Worker Profile: Ramon Barragan Hernandez

It's been almost five years since Ramon Barragan Hernandez began working as a trucker at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, yet despite his hard work the American Dream still eludes him.

Ramon came to the United States in 2001 after working most of his life in the Tijuana port system, unloading cargo from ships bringing imported goods to Mexico. Unable to make ends meet with the low wages paid in his country, Ramon brought his family to California expecting to earn more and save for the future.

But port drivers like Ramon have been let down by a chaotic port system, which forces them to wait in line without compensation for three to six hours a day in order to pick up a container from the shipyard. At less than $50 a trip transporting a container to a distribution center, Ramon has to make enough trips to pay rent, put food on the table, maintain his truck, and keep up with the high cost of diesel. It's a concern that plagues him daily.

"We barely make it," he says. "We can't keep up with all our expenses. I want to buy my own home, but I haven't been able to save for a down payment. I can't save for anything period. It's a sad reality."

Having the trucking companies pay for the expensive maintenance of the fleets, instead of leaving it to the port drivers, gives Ramon peace of mind.

“I support the Clean Trucks Program because we can’t do it anymore. We can’t continue paying for the diesel, insurance, and tires,” Ramon says.