US court denies independent LA truckers fast-track hearing

THE American Trucking Associations' (ATA) legal challenge to the Port of Los Angeles' Clean Truck Programme will remain in legal limbo until late spring or summer, reports TruckingInfo, of Irvine, California.

The US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said there was no need for an expedited hearing, because last month's the preliminary injunction prohibits the port from banning independent owner-operators - 90 per cent of the total - and closing to port to all but employee truck drivers.

The ban is favoured by environmental groups because larger companies are more likely to meet the rising demands of the incoming clean air regulations and by the Teamsters union because larger trucking companies are more likely to provide members than owner operators.

ATA had claimed irreparable harm to its members who would have had to begin hiring drivers next year in order to meet the port's December 31, 2011 deadline to begin phasing-in employee drivers.

The port had planned to require drayage companies to convert to an all employee workforce over three years: 20 per cent by the end of next year, 66 per cent by the end of 2012 and 100 per cent by the end of 2013.
(Source:www.schednet.com)