix of clean diesel and liquefied natural gas trucks, port officials said.

The port says that to date it has received concession applications from about 20 other licensed motor carriers of various sizes that collectively represent more than 1,100 trucks. With the addition of Knight and Swift, port officials urge other motor carriers to take action to ensure that they can still operate in the port after the Oct. 1 start date of the CTP.

ATA, with the support of its Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference, filed suit in the U.S. District Court in California July 28 challenging the port concession plans as approved by the cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach and their harbor commissions. The plans will limit access to the ports to only those trucking companies that have entered into concession contracts approved by the port program administrator.

The concession plans impose a broad range of operational requirements that create a regulatory environment similar to state intrastate economic regulation, ATA argues; the ports have acknowledged that these intrusive regulatory systems will result in far fewer trucking companies being able to service the ports, reducing competition.

In their response filed Wednesday, Aug. 20, port officials argue that ATA's requested injunction is without legal basis for three reasons:

* First, the statute that ATA relies upon does not apply to the special tidelands property on which the ports are located.

* Second, the statute does not apply to actions taken by the ports as landholders and as "commercial enterprises … in the business of providing world-class port facilities and services.”

* Third, the statute does not apply to port actions directed to the safety and security of the ports, which also are among the major goals of the CTP concession requirement.

The ports’ opposition also emphasizes that ATA's alleged injuries are merely financial in nature and therefore cannot justify the action of the preliminary injunction it seeks; furthermore, these claimed financial injuries are more than outweighed by the public health and security interests of those who work at the ports and who live near the ports.

The ports also submitted testimony from Licensed Motor Carriers who disagreed with ATA's claims that the concession program would disrupt the trucking business at the ports. The ports say the LMCs testify that they do not expect the program to disrupt their businesses or to cause them to incur financial losses; in addition, the LMCs declare their intention to apply for concessions from each of the ports.

The court will hold a hearing on ATA’s motion for preliminary injunction on Sept. 8, and a decision is expected sometime after that date. The ports already have announced their commitment to moving forward with the CTP as planned on Oct. 1 because ATA has not challenged certain aspects of the program, including the truck ban that prohibits 1988 and older trucks from entering the ports on and after Oct. 1; the Clean Trucks Fee, which also goes into effect Oct. 1; and the ports’ grant/lease programs designed to assist truckers in acquiring newer clean trucks. Applications for the first round of funds are due Sept. 4.

[HardTimeTrucker]

LA port's truck plan gets boost from 2 big haulers

The Associated Press

Article Launched: 08/23/2008



LOS ANGELES—A plan to clean up the air around the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach got a boost Thursday when two large members of the trucking association that sued to stop the plan agreed to participate in the program.

The American Trucking Associations filed a federal lawsuit last month against both cities after reviewing a truck replacement plan that would force thousands of independent truckers who work at the port to eventually become employees of trucking companies.

The group, which represents 37,000 trucking companies, had no immediate comment after learning that two Phoenix-based ATA haulers signed onto the program.

Some California trucking companies were upset that any member would sign up for a plan that could put them out of business.

"I'm taken aback," Michael Lightman, owner of Long Beach-based Great Freight Inc., told the Los Angeles Times. "Now, they are going to out-of-state companies rather than dealing with California trucking businesses that have been hauling cargo in and out of the ports for the past 25 to 30 years."

Both cities passed plans earlier this year aimed at reducing truck pollution at the nation's busiest cargo container complex by as much as 80 percent. The plans would require trucks to meet tougher 2007 federal emissions standards by 2012, along with a $35 cargo fee to pay for the newer, cleaner-running trucks.

The ATA has said it does not oppose efforts to clean up the air but is concerned

that other measures in the plans violate federal laws by unfairly regulating prices, routes and services.

The haulers that signed onto the program include Swift Transportation Co., which has 37 major terminals in 26 states and Mexico; and Knight Transportation Inc., which has 2008 model trucks on nearly half its fleet.

"These are both well-known, national trucking companies. They are very serious players," said Paul Bingham, managing director of trade and transportation markets for economic research firm Global Insight.

The Arizona companies said that the letters of intent made sense because both already had customers who moved goods through the ports and had expressed concerns about their ability to get their products delivered promptly.

"We have 1,400 trucks equipped with the newest diesel technology. The ports have a need for clean trucks and we have customers that need that service," said Kevin Knight, chief executive of Knight Transportation. "I think it's a good fit."

[petedabroker]

With one stroke of the pen, we could see hundreds of hard working, competative priced trucking firms, being replaced with Swift/Knight, who will name their prices after that almighty foot is in the door. Wonder if California will like being out priced by the East Coast for ocean containers coming from Asia? What California could end up with is, very large terminals and no business. But they will have the cleanest of air. Ha, Ha, Ha... Don't let this spread, leave California's elected officials holding this bag of crap. Gee, it sounded like such a good idea.
Idiots!!!!!!!

[petedabroker]

Hey California, add a $600 /20' ocean freight cost container from Asia, to a $600 inland dray, and you get a $1200 royal f**king to Walmart and Target. Hey folks remember those $9.99 garden hoses? They are now $29.99 at Walmart. But if you buy them from the East Coast store, they are only $12.99. So California could get , reduction of business and higher cost for purchased items. Laugh is on you California, but you do have all that clean air. Idiots.

[petedabroker]

Hey California, if you want cleaner air, close Sacramento. Move all your capital employees to Mexico City. That should cut the air problems in half.

[petedabroker]

Should we really worry about what is happening in California? Well for now we really do not need to , reason being, all those illegals are getting those lovely taned Buff and Dolly types to foot the bills for health care, education, housing and alike. Hey, illegals, move everyone to California, make those babies, and run a now bankrupt system right into the ground. Your doing a great job there. Oh, Buff, you do have clean air. Take a wift of that one Buff.

[petedabroker]

Nancy Polosi, will take care of everybody. If you do not have a job, home, are illegal, just show up at her door step. She says her family always took in and helped those who were down on their luck , here in Baltimore. Well Nancy, you dad Tommy was a good man, I cannot say anything about that fact. But you my lady are giving this country away and not even to the highest bidder. You are just one more of many bleeding heart Democrates, waiting for the opportunity to give America away. Poor people do not need handouts, they need to get off their fat lazy asses and work for a living and stop sucking off middle-class America. Government programs should include the politicians giving up their money, their well buffered retirement packages, their health care, and stop their members from voiting for their own raises. What a joke America has become. Nancy, how much do you make and can you give me some of that money? We don't need grant money here, just send me a couple thousand directly. I will stop all this writing here and never say another bad word about you, just send me two thousand, thats all it will take. Idiots!!!!!

[petedabroker]

Now Obama, wants to tax the riches Americans, tax their asses off. Ok, lets look at what they will cause. The very people who are building the companies, hire thousands of workers, worked their butts off to get where they are today, will be taxes beyond belief. So now they can no longer afford to invest here, open up foreign operations and still avoid the taxes. Results being much fewer jobs, reduction in taxes being paid by the middle-class because we have no jobs, no middle-class, rich are living abroad, and illegals are still coming in by the thousands per day. Thats a pot of soup I certainly do not want any part of. Obama, black, young, articulate, and dumb as a rock.

[petedabroker]

What is it with the Swift ad on here along with J.B. Hunt, is this site getting crazy?? I now feel like a f**king idiot for even being here.

[petedabroker]

How Columbo would interview Obama, regarding missing items.
Excuse me Mr. Obama, I mean Senator Obama, sir. Um . . . know you are busy and important and stuff. I mean running for president is very important and . . . ah . . . I hate to bother you. I will only take a minute ok, sir?



See, I have these missing pieces that are holding me up, and I was wondering sir, if you could take time out of your busy schedule and help me out. You know, no big deal, just some loose ends and things.



Hey, you have a nice place here! The wife sees houses like this on TV all the time and says boy she wishes she had digs like this you know? Is that painting real? Really? Wow. I saw something like that in a museum once!



Oh, sorry sir. I didn't mean to get off the track. So if you could just help me out a minute and give me some details, I will get right out of your way. I want to close this case and maybe take the wife to Coney Island or something. Ever been to Coney Island ? No, I didn't think so. .



Well, listen, anyways, I can't seem to get some information I need to wrap this up. These things seem to either be "locked" or "not available'. I'm sure it's just some oversight or glitch or something, so if you could you tell me where these things are . . . I . . . I . . . have them written down here somewhere . ... oh wait. Sorry about the smears. It was raining out. I'll just read it to you.



Could you help me please find these things, sir?


. Your Occidental College records

. Your Columbia College records

. Your Columbia Thesis paper

. Your Harvard College records

. Your Selective Service Registration

. Your medical records

. Your Illinois State Senate records

. Your Illinois State Senate schedule

. Your Law practice client list

. A Certified Copy of your original Birth certificate

. Your embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth

. Your Harvard Law Review articles that were published

. Your University of Chicago scholarly articles

. Your Record of baptism



Oh hey . . listen! I know you are busy! Is this too much for you now? I mean tell you what. I will come back tomorrow. Give you some time to get these things together, you know? I mean, I know you are busy, so I will just let myself out. I will be back tomorrow. And the day after. .

[petedabroker]

So you really want him as your President? I got everyone of my records, can I now be President? Idiots!!!!

[petedabroker]

Wonder what they are hiding, if they exist at all???
Ladies and Gentleman, here is your next President of these here United States of America.
Where did he go?

[pkd5757]

Say Pete, why don't you tell us how you really feel about the election! Slow down a little, I think your keyboard is smokin!

[petedabroker]

pkd5757, I am sorry pal, but enough is enough. Trouble is I type 55wpm, by means of a great lady in my life, (my typing teacher). Buddy, seems like this whole USA is becoming one large dumping grounds for the low down. We keep importing more, and politicians just seem to love them coming in. I will lay off the political side of my disagreemnts for now. Yeah, I am a Libertarian and have all the answers to all the problems. Just hate to see a great country turn into another Nigeria. Everything is now a scandle and so many con-artist, I cannot see the trees anymore. Fairness is now called special interest. Political Parties have been celebrating much too long. Party is now over.

[greaseman]

I think all politicians are full of it. I don't trust either one of these guys to do what is right once they get into office. I think I will just write in that oil tycoon. What's his name? T. Bone Pickens? He seems to have more since then all of them put together. Use this wind power every where possible, allow drilling off shore to drag us away from the Arab death grip until we can produce other energy systems, & rebuild our long overdue crumbling infrastructure in this country. Look at the millions of gallons that new highways would save eliminating a good part of the major traffic congestion that's eating up fuel & just going to get worse. Look at all the decent jobs this would create for labor, equipment operators, steel workers, manufactures, truckers. Of course legal citizens of this country would only be allowed to apply for the thousands of new construction jobs. I know that just pisses some people off who think we should not enforce any border laws. I'm sick of this political correctness. You took a chance when you snuck into this country illegally so if your caught don't act like someone has just somehow taken your human rights away. You didn't earn any rights or mileage points just because you avoided detection for years while slipping through the cracks before you got nailed. I don't buy that crap not hurting anybody by just sneaking into America for the jobs. Look at the Cubans taking a chance to flee from that whack job in Cuba clinging onto anything that will float trying to avoid drowning or being eaten by sharks. If they don't make it to US soil and are picked up at sea most are deported back to harms way to face possible execution or prison. That's bulls#*t while on the other hand most of the thousands who walk across the border not to return just freely walk the streets, find work with employers who fear no backlash for illegal hiring practices, or just hang out in clear view of local law enforcement waiting on contractors to load them up for a days cash wages. Please someone tell me again how that's helping the US economy?
Let's make Pickens King for four years & give Congress a four year recess. Pickens can appoint a committee of real middle class workers with absolutely no ties to Washington, DC or any lobbyist group. Let them occupy all those vacant seats under the big white dome. Real working class people discussing real issues that the American public actually cares about. Look at the money that is being pissed away, I mean pissed away on these monster conventions. If they really truly cared about the starving families & thousands of needy children dying in this country one of these two clowns running for office would have the balls to come forward make a TV appearance and say,"You know everyone I want my parties money to be spent for a what I feel is a more worthy application of these funds foolishly spent and I would appreciate your vote without this wasteful propaganda made for Hollywood extravaganza." If either one of them did that it would be a landslide among the voters. What a radical idea!