Worker Profile: Luis Ceja

Each day, Luis Ceja works an average of 18 hours in order to compensate for time lost waiting in line to pick up a container from the shipyards in Long Beach. Luis, an immigrant for Mexico who has been working as a port driver for 20 years, says that his health has been deteriorating due to the long hours, but despite warnings from his doctor, working less is not an option.

"He told me that due to my high blood pressure, I have to watch what I eat and get enough rest," Luis says. "He also told me to bundle up when it is cold. You see, I often end up sleeping in my truck [so I can be at work early]. It's taking a toll."

Luis must work around the clock in order to make enough trips a day to earn what he needs to pay for his trucking expenses, his family's expenses and his own medical bills.

"Working over 14 hours a day is the rule if you want [to break even]," says Luis. "Working just eight hours a day is never going to be enough."

Luis says that he feels responsible for the diesel exhaust coming out of his freightliner’s exhaust system. He knows that the equipment to retrofit his truck is expensive and that it would be too costly for him to maintain greener technology with the little money he earns.

Luis believes that the Clean Trucks Program will work only if drivers like him become employees.  

“I hate that my truck pollutes the community. The trucking companies need to take responsibility for the cost of the new equipment because I can’t keep working the way I do just to pay for maintenance,” he says, “I miss spending time with my son.”