Long Beach approves Clean Truck provisions

Long Beach approves Clean Truck provisions    The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved an expansion of its Clean Trucks Programs, including provisions to the smaller ‘Class 7’ trucks and penalties for “dray-offs” — the practice of switching cargo from a ‘clean’ to a ‘dirty’ truck within the harbor district.
   The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach both indicated in mid-December that they would try to close loopholes in the program.
   Class 7 trucks are smaller and less powerful than ‘Class 8’ trucks, which are typically used in the movement of shipping containers to and from ports. 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 program began in 2008. Class 7 trucks now will be added to the progressive ban starting July 1, 2011.
   The program 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 of the Class 7 trucks may be operating in the San Pedro Bay area, accounting for 2 percent to 3 percent 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 harbor district.