New York, Newark seek local port truck regulation

New York, Newark seek local port truck regulation

Bloomberg

   New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker announced Sunday support for clean truck programs in ports to reduce pollution, and called for altering the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) to allow local regulation of port truckers.
   In a press release put out by the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports on the West Coast, and the Coalition for Healthy Ports on the Eastern Seaboard, Bloomberg was quoted as saying “today, I am calling on Congress to support legislation that will empower ports to implement the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program, an innovative initiative that will create good, green jobs and improve the quality of the air that New Yorkers breathe.'

Booker

   'Newark's residents and port workers disproportionately bear hazards from pollution caused by outdated diesel trucks that transfer cargo shipments,' said Mayor Booker in the same press statement. He praised a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey program to replace more than 600 of the oldest most polluting trucks with newer models, but said “much more needs to be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. I urge Congress to support changes in federal legislation that would enhance the ability of our nation's ports to effectuate policies to improve air quality and protect public health.'
   James P. Hoffa, general president of the Teamsters, said, 'I am proud to stand with the Mayors Bloomberg and Booker today to call on our elected leaders in Washington to update the antiquated motor carrier act so we can clean up this dirty, inefficient industry once and for all.'
   In March, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the American Trucking Association and enjoined implementation of mandatory concession agreements for drayage trucking services at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach because it found that the agreements were preempted by the FAAAA.
   Since then, legislation has been proposed that would allow local governments to regulate the harbor drayage industry, eliminating federal preemption of state and local regulation.

Boyce

   Clayton Boyce, an ATA spokesman, said the press release was “yet another iteration of labor’s and politicians’ big lie about the clean truck program. The trucking industry supports the clean truck program and it has succeeded without any change to FAAAA. The only motivation to change the FAAAA is to give a political payoff to the Teamsters, as illustrated by the big wet kisses that Jimmy Hoffa is giving big city mayors for their spending of taxpayers’ dollars to support the Teamsters.'
   He added: “The only reason Teamsters want to change the FAAAA is so cities can outlaw owner operators and destroy their businesses and replace them with Teamsters.”
   Meanwhile, the National Industrial Transportation League said Friday in its newsletter that it “is working with an industry coalition working to stop amendments to the FAAAA.” It said it is scheduled to join in a meeting this week to discuss the issue with the staff of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.