posted by admin on Jun 11
The Port of San Diego is the latest California port to start a clean truck program, joining Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland and other West Coast ports that are targeting trucks to cut pollutionSan Diego,CAL,USA -
Land Line Magazine, by Charlie Morasch -June 10, 2008: --
... The plan relies largely on voluntary truck replacements and engine retrofits, although the port officials plan to work with the California Air Resources Board and other agencies for partial grants... According to one application, truck owners must plan to make 150 trips to the port annually to be eligible to apply... The Port of San Diego and the San Diego Air Pollution Control District have scheduled a public outreach meeting for truck owners interested in grants at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 16, at the Port of San Diego Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway in San Diego...
Tags:
trucks
posted by admin on Jun 10
Warren,RI,USA -
Maritime Global Net, by Barb Maynard -9 June 2008: --
In today’s Long Beach Press-Telegram, the American Trucking Association confirmed that it is preparing to file lawsuits against the Port of Long Beach’s Clean Trucks Program as well as against the sustainable, comprehensive plan passed by the Port of Los Angeles. In response, the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports released the following statement from a representative of one of CCSP’s over 30 member organizations, Gisele Fong of Communities for Clean Ports, who is also a Long Beach mother:
"If a port demands this industry starts paying for its own pollution, then the industry sues – because they’re only concerned with making a killing off of goods movement, not cleaning up the deadly toxic air they create... This proves that the so-called "labor" issue has always been a red herring to obscure the trucking industry’s real position – they’ll fight tooth and nail to protect their decades-long practice of padding profits by forcing Californians to sacrifice their health and spend their tax-dollars to pay for the industry’s toxic mess... The American Trucking Association's obstructionism demonstrates we cannot settle for anything less than the cleanest-available trucks driven by a stable, employee workforce. The legal contests by the ATA amounts to nothing more than a political filibuster, which could result in unnecessary delays in implementing critical clean air programs. It is unacceptable to place profit and politics above people’s health.”
Tags:
trucks
posted by admin on Jun 1
Truckers worry that the move could also do serious damage to their livelihood, upon which nearly all Californians depend
Tracy,CAL,USA -
Tracy Press, by Jennifer Wadsworth -28 May 2008: --
... The state air board could decide to clamp down on diesel exhaust, making the air safer for valley residents. But truckers worry that the move could also do serious damage to their livelihood, upon which nearly all Californians depend... With diesel up to a $5-a-gallon average and transportation workers across the state demanding an increase in long-stagnant wages, proposed air quality rules that require expensive retrofits to curb diesel emissions could put California truckers in a tighter spot than many can handle, according to many industry experts... In Tracy, at least a handful of companies like Grobe’s could risk going out of business, as the cost of trucking anything anywhere gets more expensive... The regulations would demand emissions cuts in two phases. Under the first phase, trucks made before 1998 will need to be retrofitted by 2010 to match emissions standards in 2007-model trucks. The second phase would require that by 2021 all trucks and buses meet emission standards of those made in 2010. That means owners would need to retrofit their fleets twice or buy new trucks to comply... A 1994 model diesel truck, worth $11,000, would require up to a $20,000 retrofit, according to the regulations... The filter’s price would be more like $30,000 per truck counting installation, he added. That’s much more than the air board projected in its first few proposals... "But the reality is they demand we put on these $30,000 retrofits and then they’d phase out those trucks anyway by 2015. What can you do?" ... For the past five years, Tracy trucking company owner Steve Grobe has already been selling off his fleet to Mexico, Russia and Vietnam. From 50 trucks two years ago, he’s downsized his fleet to 35. In 2012, he plans to sell the rest, probably at a loss, to Mexican buyers... But even if truckers have to foot the bill, it’s a small price to pay for the public health benefit, said Bonnie Holmes-Gen, senior policy director for the lung association... "These trucks are the largest source of diesel emissions in the state. And they’re finally regulating what’s really the largest source of diesel pollution here."... (Photo by Glenn Moore/Tracy Press - New regulations could force trucking companies to make their trucks cleaner, but it could come at a hefty cost to businesses and consumers)
Tags:
transportation,
trucking companies,
trucks
posted by admin on May 30
San Francisco,CAL,USA -
Logistics Management, by Patrick Burnson -27 May 2008: --
Members of the West Coast Marine Terminal Operators Agreement must wait until June 29 before resuming their discussions of the controversial “Clean Trucks” program. That’s the word sent down by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), which had required both ports to answer a series of precise questions about the pending deal. The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are also free to discuss security initiatives and other matters with antitrust immunity after that date... As reported here last month, the FMC put the agreement on hold, when it ruled that the 45-day review period be extended—much to the relief of many shippers. Had the FMC not interceded, talks between terminal operators and the ports would have commenced as early as April 1. And the FMC is still within its jurisdictional boundaries to challenge the agreement in federal court... Meanwhile, the agreement may be facing other legal challenges posed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and affiliate shipper’s associations. According to the ATA’s Intermodal Carriers Conference executive director, Curtis E. Whalen, both ports have rejected his overtures for a “meaningful meeting” to discuss the issues. If a lawsuit ensues, it will have the support of the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL)... Once the ports finally do meet with terminal operators, they can begin working on their plan to initiate the fee portion of their Clean Truck plans on October 1. At that time, both gateways will start collecting a $35-per-TEU (twenty equivalent units) fee for all trucks, with full or partial exemptions for those that comply with 2007 emissions standards. The ports and the terminal operators also plan to discuss ways of collecting a separate $15-per-TEU infrastructure fee set to begin on Jan. 1, 2009...
Tags:
transportation,
trucks
