Long Beach approves Clean Truck provisions

THE Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners has approved an expansion of its Clean Trucks Programme, including provisions to the smaller Class 7 trucks and penalties for dray-offs - the practice of switching cargo from "clean" to "dirty" trucks within the harbour district.

American Shipper said the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach had indicated in December that they would try to close loopholes in the programme.

Class 7 trucks are smaller and less powerful than Class 8 trucks, which are typically used to move shipping containers to and from ports.

Under the programme, Class 8 trucks are subject to strict emission standards and older models have been progressively banned from terminals since the programme began in 2008.

Now Class 7 trucks will be added to the progressive ban starting in July 1. The programme banned virtually all Class 8 trucks that did not meet 2007 emission standards last year.

Since then, some trucking companies have begun using older Class 7 models to move lighter loads like empty containers.

As many as 550 Class 7 trucks may be operating in LA's San Pedro Bay area, accounting for two per cent to three per cent of truck moves, the port said.

The board also approved charging cargo owners a Clean Trucks fee if their containers are observed being switched from a clean truck to a banned truck within the harbour district.
(Source:www.schednet.com)