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Long Beach Port Plan Cleans the Air and Keeps Economic Engine Running

Pollution from Long Beach and Losemission standards and new security
Angeles ports combined is a seriousrequirements being imposed by the U.S.
threat to public health and somethingTransportation Security Administration
needs to be done, fast. Long Beach Cityon all truckers who regularly service
Council last nigth ( July 8, 2009) votedthe ports, some current drivers won't
6-0 to reconsider a Clean Trucksqualify and will leave the industry.
Program.That will result in fewer drivers
More than 90 per of the estimated 16,800serving the ports and lead to an
trucks that service the two ports areincrease in the hourly rates paid to
driven by independent owner/operatorsdrivers. That's a market driven solution
who work on an as-needed basis andthat places the cost of doing business
respond to calls to pick up or deliverright where it belongs: in the cargo
goods to the two ports.owners' hands.
Rather than risking a trucking industryThe Clean Trucks Program will ban 1988
lawsuit by imposing an employee driverand older trucks after October 1 and
only mandate like the Port of Losprogressively ban all trucks that don't
Angeles, the Long Beach plan, stronglymeet 2007 emission standards by 2012.
backed by Mayor Foster, allows bothTo assist drivers who agree to scrap
independent drivers and trucking companytheir dirty trucks, the port will offer
employee drivers to continue to servean 80 percent grant or loan toward the
the Port of Long Beach. Why?purchase or lease of a new truck.
· The Long Beach plan can move quicklyThe subsidized program will be financed
to greatly improve air quality becauseby new fees to be assessed on imports
it is based on the existing, proven,and exports, state bond funds and Port
employee and independent driver businessof Long Beach funds. For the average
model used by the trucking industrytrucker, a new clean-fuel truck can be
nationwide.leased and maintained for only $500 a
· The Long Beach plan assures the Portmonth, and then bought at the end of
will continue to grow, prosper andseven years for as little as $7,000. The
create even more jobs while giving allaverage service life of the new trucks
truck drivers the right to decidecan be 20 years or more. Those who wish
whether they wish to be an employee of ato retrofit an older truck to comply
larger company or continue to be anwith the new pollution standards can get
owner/operator and their own boss.grants of up to $20,000.
· The Long Beach Plan gives truckThe Long Beach Clean Trucks Program has
drivers the freedom to choose to work asbeen designed to make it feasible for
employees of a trucking company or asindividuals to participate for the long
independent business people, so long asterm. The first new trucks will be
they meet the new strict environmentalhanded over to truckers next month,
and safety requirements. Manybeginning a process that will both
independent drivers have made it clearreduce pollution and improve the health
they will not become employee drivers asof those living in the Los Angeles
mandated in the Port of Los AngelesBasin. We should make sure to seize
plan.this rare opportunity where everybody
· Long Beach allows all segments of theactually wins - the port, truckers and
shipping and cargo industry to retaineveryone living in the region.
maximum flexibility in transportingThis is solution that is supported by
goods, lessening any potentialthe Southern California Leadership
disruption in the movement of goods.Council (S.C.L.C.).a business-led and
Many businesses use a mixture ofsponsored public policy partnership
employees and independent freelancers -representing key business and community
port trucking is no different.leaders in all 6 Southern California
The Long Beach plan has been endorsed byCounties. The Council, with the support
the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce andof California's four former Governors,
the Southern California Leadershipprovides proactive leadership for a
Council and leading newspapers includingstrong economy, a vital business
the Los Angeles Times and the Long Beachenvironment and a better quality of life
Press-Telegram.for everyone who lives here.
Between enhanced truck safety and



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