By Karen Robes Meeks
California’s independent truckers scored a win last week when US Southern District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez granted a preliminary injunction to halt the state’s enforcement of a new employment classification test against motor carriers until a final judgment is rendered, the California Trucking Association (CTA) announced.
“This ruling is a significant win for California’s more than 70,000 independent owner-operators and CTA members who have worked as independent truckers for decades, and who have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to own their own vehicle and comply with California’s strict environmental guidelines and regulations over the years,” said CTA CEO Shawn Yadon.
The association filed the preliminary injunction motion as part of its lawsuit challenging Assembly Bill 5, which was to take effect Jan. 1.
In his 23-page Jan. 16 decision, Benitez said “There is little question that the state of California has encroached on Congress’ territory by eliminating motor carriers’ choice to use independent contractor drivers, a choice at the very heart of interstate trucking. In so doing, California disregards Congress’ intent to deregulate interstate trucking, instead adopting a law that produces the patchwork of state regulations Congress sought to prevent. With AB-5, California runs off the road and into the preemption ditch of the FAAAA (Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994).”
For more on the decision, visit https://californiatruckingassoc.growthzoneapp.com/ap/CloudFile/Download/QLmzA4Wr.
Showing posts with label California Trucking Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California Trucking Association. Show all posts
Friday, January 24, 2020
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Oakland Port: Trade Transformed by Local Growers
By Mark Edward Nero
Agricultural export tonnage has grown a stunning 233 percent at the Port of Oakland in the last five years, resulting in a transformation of the port’s trade profile into a leading gateway to Asia – especially for California growers.
That was the message delivered Jan. 20 by a port executive to members of the California Trucking Association.
“Agricultural commodities now account for 53 percent of our total export tonnage,” Oakland port Business Development Manager Beth Frisher told motor carriers at their annual membership meeting last week in Monterey, Calif. “And California growers are producing the lion’s share of that amount.”
Frisher said that in 2016, farm exports shipped from Oakland totaled 3.9 million metric tons, which was up from 1.2 million metric tons in 2012. She added that California producers accounted for 70 percent of agricultural exports last year.
She listed three reasons for the surge in farm exports:
• Asia’s growing middle class is clamoring for high-quality US farm products.
• Oakland is the last West Coast port of call before ships head back to Asia. That means perishables spend less time on the ocean if they’re loaded in Oakland, which extends shelf life.
• Oakland is the closest port for growers in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Salinas and Napa valleys who export to Asia.
Fruits and nuts are the leading agricultural commodity shipped from Oakland, Frisher said, followed by meats, beverages and spirits, including California wines.
Japan, China and South Korea are the top three trading partners for Oakland’s agricultural exports, according to data.
Oakland reported a 10.5 percent increase in total export volume last year, with exports accounting for 53 percent of the port’s overall containerized cargo volume, and imports accounting for the rest. Oakland is one of just a few US ports weighted more heavily toward exports.
In her remarks, Frisher said 2017 could be another year of export growth – especially in agricultural commodities. Heavy rains this winter have eased five years of drought, she said. The result should be bountiful harvests next fall.
Agricultural export tonnage has grown a stunning 233 percent at the Port of Oakland in the last five years, resulting in a transformation of the port’s trade profile into a leading gateway to Asia – especially for California growers.
That was the message delivered Jan. 20 by a port executive to members of the California Trucking Association.
“Agricultural commodities now account for 53 percent of our total export tonnage,” Oakland port Business Development Manager Beth Frisher told motor carriers at their annual membership meeting last week in Monterey, Calif. “And California growers are producing the lion’s share of that amount.”
Frisher said that in 2016, farm exports shipped from Oakland totaled 3.9 million metric tons, which was up from 1.2 million metric tons in 2012. She added that California producers accounted for 70 percent of agricultural exports last year.
She listed three reasons for the surge in farm exports:
• Asia’s growing middle class is clamoring for high-quality US farm products.
• Oakland is the last West Coast port of call before ships head back to Asia. That means perishables spend less time on the ocean if they’re loaded in Oakland, which extends shelf life.
• Oakland is the closest port for growers in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Salinas and Napa valleys who export to Asia.
Fruits and nuts are the leading agricultural commodity shipped from Oakland, Frisher said, followed by meats, beverages and spirits, including California wines.
Japan, China and South Korea are the top three trading partners for Oakland’s agricultural exports, according to data.
Oakland reported a 10.5 percent increase in total export volume last year, with exports accounting for 53 percent of the port’s overall containerized cargo volume, and imports accounting for the rest. Oakland is one of just a few US ports weighted more heavily toward exports.
In her remarks, Frisher said 2017 could be another year of export growth – especially in agricultural commodities. Heavy rains this winter have eased five years of drought, she said. The result should be bountiful harvests next fall.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Logistics Roundtable Event Set for Sept. 3
By Mark Edward Nero
Luncheon tickets are available for the “Leadership in
Logistics Roundtable” event scheduled for Thurs., Sept. 3 in Seal Beach,
California.
The event, sponsored by the California Trucking Association,
features a roundtable discussion on critical issues facing the movement of
goods, supply chains and other logistical matters with US Rep. Alan Lowenthal
and Federal Maritime Commission Chair Mario Cordero, a former president of the
Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission.
Also during the event, the first ever Josh Owen Memorial
“Leadership in Logistics” award will be given to Fran Inman, a member of the
California Transportation Commission.
The scheduled featured speaker is former Major League
Baseball pitcher Jim Abbott, who will present a discussion on leadership
values. Lunch-only tickets are $75 and tables are still available for purchase.
The event is being held at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3901
Lampson Ave., Seal Beach.
To purchase tickets or for more information, email California
Trucking Association executive Alex Cherin at Alex@ekapr.com.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Trucking Industry Slams New Federal Regulations
The American Trucking Associations and other industry advocates are slamming newly announced federal regulations that govern the hours long-haul drivers can be on the road, and how long they’re allowed to drive each week.
The regulations, once enforced, are expected to have at least a small effect on the work schedules of drayage truckers who haul goods between West Coast ports and other regions of the US and Canada.
Under the new rules, which were announced Dec. 22 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truckers can’t drive more than 11 hours in a single day, nor be on the road more than 70 hours a week. Under the current rules, drivers can work up to 82 hours within a seven-day period.
The new rules also decree that two days a week, drivers cannot start their shifts between 1 am and 5 am. It’s this particular provision that has raised the ire of trucking industry advocates, particularly since a number of drivers prefer to work early to beat traffic, particularly in California, where traffic snarls are frequent on freeways that service the ports.
“It makes no sense to impose rules that will force more trucks onto the roads at peak drive times thus raising the risk of crashes and increasing congestion and emissions from all vehicles,” Michael Campbell, executive vice president and CEO of the California Trucking Association, said in a statement.
Commercial truck drivers and companies have to comply with the final rule by July 1, 2013, according to the FMCSA. Companies that break the 11-hour driving limit rule by three or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense. Drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 per offense.
The American Trucking Associations has also slammed the regulations, saying they would likely increase the risk of accidents. According to the ATA, the largest percentage of truck-involved crashes takes place between 6 am and noon.
This, according to the organizations, means the new rules would put more trucks on the road during the statistically riskiest time of the day.
“This rule will put more truck traffic onto the roadways during morning rush hour, frustrate other motorists and increase the risk of crashes,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said in a statement.
“By mandating drivers include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. as part of a ‘restart’ period, FMCSA is assuring that every day as America is commuting to work, thousands of truck drivers will be joining them, creating additional and unnecessary congestion and putting motorists and those professional drivers at greater risk,” Graves said.
But US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement that the new rules will help protect drivers.
“Trucking is a difficult job, and a big rig can be deadly when a driver is tired and overworked,” he said. “This final rule will help prevent fatigue-related truck crashes and save lives.”
The regulations, once enforced, are expected to have at least a small effect on the work schedules of drayage truckers who haul goods between West Coast ports and other regions of the US and Canada.
Under the new rules, which were announced Dec. 22 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truckers can’t drive more than 11 hours in a single day, nor be on the road more than 70 hours a week. Under the current rules, drivers can work up to 82 hours within a seven-day period.
The new rules also decree that two days a week, drivers cannot start their shifts between 1 am and 5 am. It’s this particular provision that has raised the ire of trucking industry advocates, particularly since a number of drivers prefer to work early to beat traffic, particularly in California, where traffic snarls are frequent on freeways that service the ports.
“It makes no sense to impose rules that will force more trucks onto the roads at peak drive times thus raising the risk of crashes and increasing congestion and emissions from all vehicles,” Michael Campbell, executive vice president and CEO of the California Trucking Association, said in a statement.
Commercial truck drivers and companies have to comply with the final rule by July 1, 2013, according to the FMCSA. Companies that break the 11-hour driving limit rule by three or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense. Drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 per offense.
The American Trucking Associations has also slammed the regulations, saying they would likely increase the risk of accidents. According to the ATA, the largest percentage of truck-involved crashes takes place between 6 am and noon.
This, according to the organizations, means the new rules would put more trucks on the road during the statistically riskiest time of the day.
“This rule will put more truck traffic onto the roadways during morning rush hour, frustrate other motorists and increase the risk of crashes,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said in a statement.
“By mandating drivers include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. as part of a ‘restart’ period, FMCSA is assuring that every day as America is commuting to work, thousands of truck drivers will be joining them, creating additional and unnecessary congestion and putting motorists and those professional drivers at greater risk,” Graves said.
But US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement that the new rules will help protect drivers.
“Trucking is a difficult job, and a big rig can be deadly when a driver is tired and overworked,” he said. “This final rule will help prevent fatigue-related truck crashes and save lives.”
