On May 5th, Congress will be holding a hearing about the impact of the LA Clean Truck Program on port trucking. The American Trucking Associations filed a federal lawsuit after the Clean Truck Program was set up in 2008.
The program would require freight haulers to hire employees rather than independent drivers by 2013. Supports of Clean Truck say the burden of buying and maintaining cleaner-burning bigrigs should fall on the companies, not the drivers.
The ATA says the employee mandate will put small companies out of business and increase consumer costs.
The Daily Breeze article reports:
“This system has resulted in owner-operator drivers earning $12 per hour with no kind of workers’ compensation,” said Melissa Lin Perrella, an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is helping the port defend the plan.
“Because of this system, independent drivers have no choice but to purchase the oldest, dirtiest trucks and barely take care of them.”
Attorneys representing Los Angeles also said the employee mandate would improve safety at the port because trucking companies would have to show greater accountability for drivers and big rigs.
The Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports has encouraged residents to write to their congress representative, showing their support for the Clean Truck Program. They have created many videos of residents, workers, and organizers in the South Bay.
Jennifer Ganata, of Communities for a Better Environment, Wilmington.
Mr. Lara, Science Teacher at Banning High School, Wilmington
Port Truck Driver and Family
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