CLEAN TRUCKS * USA - Truckers Launch Appeal

ATA filed opening brief in appeal opposing concession requirements

Los Angeles,CAL,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, Bill Mongelluzzo -Jan 3, 2011: -- The American Trucking Associations filed its opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, charging that the U.S. District Court in September erroneously upheld the concession requirements in the Port of Los Angeles' clean-truck plan... The case is of national significance because it could play an important role in determining whether port authorities can regulate harbor trucking and promote the unionization of drivers... ATA stated that a major concern involves the impact of the Port of Los Angeles concession requirements on the prices, routes and services of motor carriers. State and local entities are prohibited from regulating motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce... ATA also questioned if the district court erroneously exempted the port from federal preemption law based on the port's market participant defense. The Port of Los Angeles argued that it is exempt from federal preemption law because it is a participant in the international port industry and is attempting to protect its commercial interests... Also, ATA questioned whether the port's concession requirements fall under the motor carrier safety exception of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, and whether the requirements are truly responsive to safety concerns... (Photo from sarahpalintruthsquad: Idling trucks at the Port of Los Angeles )

* Oregon - Clean-Trucks Program Starts Up

Seattle,OR,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by Bill Mongelluzzo -Jan 3, 2011: -- Program bans all 1993 and older trucks from port service... The Port of Seattle's clean-truck program went into effect over the weekend, with all motor carriers required to register their vehicles on the Drayage Truck Registry and all drivers required to display a Green Gateway sticker on their vehicles in order to gain access to marine terminals... The program, which is designed to support the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, bans all 1993 and older trucks from port service. Since the registry was opened last year, some 4,000 trucks and 800 motor carriers have registered...  (Photo by JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES: A column of trucks wait at the Port of Seattle)