Post by mailman on Aug 2, 2009 18:36:12 GMT -5
Oakland Harbor vote could have impact beyond West Coast
The Trucker Staff
7/31/2009
OAKLAND, Calif. — As expected, the Oakland, Calif., Harbor Commission yesterday passed a resolution urging Congress to change federal transportation law to give ports and local government entities the authority to set and enforce trucking standards, specifically who can and can’t haul goods in and out of ports.
Why is that of interest to truckers in general?
A source who is a former Teamster and port hauler told The Trucker that this move by ports, unions and others would not stop with banning independent haulers from the ports but also would attempt to see that unions take charge of major distribution centers.
“It’s not just about local drayage trucks,” said the source, who wanted to remain anonymous; “this would affect every truck coming into the ports, all cross-dock operations” and “unionize distribution centers.”
Port owner-operators shouldn’t be forced to part with their trucks and put out of business. They should at least be given a choice about whether they wanted to be independent or company drivers, he said.
According to the American Trucking Associations, “Unions and their allies in local government seek this change to make unionizing port truck drivers easier.”
Thirty-two national importers, exporters, retailers and logistics groups wrote House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., urging Congress to oppose allowing local government entities to regulate trucking. It was sent July 27 in response to the Harbor Commission’s resolution.
The Waterfront Coalition, a group representing manufacturers, retailers and agri exporters and importers, wrote the Oakland Harbor Commission a letter before their vote stating that the “true intent of the effort to exempt harbor trucks from federal regulations is to grant ports and other local government entities the power to pick and choose those trucking companies suitable to operate in the region.
“Such a restructuring is designed to force out of the industry small independent businesses in favor of much larger market participants ….”
Follow The Trucker on Twitter at www.twitter.com/truckertalk.
Dorothy Cox of The Trucker staff may be reached to comment at dlcox@thetrucker.com.
The Trucker Staff
7/31/2009
OAKLAND, Calif. — As expected, the Oakland, Calif., Harbor Commission yesterday passed a resolution urging Congress to change federal transportation law to give ports and local government entities the authority to set and enforce trucking standards, specifically who can and can’t haul goods in and out of ports.
Why is that of interest to truckers in general?
A source who is a former Teamster and port hauler told The Trucker that this move by ports, unions and others would not stop with banning independent haulers from the ports but also would attempt to see that unions take charge of major distribution centers.
“It’s not just about local drayage trucks,” said the source, who wanted to remain anonymous; “this would affect every truck coming into the ports, all cross-dock operations” and “unionize distribution centers.”
Port owner-operators shouldn’t be forced to part with their trucks and put out of business. They should at least be given a choice about whether they wanted to be independent or company drivers, he said.
According to the American Trucking Associations, “Unions and their allies in local government seek this change to make unionizing port truck drivers easier.”
Thirty-two national importers, exporters, retailers and logistics groups wrote House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., urging Congress to oppose allowing local government entities to regulate trucking. It was sent July 27 in response to the Harbor Commission’s resolution.
The Waterfront Coalition, a group representing manufacturers, retailers and agri exporters and importers, wrote the Oakland Harbor Commission a letter before their vote stating that the “true intent of the effort to exempt harbor trucks from federal regulations is to grant ports and other local government entities the power to pick and choose those trucking companies suitable to operate in the region.
“Such a restructuring is designed to force out of the industry small independent businesses in favor of much larger market participants ….”
Follow The Trucker on Twitter at www.twitter.com/truckertalk.
Dorothy Cox of The Trucker staff may be reached to comment at dlcox@thetrucker.com.
