Post by Dave Jenkins on Nov 12, 2008 5:22:55 GMT -5
Clean Trucks Fee Set to Begin Collection
November 10, 2008
BILL MONGELLUZZO
The ports will use the fees to subsidize new trucks and develop less polluting models.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will begin to collect a $35-per-TEU clean-trucks fee on Nov. 17.
The fee is a major component of the ports’ Clean Air Action Plan, which is designed to reduce harbor pollution by 45 percent and truck-diesel emissions by 80 percent over the next five years.
Revenue from the clean-trucks fee will be used to subsidize the purchase of 2007-model diesel trucks or alternative fuel trucks. Motor carriers can apply to the port for subsidies covering up to 80 percent of the cost of a new truck.
Events are unfolding quickly in the clean-trucks program. Truckers have begun to navigate the PortCheck Web site to electronically claim containers. The ports will go live today, Nov. 10, with electronic gate readers for radio-frequency identification tags that must be mounted on all trucks.
The ports in recent weeks distributed thousands of RFID tags to motor carriers. Beginning today, trucks without the tags will be denied access to marine terminals.
Also, motor carriers must register each truck with the ports and pay an annual registration fee of $100 per vehicle or the trucks will not be allowed to enter the marine terminals.
The PortCheck system is expected to be in full operation and harbor trucks signed up with the drayage registry by Nov. 17. At that point, the ports will be able to begin collection of the $35-per-TEU clean-trucks fee.
The system will also determine which trucks are exempt from the fee, as certain vehicles that meet the ports’ strict diesel emissions standards will not be charged.
Cargo interests will be billed for the clean-trucks fees that apply to all non-exempt trucks calling at marine terminals. Importers and exporters have been establishing accounts with PortCheck to facilitate the electronic processing of the clean-trucks fees.
Although glitches may occur as the electronic system is rolled out, the Port of Long Beach does not anticipate that there will be any significant delays at the terminal gates, spokesman Art Wong said.
Motor carriers are registering only those vehicles that will be needed for harbor service. With containerized imports down because of the weak economy and the peak-shipping season drawing to a close, some of the trucks that had been used in the harbor will most likely not be registered immediately, Wong said.
November 10, 2008
BILL MONGELLUZZO
The ports will use the fees to subsidize new trucks and develop less polluting models.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will begin to collect a $35-per-TEU clean-trucks fee on Nov. 17.
The fee is a major component of the ports’ Clean Air Action Plan, which is designed to reduce harbor pollution by 45 percent and truck-diesel emissions by 80 percent over the next five years.
Revenue from the clean-trucks fee will be used to subsidize the purchase of 2007-model diesel trucks or alternative fuel trucks. Motor carriers can apply to the port for subsidies covering up to 80 percent of the cost of a new truck.
Events are unfolding quickly in the clean-trucks program. Truckers have begun to navigate the PortCheck Web site to electronically claim containers. The ports will go live today, Nov. 10, with electronic gate readers for radio-frequency identification tags that must be mounted on all trucks.
The ports in recent weeks distributed thousands of RFID tags to motor carriers. Beginning today, trucks without the tags will be denied access to marine terminals.
Also, motor carriers must register each truck with the ports and pay an annual registration fee of $100 per vehicle or the trucks will not be allowed to enter the marine terminals.
The PortCheck system is expected to be in full operation and harbor trucks signed up with the drayage registry by Nov. 17. At that point, the ports will be able to begin collection of the $35-per-TEU clean-trucks fee.
The system will also determine which trucks are exempt from the fee, as certain vehicles that meet the ports’ strict diesel emissions standards will not be charged.
Cargo interests will be billed for the clean-trucks fees that apply to all non-exempt trucks calling at marine terminals. Importers and exporters have been establishing accounts with PortCheck to facilitate the electronic processing of the clean-trucks fees.
Although glitches may occur as the electronic system is rolled out, the Port of Long Beach does not anticipate that there will be any significant delays at the terminal gates, spokesman Art Wong said.
Motor carriers are registering only those vehicles that will be needed for harbor service. With containerized imports down because of the weak economy and the peak-shipping season drawing to a close, some of the trucks that had been used in the harbor will most likely not be registered immediately, Wong said.
