Long Beach clean truck scheme clears legal hurdle

The American Trucking Association had sought a preliminary injunction to block the Port from using a concession system to require trucking firms to dispatch only clean trucks to the Port and dispatch only drivers who have undergone a security background check and obtained a federal Transportation Worker Identification Credential. At a hearing on September 8, District Court Judge Christina Snyder circulated a temporary ruling rejecting the preliminary injunction.


“Concessions are a key element of our Clean Trucks Program so that we can bring a new generation of clean trucks and clean air to this region, and so we can begin a new era in port security,” said James Hankla, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.

The programme will start phasing out dirty trucks from port service by barring all 1988 and older vehicles. By 2012, all trucks entering Port terminals must have engines that meet 2007 federal emission standards, which are 80% cleaner than existing engines. Also on October 1, the Port will begin charging a fee of US$35 per 20 ft container to fund a financial assistance programme for truck replacement that will help truck owners to comply with the clean truck deadlines.