Ocean cargo: Port of Long Beach’s clean air plan challenged by truckers

Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor -- Logistics Management, 3/6/2008

LONG BEACH, Calif.—While the Port of Long Beach was anticipating a few legal challenges from its clean truck plan, the one looming now came out of the blue. In a sudden development, American Trucking Associations formally requested that the Federal Maritime Commission reject the plan, and scuttle any agreement between the port and with its terminal operators.

“We certainly did not expect to be challenged by an industry association,” said Art Wong, a port spokesman. “But then again, we know that when you try anything new, it is going to be met with some resistance.”

The mainstream press, however, has been lauding the Long Beach alternative as being sensitive to the needs of both workers and the environment.

“The response has been positive, for the most part,” said Wong. “I think everyone recognizes that the port is trying to clean up the air as quickly as possible. And we don’t feel we have to put people out of work to do so.”

The ATA's Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference maintains that it is illegal to use “criteria and procedures to determine the right of admission or non-admission of trucks, cargo or equipment to any and all terminals at the ports.”

In its comments to the FMC, the ATA also said that the goal of the ports' Clean Air Action Plan can be achieved through existing state legislation. Under California Air Resources Board regulations, drayage trucks are already required to meet similar or superior air quality standards by 2013.