Hundreds of drayage truck drivers who are part of an
organization called the Port of Oakland Truckers Association conducted a work
stoppage at the port Oct. 21 to protest what they call unsafe working
conditions and unfair compensation.
Multiple terminals at the port had their operations shut
down or slowed by the protest, which began at 5 am.
The Truckers Association, which is made up of independent
owner-operator drivers who are paid by the load and responsible for their own
gas, insurance and truck maintenance, is calling for a $50 monthly “green
emissions fee” to offset the cost of upgrading trucks to meet new exhaust
standards that are planned go into effect Jan. 1.
The group is also asking for an extension of the Jan. 1
compliance date and a congestion fee compensating truckers for hours currently
spent waiting unpaid for a load, as well as an increase in pay per cargo load,
something that hasn’t taken place in 10 years, according to the group.
“We want to put an end to inhumane treatment,” the Association
said in a statement. “We need safer conditions and better compensation.”
According to the Port of Oakland, about 6,800 drivers are
registered do business there; the Truckers Association says it has about 350 members
so far.
