Port begins Clean Trucks fee

“The truck financing fee is a critical, long planned part of our Clean Trucks Program to protect public health and improve air quality and security.” The Clean Trucks Fee is expected to raise about $1 million a day or about $1 billion over the next few years at both San Pedro Bay ports to help finance the replacement of many of the 17,000 trucks that are a leading source of air pollution in Southern California. “With the current credit crisis, it will be impossible for most truckers to replace all their trucks without our financial assistance program,” Steinke said. Collection of the fee was scheduled to begin in November, but was delayed twice due to Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) review. Beginning 1 October 2008, the Port took the step of banning the most polluting trucks – the 1988 and older vehicles – the initial ban in a series planned under the Clean Trucks Program. On 1 January 2010, the Port will ban 1993 and older trucks, and unretrofitted model year 1994 to 2003 trucks. By January 2012 all vehicles 2006 and older will be banned. The West Coast Marine Terminal Operator Agreement (WCMTOA) created the not-for-profit company PortCheck to collect the Clean Trucks Fee for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The money collected will be transferred to the ports to provide financial assistance for the replacement of thousands of trucks during the next three years.