Ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles to Start Electronic Gate Access February 18th
The Clean Trucks Center has issued a news release announcing that the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are scheduled to start electronic gate access, beginning February 18, 2009, at the marine container terminals.
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Note that the ports are also scheduled to begin collecting the Clean Trucks Fee (CTF)1 on February 18, 2009.
Only Trucks that Meet CTP Requirements & are DTR Registered Can Enter
Starting February 18, 2009, only trucks that meet the requirements of the Clean Trucks Program (CTP)2 and that are properly registered in the Drayage Truck Registry (DTR) will be allowed to conduct business at the ports' marine container terminals.
The electronic gate access will determine whether a truck entering the marine container terminal is operating under a valid port concession and allowed entry or if the truck is prohibited by the CTP's progressive truck ban. Trucks without a properly working Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, which automatically communicates a truck's registration information, will not be allowed entry into the ports' container terminals.
(According to PortCheck sources, while the PortCheck agreement (FMC Agreement No. 201199) is under Federal Maritime Commission review until February 13, 2009, it will be the system used to operate the gate access system and collect the CTF.3)
CTP Requirements
The Clean Trucks Center notes that it is important that each truck operating on behalf of a Licensed Motor Carrier meet the following CTP requirements in order to enter the ports' marine container terminals on and after February 18th:
- The truck must operate under a valid port concession (trucks that work with several concessionaires must be registered to the LMC for whom they are making the dray when they attempt to enter a marine container terminal).
- The truck must be registered in DTR and eModal's Trucker Check.
- The $100/truck DTR truck registration fee must be paid.
- The truck must have a working RFID tag.
The LMC is responsible for ensuring that the information for each truck is entered correctly in the DTR and eModal's Trucker Check. Drivers that have recently replaced a defective RFID tag must ensure that the new RFID number is recorded in the DTR.
If a driver is experiencing an error message (red light) at the entry gate of a marine container terminal, it is important that the driver communicate the issue with their dispatcher and get the RFID tag checked.
1Under the CTP, the cargo owner is responsible for paying the CTF. The CTF is slated to be $35 per loaded TEU (20 foot equivalent) on containers that move through the terminals. Cargo moved via on-dock rail is not included. Certain diesel trucks with newer engines, as well as certain alternative fuel trucks may be exempt from the CTF (depending on the port).
2Note that the FMC has filed a lawsuit to block portions of the CTP as anti-competitive. U.S. District Court Judge Leon said he would not rule on the FMC's request for a preliminary injunction until sometime in 2009. Also pending Judge Leon's decision is the ports' motion to dismiss the FMC's complaint.
3Cargo owners can visit the PortCheck page at http://www.portcheck.org or http://www.pierpass-tmf.org for updates.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/26/09 news, 09012605, for BP summary of LA/LB ports set to begin collecting the CTF starting on February 18th.)
Clean Trucks Center news release (sent on 02/02/09) available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com