Post by dieseljockey on Oct 3, 2008 1:15:04 GMT -5
October 1, 2008
LandLine
Bang or fizzle?
“Clean Truck” plans kick off at L.A., Long Beach ports
Truckers entering the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles Wednesday were asked if they had Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and if their engines met new “clean truck” requirements.The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach launched their clean truck programs Wednesday, Oct. 1, although the fight over the Teamsters-influenced emissions plan doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon.
Each port has approved similar versions of a Clean Truck Plan, including bans on pre-1989 trucks that took effect Wednesday, and will phase in other older truck engine bans until all trucks are required to meet 2007 emissions standards by 2012.
The ports’ first day of implementing the plan went off reportedly without a hitch as many drivers who aren’t in emissions compliance were waved through to prevent backups of the thousands of containers shipped from the ports daily, the ports’ public relations employees told local newspapers.
“The message at the terminal gates is we will let you in this time, but don’t count on being let in again,” said Arley Baker, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Our No. 1 concern is keeping the gates from becoming congested. We do not want to impede the flow of cargo in any way.”
The Port of Los Angeles announced that 500 trucking companies have signed up to be port concessionaires there, making available “over 20,000 trucks” for drayage hauling.
Although both ports require trucks to be registered and licensed concessionaires, the port of Los Angeles is requiring all drivers entering the port to be company employees. That measure was supported by the Teamsters Union.
Long Beach allows owner-operators, but concessionaire fees and other requirements can cost thousands of dollars annually.
Whether the clean truck programs will be implemented as planned remains in question because of two recent developments:
Big brother at the ports. The Federal Maritime Commission has launched a very public investigation into the ports and specifically the clean truck programs. The maritime commission is a low-profile federal agency that typically focuses on maritime shipping, but has grown increasingly interested in the twin ports as the clean truck programs have moved forward.
Insufficient funds. The ports have agreed to fund a $2.2-billion truck replacement program, by which companies could receive cash equaling 80 percent of the cost of a new truck at the port. That program was to be funded partially by a $30-per-20-foot equivalent of container units.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the container fee. That veto followed a written request by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, prominent Republicans, to strike down the container fee.
“Shipping costs have increased significantly with the rising price of fuel, and these higher costs are quickly passed onto Alaskans,” Palin wrote in a letter to Schwarzenegger one day before she was picked as John McCain’s presidential election running mate.
The ports have each said they’ll make a 12-time per-year day-pass available for trucks that make infrequent visits, even though each pass will cost $100. A temporary pass has been set up with a 10-time limit until the permanent day-pass system is set up. The ports have stated that drivers should expect to use the temporary system only through October.
– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
LandLine
Bang or fizzle?
“Clean Truck” plans kick off at L.A., Long Beach ports
Truckers entering the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles Wednesday were asked if they had Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and if their engines met new “clean truck” requirements.The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach launched their clean truck programs Wednesday, Oct. 1, although the fight over the Teamsters-influenced emissions plan doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon.
Each port has approved similar versions of a Clean Truck Plan, including bans on pre-1989 trucks that took effect Wednesday, and will phase in other older truck engine bans until all trucks are required to meet 2007 emissions standards by 2012.
The ports’ first day of implementing the plan went off reportedly without a hitch as many drivers who aren’t in emissions compliance were waved through to prevent backups of the thousands of containers shipped from the ports daily, the ports’ public relations employees told local newspapers.
“The message at the terminal gates is we will let you in this time, but don’t count on being let in again,” said Arley Baker, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Our No. 1 concern is keeping the gates from becoming congested. We do not want to impede the flow of cargo in any way.”
The Port of Los Angeles announced that 500 trucking companies have signed up to be port concessionaires there, making available “over 20,000 trucks” for drayage hauling.
Although both ports require trucks to be registered and licensed concessionaires, the port of Los Angeles is requiring all drivers entering the port to be company employees. That measure was supported by the Teamsters Union.
Long Beach allows owner-operators, but concessionaire fees and other requirements can cost thousands of dollars annually.
Whether the clean truck programs will be implemented as planned remains in question because of two recent developments:
Big brother at the ports. The Federal Maritime Commission has launched a very public investigation into the ports and specifically the clean truck programs. The maritime commission is a low-profile federal agency that typically focuses on maritime shipping, but has grown increasingly interested in the twin ports as the clean truck programs have moved forward.
Insufficient funds. The ports have agreed to fund a $2.2-billion truck replacement program, by which companies could receive cash equaling 80 percent of the cost of a new truck at the port. That program was to be funded partially by a $30-per-20-foot equivalent of container units.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the container fee. That veto followed a written request by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, prominent Republicans, to strike down the container fee.
“Shipping costs have increased significantly with the rising price of fuel, and these higher costs are quickly passed onto Alaskans,” Palin wrote in a letter to Schwarzenegger one day before she was picked as John McCain’s presidential election running mate.
The ports have each said they’ll make a 12-time per-year day-pass available for trucks that make infrequent visits, even though each pass will cost $100. A temporary pass has been set up with a 10-time limit until the permanent day-pass system is set up. The ports have stated that drivers should expect to use the temporary system only through October.
– By Charlie Morasch, staff writer
