Environment

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have made a dramatic pledge to halve the air pollution they produce by 2011. But port officials warn that "by far, the single most challenging component" in meeting that target is the failing port trucking system. By working together to fix that broken system, we can clean our air and create good, stable jobs.

The Burning Problem at Our Ports

The San Pedro Bay ports are the largest source of air pollution in Southern California-spewing more soot and smog than half a million cars, a refinery and a power plant combined. Trucks account for 30% - 40% of port-related pollution, and port trucks tend to be the oldest and most polluting trucks on the road.

• Dangers of Diesel: Truck exhaust has severe health effects, including higher risks of cancer, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. One study found the number of diesel-related premature deaths in California exceeds the number of homicides.
• Community in Crisis: Residents near the ports are plagued by asthma and bronchitis, and have some of the highest incidences of cancer in the region.
• Inefficient System: The key problem with port trucking is its inefficiency. The market is fragmented between more than 600 companies-many of them fly-by-night outfits-that lack the resources to buy or maintain new, less-polluting rigs.
• Idle Time, Unclean Air: Because the trucking system is so inefficient, drivers spend up to half their time waiting at the ports-with engines idling-to transfer loads. Port trucks spew nearly half their cancer-causing soot emissions while idling.

Making a Clean Sweep

The current port trucking system fails workers, neighbors and everyone who breathes the air in Southern California. The solution is to create contractual relationships between the ports and trucking firms. The ports would establish sensible standards that trucking companies must meet in order to do business. This new trucking system will promote:

• Clean Technology: New equipment exists that can reduce truck emissions by 90%. Under the new standards, companies would have to have the resources to buy and maintain low-polluting technology.
• Efficient Operations: Better coordination between ports and truckers means drivers will spend less time waiting and spewing exhaust. Already, increased coordination is proving effective in the new PierPASS program, which is easing port congestion by shifting more truck traffic to nighttime hours.
• Community Health: Benefits to local residents will be profound, with soot from port trucks projected to drop 80% over five years.