NRS deploys clean truck fleet in Los Angeles and Long Beach

National Retail Systems, Inc. (NRS), a provider of global logistics services to America's retailers, has deployed 115 Clean Air pier trucks to comply with the Clean Truck Program requirements scheduled to take effect tomorrow at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Under Clean Truck Program provisions, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach have created a not-for-profit company called PortCheck to collect a $70 per 40-foot shipping container fee for shipments entering and leaving the port on a non U.S. EPA 2007 compliant truck. Cargo owners will be responsible for paying the Clean Truck Fee beginning tomorrow, payable by credit card or electronic funds transfer, before a loaded container can enter or leave any marine terminal in Los Angeles or Long Beach.

We primarily serve retailers and our customers just can't incur extra supply chain costs in this economy, said Raymond Wisniewski, President & COO of NRS. That's why we have been planning since early last year to ensure a smooth transition for our customers. Using our new Clean Air fleet, they will avoid the fees and also help to improve the environment in Los Angeles and Long Beach. NRS is fully prepared to comply with the Clean Truck Program regulations. Last year, the company applied to participate in the Port of Los Angeles incentive program and immediately began privately financing the acquisition of new trucks that exceed the standards of the Clean Truck Program. These trucks are in full compliance with 2007 guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that exempt them from Clean Truck Program fees. NRS is operating the trucks with company-hired drivers in cooperation with local labor unions.

NRS has deployed a Clean Truck pier fleet with capacity to handle 70,000 TEU imports per year, with plans to increase the fleet to handle 300,000 TEU imports per year by the end of 2009.

Our new fleet, while reducing cost for our customers, also aligns with our long-term commitment to provide green logistics solutions for retailers, Wisniewski said.

As a partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership, NRS last year received the highest possible score of 1.25 during EPA's SmartWay FLEET performance evaluation. This places NRS among the transportation industry's environmental performance leaders according to the EPA.

NRS has been well established in Southern California for 25 years as an innovator and leader in DC bypass, cross-dock and value-added distribution services, including ticketing, pick and pack, labeling, inventory

replenishment and warehouse management. The company operates an automated distribution center and additional facilities totaling 1.2 million square feet within a 10-mile range of the Port of Los Angeles. This strategic position allows NRS to integrate pier drayage directly into the retail supply chain, offering customers a turn-key distribution solution for speed and flexibility supported by NRS's real-time visibility system.

Source: Transportweekly