Clean trucks group files with STB to pool resources

Clean trucks group files with STB to pool resources    A group of Southern California drayage operators has filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board to pool trucking equipment to better comply with the requirements of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles' Clean Truck Program.
   The Clean Truck Coalition comprises 10 family-owned drayage firms that earlier this year committed to upgrade fleets to meet the ports' aggressive clean air plans. Part of the plan is a ban on all pre-2006 by Jan. 1, 2012.
   As of October 2008, the ports began banning pre-1988 trucks. Since February, the ports have been collecting a fee on any truck built before 2007, with the proceeds of the fee collection used to help trucking companies finance newer models.
   The Clean Truck Coalition's application was filed June 3, and comments on it are due by July 27.
   'Applicants propose to pool and/or divide specialized clean truck equipment and corresponding traffic, as necessary, and to use collective purchasing options through a central buying mechanism for fuel, equipment and materials to manage operations costs,' the STB filing said. 'As a result of the agreement, applicants would be part of the Clean Trucks Program, an environmental program aimed at reducing air pollution caused by the trucks used to transport cargo to and from the harbor facilities of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.'
   The STB allows pooling agreements 'that are voluntarily entered into by carriers, provided that the pooling or division of traffic, services, or earnings will be in the interest of better service to the public or of economy of operation and will not unreasonably restrain competition.'