Long Beach presses on with clean trucks scheme

The Port expects its Clean Trucks Program to be validated by the courts, but in the meantime its attorneys are reviewing the ATA lawsuit. “We have worked closely with the trucking and shipping industries to develop a workable programme. It is disappointing that the ATA is seeking to impede this critical air quality initiative,” said Steinke. “Despite this litigation, we are still moving full speed ahead toward our goal of reducing pollution from the truck fleet by 80% by 2012.”


The Port is encouraging trucking companies to sign up for the programme, so that importers and exporters can be confident that sufficient trucks will be available to move their cargo during the peak shipping season this autumn. Trucking companies (Licensed Motor Carriers, or LMCs) are now being enrolled through the Port’s new concession programme.

Under the Clean Trucks Program, older (pre-1989) trucks will be banned from calling at Port terminals this autumn, and by 2012 only approved ‘clean’ trucks will be allowed to operate at the Port. Only LMCs with Port-approved concessions will be allowed access to Port shipping terminals from October 1, 2008, and a $35 fee per 20 ft container will be collected on all trucked cargo to help pay for the US$2bn cost of replacing nearly 16,800 trucks that serve the ports. The Port is offering a financial assistance programme to help truck owners replace or retrofit their old, polluting trucks.