Ocean cargo/global logistics: Port of Long Beach reaches accord with truckers
Patrick Burnson -- Logistics Management, 10/19/2009
LONG BEACH—Following a meeting yesterday of the Port of Long Beach Harbor (POLB) Commissioners, it was announced that POLB and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) have each approved a settlement negotiated between port officials, ATA and trucking industry representatives.
The settlement is based upon a new motor carrier registration process, referred to as a Registration and Agreement, which will replace the port’s “concession agreement†contained in its existing Clean Truck program. All motor carriers wishing to perform drayage services at the Port of Long Beach must, via the new registration and agreement form, register with the Port and agree to provide certain operational information to assist the port in monitoring motor carrier compliance with various safety, environmental, and security regulations pertaining to the provision of drayage services at the port. Registration by a motor carrier is effective upon submission of the completed form accompanied by the $250 registration fee.
“Unlike the earlier concession contract, the new registration and agreement does not allow the port the discretion to reject an otherwise qualified motor carrier that has submitted a proper port drayage registration,â€said Curtis Whalen, executive director
Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC).
In addition, elements of the prior concession contract that ATA viewed as unrelated to appropriate port regulatory oversight, such as financial capability, truck routing, parking off port property, and hiring preferences, were also eliminated.
Motor carriers agreed that any truck or driver dispatched to the port may be denied access to the port if not in compliance with the applicable safety and security laws and those trucks and drivers may be inspected for safety-compliance purposes while on Port property.
The port also agreed that all information provided by the motor carrier in the registration and agreement and to the Driver Truck Registry, and any records pertaining to the performance of drayage services at the Port of Long Beach by the motor carrier, shall be maintained by the Port as confidential to the extent permitted by the California Public Records Act.
Both the port and ATA emphasized that the new registration apparatus will allow the port to strictly oversee and enforce motor carrier’s compliance with federal, state, and port safety, security, and environmental regulations.
The settlement is expected to end litigation with the Port of Long Beach; however, litigation with the Port of Los Angeles will continue, said Whalen.
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