Clean Truck Certification Programme for South Carolina’s ports

Launched as a result of the permit process for the construction of a new container terminal on the Port of Charleston’s former Navy Base in North Charleston that is due to open in 2018/19, the programme requires trucks serving the container terminals to have engines manufactured in 1994 or later. Based on engine year rather than truck model year, the certification is designed with maximum flexibility for the trucking industry. Truck owners must enrol in the programme between November 1st, 2013 and January 1, 2014.

During November, the SCPA will continue offer an incentive of US$5,000 plus scrap value to truck owners who use this opportunity to upgrade their truck engines. Over the last two years the SCPA has offered the only truck replacement incentive programme in the Southeast, with 84 trucks replaced to date. Together the SCPA and SCDHEC have spent in excess of US$1m on promotion and implementation of the truck replacement programme.

A limited number of hardship registrations are available on a first come, first serve basis for trucks who have called on terminals at least 52 times in the previous 52 weeks. Hardship registrations began on November 1, 2013 and will expire on June 30, 2014. Trucks calling on the terminals that do not have a hardship registration and have not been certified will be allowed to enter one time only. They will be informed of the new certification programme and directed to driver’s assistance.