| Pollution from Long Beach and Los Angeles | | | | standards and new security requirements being |
| ports combined is a serious threat to public | | | | imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security |
| health and something needs to be done, fast. | | | | Administration on all truckers who regularly |
| Long Beach City Council last nigth ( July 8, | | | | service the ports, some current drivers won't |
| 2009) voted 6-0 to reconsider a Clean Trucks | | | | qualify and will leave the industry. That |
| Program. | | | | will result in fewer drivers serving the |
| | | | ports and lead to an increase in the hourly |
| More than 90 per of the estimated 16,800 | | | | rates paid to drivers. That's a market driven |
| trucks that service the two ports are driven | | | | solution that places the cost of doing |
| by independent owner/operators who work on an | | | | business right where it belongs: in the cargo |
| as-needed basis and respond to calls to pick | | | | owners' hands. |
| up or deliver goods to the two ports. | | | | |
| | | | The Clean Trucks Program will ban 1988 and |
| Rather than risking a trucking industry | | | | older trucks after October 1 and |
| lawsuit by imposing an employee driver only | | | | progressively ban all trucks that don't meet |
| mandate like the Port of Los Angeles, the | | | | 2007 emission standards by 2012. To assist |
| Long Beach plan, strongly backed by Mayor | | | | drivers who agree to scrap their dirty |
| Foster, allows both independent drivers and | | | | trucks, the port will offer an 80 percent |
| trucking company employee drivers to continue | | | | grant or loan toward the purchase or lease of |
| to serve the Port of Long Beach. Why? | | | | a new truck. |
| | | | |
| · The Long Beach plan can move quickly to | | | | The subsidized program will be financed by |
| greatly improve air quality because it is | | | | new fees to be assessed on imports and |
| based on the existing, proven, employee and | | | | exports, state bond funds and Port of Long |
| independent driver business model used by the | | | | Beach funds. For the average trucker, a new |
| trucking industry nationwide. | | | | clean-fuel truck can be leased and maintained |
| | | | for only $500 a month, and then bought at the |
| · The Long Beach plan assures the Port | | | | end of seven years for as little as $7,000. |
| will continue to grow, prosper and create | | | | The average service life of the new trucks |
| even more jobs while giving all truck drivers | | | | can be 20 years or more. Those who wish to |
| the right to decide whether they wish to be | | | | retrofit an older truck to comply with the |
| an employee of a larger company or continue | | | | new pollution standards can get grants of up |
| to be an owner/operator and their own boss. | | | | to $20,000. |
| | | | |
| · The Long Beach Plan gives truck drivers | | | | The Long Beach Clean Trucks Program has been |
| the freedom to choose to work as employees of | | | | designed to make it feasible for individuals |
| a trucking company or as independent business | | | | to participate for the long term. The first |
| people, so long as they meet the new strict | | | | new trucks will be handed over to truckers |
| environmental and safety requirements. Many | | | | next month, beginning a process that will |
| independent drivers have made it clear they | | | | both reduce pollution and improve the health |
| will not become employee drivers as mandated | | | | of those living in the Los Angeles Basin. |
| in the Port of Los Angeles plan. | | | | We should make sure to seize this rare |
| | | | opportunity where everybody actually wins - |
| · Long Beach allows all segments of the | | | | the port, truckers and everyone living in the |
| shipping and cargo industry to retain maximum | | | | region. |
| flexibility in transporting goods, lessening | | | | |
| any potential disruption in the movement of | | | | This is solution that is supported by the |
| goods. Many businesses use a mixture of | | | | Southern California Leadership Council |
| employees and independent freelancers - port | | | | (S.C.L.C.).a business-led and sponsored |
| trucking is no different. | | | | public policy partnership representing key |
| | | | business and community leaders in all 6 |
| The Long Beach plan has been endorsed by the | | | | Southern California Counties. The Council, |
| Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the | | | | with the support of California's four former |
| Southern California Leadership Council and | | | | Governors, provides proactive leadership for |
| leading newspapers including the Los Angeles | | | | a strong economy, a vital business |
| Times and the Long Beach Press-Telegram. | | | | environment and a better quality of life for |
| | | | everyone who lives here. |
| Between enhanced truck safety and emission | | | | |