Thursday, December 3, 2009

Coalition Turns Over Oakland Drayage Fleet Ahead of Port Deadline

A coalition of importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers has announced that its fleet members servicing the Port of Oakland have met the emissions standards under the port's Clean Truck Management Plan set to take effect Jan. 1.

Coalition for Responsible Transportation members GSC Logistics and California Multimodal, according to a CRT release, have deployed over 200 cleaner-burning trucks meeting the port standards. According to the California Air Resources Board, these trucks will reduce diesel particulate matter by 85 percent per mile driven.

"These companies demonstrate how the trucking industry is really stepping up to meet the new environmental standards," said Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin. "These cleaner trucks will significantly reduce diesel particulate emissions and clean the air for a healthier community."

"For GSC, protecting the environment is not just a company initiative, it is our responsibility as members of the community to work toward reversing the threats of pollution and climate change," said Andy Garcia, chairman and executive vice president of GSC Logistics.

According to the CRT, over 90 percent of the clean trucks deployed by GSC Logistics and California Multimodal have been privately financed through a financial support model that includes the trucking company, truck driver, and the importers and exporters who have made financial commitments to use the cleanest available trucks in the marketplace.

Similar private financing moves in response to the Southern California ports' truck programs have seen the industry turn over more than 8,000 vehicles in the Long Beach and Los Angeles drayage fleet.