Truckers face gate fees under proposed L.A.-Long Beach ports? plan

Truckers face gate fees under proposed L.A.-Long Beach portsÆ plan A plan under development by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles would license drayage company access to the ports and fine unlicensed trucks to help pay for a massive port-developed truck replacement program.
   Under the proposed plan, which would take effect next year, only drayage companies that have applied for and obtained special contracts would be allowed to operate within the ports without paying an impact fee at terminal gates. A proposed range for the fee was given as $34 to $54 per transit, according to the Cunningham Report. Companies without a contract would be liable for the fee each time one of their drivers transits a gate. Trucks serving non-container terminals are expected to face similar rules.
   A first glimpse of the plan was presented Thursday at the first meeting of the Clean Air Action Plan Implementation Stakeholders Task Force, formed specifically to obtain input on the truck replacement program and other port environmental programs. The 24-member group includes representatives from the ports, maritime industry, labor and environmental groups.
   The ports will also offer a subsidy — funded by the impact fee — to companies willing to replace or retrofit their older vehicles to meet clean air standards.
   The impact fee, port operating funds, and potential state bond money would provide the ports with up to $1.8 billion to subsidize the purchase of the new and retrofitted trucks.
   The plan calls for the impact fee to be in place for five years until the estimated 16,000 trucks currently servicing the port are replaced. Once the fee is removed, only companies with the special contracts would be allowed to operate in the ports.
   To obtain the contracts, drayage firms would have to meet certain minimum standards set up by the ports. A key criteria for companies seeking the special contracts is the use of by-the-hour employee drivers instead by-the-load independent contractors.
   While the ports have said they will take the group's opinions under consideration when finalizing the plan, the task force's main role is in a non-voting advisory capacity.