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