The Port of Long Beach, Board of Harbor Commissioners and city officials gathered last Friday on Terminal Island to kick off their Clean Trucks Program, which will go into effect on October 1, and is expected to reduce air pollution production by 80% within five years.
“The time for talk is over,” said Jim Hankla, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. “The time to get things done is now.”
Truck drivers also believe that it’s time to get things done, and picketed the event in protest of the Port of Long Beach’s plan to hold drivers accountable for the price of their own new trucks – the least of which will cost an independently contracted driver $24,400 of their own money. The benefits are that the new trucks are much more environment-friendly, the drawback is that many drivers cannot afford to incur such personal costs, but seemingly have no choice. By October 1, trucks built before 1988 will no longer be allowed for operation.
The Port of Los Angeles has a similar plan, but will allow only company-hired drivers to do business, meaning that trucking companies will cover the purchase, fuel and maintenance of the fuel-efficient trucks.
Organizers gather with chants of “Clean trucks, yes! Bad loans, no!” before the press conference begins.
More than 16,000 truck drivers were invited via e-mail to the conference. Many showed up to protest the plan and express their desire to be employed by trucking companies rather than operate as independent contractors responsible for their own costs.
“LONG BEACH,” reads one sign, “We are ready to drive clean trucks AS EMPLOYEES.”
Port of Long Beach Deputy Executive Director Christopher Lytle opens the ceremony, shadowed by one of the new clean trucks. Lytle called Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, “…our most ardent supporter.”
“You need to reflect on what an extraordinary program this is,” said Mayor Foster.
Protestors were told they would be able to enter the conference, but were stopped by police who said that the signs they carried represented a threat.
Protesting truck drivers chant in opposition of the Port of Long Beach’s Clean Trucks Program.
Protestors plead their case to officers, who refused the picketers entrance to the Clean Trucks conference.
Sign-ups for the Port of Long Beach’s program are on the left. Sign-ups for the Port of Los Angeles’ program are on the right.