Forwarders seek support for FMC clean truck probe

Forwarders seek support for FMC clean truck probe    U.S. West Coast-based customs brokers and freight forwarders are asking the California’s Congressional delegation to support the Federal Maritime Commission’s investigation of the recently Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
   They say the clean air plan will harm small shipper in particular, and result in a loss of cargo volumes and jobs in and around the ports.
   In a letter dated Feb. 16, the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Associations said flow of commerce through the southern California ports is threatened by the program, saying it will “dramatically increase the cost of shipping through these ports, rendering them less competitive and driving cargo away from California’s maritime gateways.”
   “If the ports’ program was focused exclusively on reducing emissions of trucks serving the ports, it would have our whole-hearted support,” the letter says. But it said the Port of Los Angeles plan prohibits individuals from owning the trucks they drive and that expectations are that this will “significantly increase cost of drayage to and from the port. It will deny work to thousands of current independent owner/operator truckers.”
   The letter from Jack Hubbard, president of the council, said limits on the number of firms that forwarders and brokers deal with “will cause a lack of competitiveness, would unnecessarily raise the cost of draying cargo to and from the ports, especially to smaller shippers that do not have enough volume to command reasonable pricing.
   “It has been our experience that many of the large trucking companies now focus their efforts and best pricing on their larger customers. When there are two containers with the same urgency, we see that the larger customer gets his container first.
   Under the new rules, “small business will be stuck for delays and demurrage when their containers are bypassed because a large customer demanded that their freight moves first. The additional costs, both current and expected, and an anticipated loss of service are driving international cargo away from Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This will cost jobs.” ' Eric Johnson