Post by exit5 on Sept 1, 2008 14:44:14 GMT -5
ATA says CA. Port truck plan will raise costs for consumers
August 30, 2008
Traffic World
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The clean-trucks concession requirements at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will result in higher trucking costs that will quickly translate to higher costs for consumers, the American Trucking Associations stated today.
In comments filed with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the trucking organization said the ports are attempting to restructure harbor trucking in Southern California through state regulation rather than marketplace competition.
The concession plans published by the ports are part of the clean-trucks programs that seek to reduce pollution from harbor trucking by 80 percent over the next five years. If the plans take effect on Oct. 1 as scheduled, motor carriers must apply for concessions from the ports in order to operate in the harbor.
The ATA charges that operational requirements contained in the concession plans will make it more difficult for smaller motor carriers to operate in the harbor.
“The ports have acknowledged that these intrusive regulatory systems will result in far fewer trucking companies being able to service the ports, reducing competition,” ATA stated in its comments.
Also, the Port of Los Angeles is further distorting the marketplace by offering cash payments to national motor carriers that are able to immediately introduce into the harbor new trucks that meet strict emissions requirements, ATA stated.
The ATA on July 28 filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles challenging the legality of the ports’ concession plans. The ports responded in August with their defense of the concession requirements. ATA’s comments filed Friday were in response to the ports’ filings.
The judge has set Sept. 8 as the hearing date for the ATA’s request for a temporary restraining order seeking to block implementation of the concession agreements.
August 30, 2008
Traffic World
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The clean-trucks concession requirements at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will result in higher trucking costs that will quickly translate to higher costs for consumers, the American Trucking Associations stated today.
In comments filed with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the trucking organization said the ports are attempting to restructure harbor trucking in Southern California through state regulation rather than marketplace competition.
The concession plans published by the ports are part of the clean-trucks programs that seek to reduce pollution from harbor trucking by 80 percent over the next five years. If the plans take effect on Oct. 1 as scheduled, motor carriers must apply for concessions from the ports in order to operate in the harbor.
The ATA charges that operational requirements contained in the concession plans will make it more difficult for smaller motor carriers to operate in the harbor.
“The ports have acknowledged that these intrusive regulatory systems will result in far fewer trucking companies being able to service the ports, reducing competition,” ATA stated in its comments.
Also, the Port of Los Angeles is further distorting the marketplace by offering cash payments to national motor carriers that are able to immediately introduce into the harbor new trucks that meet strict emissions requirements, ATA stated.
The ATA on July 28 filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles challenging the legality of the ports’ concession plans. The ports responded in August with their defense of the concession requirements. ATA’s comments filed Friday were in response to the ports’ filings.
The judge has set Sept. 8 as the hearing date for the ATA’s request for a temporary restraining order seeking to block implementation of the concession agreements.