Congress is considering for the third time in three years a Clean Ports Act, a measure that would allow ports greater control over trucks serving their facilities.
If passed, the bill would give ports authority to implement clean truck programs. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., on Aug. 1 introduced the bill in their respective chambers.
“Without a change in federal law, ports might not be able to enact simple measures, such as the requirement that motor carriers use off-street parking,” Nadler said. ”Or that a truck display a placard with a phone number for the public to call regarding truck safety.”
The legislation stems from American Trucking Associations’ litigation against the Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program’s concession agreements. The association did not dispute CTP’s ban on older trucks and other environmental components of the program. Instead it challenged the agreements required of carriers, which included barring owner-operators and mandating placard and off-street parking requirements for trucks.
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