The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners in the US West Coast state of California have voted to expand the Port of Long Beach's landmark Clean Trucks Program to include the smaller class 7 trucks.
Under the Clean Trucks Program, Class 8 trucks are subject to strict emission standards and older models have been progressively banned from terminals since the programme began in 2008.
Class 7 trucks, which are typically not used in drayage, have not been included in the Clean Trucks Program.
Since the introduction of the programme, some trucking companies have begun using older Class 7 models to move lighter loads like empty containers. As many as 550 of the Class 7 trucks may be operating in the San Pedro Bay area, accounting for 2 to 3% of truck moves.
This week the Board authorised Port staff to draft revisions to the Clean Trucks Program that would ban older Class 7 trucks and to draft requirements similar to those in effect for Class 8 trucks.
The Board also authorised staff to find a way to penalise trucking companies that employ "dray-offs," or switch cargo from a Clean Trucks Program compliant truck to a polluting truck once the vehicle is outside a cargo terminal.
"The use of older, more polluting Class 7 trucks and dray-offs give firms an unfair advantage over trucking companies that follow the letter and the spirit of the Clean Trucks Program," the port said.
The Clean Trucks Program has removed the oldest and dirtiest trucks from port service while reducing truck-related pollution in the port complex by 80 %, two years ahead of schedule.
Under the Clean Trucks Program, Class 8 trucks are subject to strict emission standards and older models have been progressively banned from terminals since the programme began in 2008.
Class 7 trucks, which are typically not used in drayage, have not been included in the Clean Trucks Program.
Since the introduction of the programme, some trucking companies have begun using older Class 7 models to move lighter loads like empty containers. As many as 550 of the Class 7 trucks may be operating in the San Pedro Bay area, accounting for 2 to 3% of truck moves.
This week the Board authorised Port staff to draft revisions to the Clean Trucks Program that would ban older Class 7 trucks and to draft requirements similar to those in effect for Class 8 trucks.
The Board also authorised staff to find a way to penalise trucking companies that employ "dray-offs," or switch cargo from a Clean Trucks Program compliant truck to a polluting truck once the vehicle is outside a cargo terminal.
"The use of older, more polluting Class 7 trucks and dray-offs give firms an unfair advantage over trucking companies that follow the letter and the spirit of the Clean Trucks Program," the port said.
The Clean Trucks Program has removed the oldest and dirtiest trucks from port service while reducing truck-related pollution in the port complex by 80 %, two years ahead of schedule.