Los Angeles/Long Beach
From Clean To Clunker
The Economics of Emissions Control
Less than a week before the trucking industry puts the U.S. EPA award-winning LA Clean Trucks Program on trial, a new report issued by several reputable "blue-green" organizations warns that Southern California trucking companies must resume financial responsibility for their fleet or the new engines will pollute. Port drivers who lack sufficient resources to properly maintain their company's clean trucks and are often forced to skimp on repairs stood alongside their environmental, community and labor advocates to present "From Clean to Clunker: The Economics of Emissions Control" to the Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners.
Learn more:
- Read the press release (PDF)
- Download the report (PDF)
Ports Campaign Takes DC by Storm
The Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports took Washington, DC by storm the first week of May! While there were many important events that took place during the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference, most of our work was centered on the Congressional hearing focused on port trucking. The hearing marks a critical turning point in the public conversation on this issue. During the course of the hearing members of Congress asked tough question and it became clear that port drivers are being forced to bear the costs of clean air, while the trucking industry is getting a free ride.
Underscoring the tone of the hearing are the media reports from that week:
Ports of Contention
Roll Call, May 5th, 2010
Plan for Ports Program
La Opinion, May 6th, 2010
LA Port Official Pushed for Federal Fix to Clean Truck Program
E&E Daily, May 6th, 2010
Congress to Scrutinize Harbor Truck Leasing
Journal of Commerce, May 6th, 2010
Leasing Abuses at Ports Must be Addressed
Land Line Magazine, May 6th, 2010
CA Ports’ Truck Lease-to-Own Deal Merit Investigation
Transport Topics, May 11th, 2010
Trucking Industry Is Suing Port of Los Angeles
Marketplace- American Public Radio, Sarah Gardner
The trucking industry is suing the Port of Los Angeles over a program to clean up trucks. The case could affect cargo and trucking industries all over the U.S.
...We talked to one L.A. driver who gave only his last name. Lopez insists the burden of paying for cleaner trucks should rest on trucking companies, not drivers worried about their next paycheck.
LOPEZ: Right now it's bad.
Lopez says before the ATA's injunction he got hired as an employee driver making a salary more like $37,000 a year. The company he worked for bought new, clean trucks and paid for gas, insurance and upkeep. But after the injunction, the firm went back to hiring contractors and transferred the costs of those clean trucks onto them. Lopez says many have to now lease the new trucks under arrangements where they end up netting only a few hundred bucks a week.
LOPEZ: There's people sleeping in the trucks. They're not paying rent, they're basically starving. I've seen drivers sleeping in a day cab, in two seats, because they can't make it.
