Global logistics: Clean Truck progam put on hold at Ports of LA/Long Beach
Patrick Burnson -- Logistics Management, 11/14/2008
SAN FRANCISCO—It was “hurry up and wait” for shippers trying to get a grip on the Clean Truck Fee collection efforts at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. After weeks of worry, shippers have now learned that the program will not begin Monday, November 17, as previously scheduled. “More time is needed to complete ongoing discussions between Federal Maritime Commission staff and West Coast marine terminal operators regarding procedural issues,” said spokesmen the Port of Long Beach. “The terminals are also working to finalize the program's automated gate administration and fee collection process.” With this delay, terminal operators will revert back to the temporary sticker system launched October 1 to determine which trucks to allow into port terminals. “The Clean Trucks Program continues to function well, though starting the fee collection is essential to accelerate the environmental benefits of the program; so we hope to start fee collection soon," said Richard D. Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. As reported in LM, any shipper coalitions have voiced their opposition to the revamping of the drayage workforce in Los Angeles, however, which is designed to ban independent owner-operators. Beginning October 1, 2008, the ports took the unprecedented step of banning the most polluting trucks, the 1988 and older vehicles -- the initial ban in a series planned under the Clean Trucks Program. On January 1, 2010, the ports will ban 1993 and older trucks, and un-retrofitted model year 1994 to 2003 trucks. By January 2012, nearly the entire truck fleet serving the ports -- all vehicles 2006 and older will be banned. The West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement (WCMTOA) created the not-for-profit company PortCheck to collect the Clean Truck Fee to provide financial assistance for the replacement of as many as 10,000 trucks during the next three years. Under the ports' program, the cargo owner (the party named on the bill of lading) is responsible for paying the Clean Truck Fee. The fee will be payable by credit card or electronic funds transfer, and must be paid before a container can enter or leave the terminals.
View All On-Demand Webcasts
