Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach Approve New Truck Clean Air Standards
Officials with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., have approved measures that are designed to reduce air pollution from new trucks just entering drayage service, specifically those that go in and out of the marine terminals.
Beginning Oct. 1, new trucks not currently registered in the Ports Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR) must be from the 2014 model year or newer. This additional requirement does not apply to trucks that are already registered in PDTR and are current on their annual registration dues.
The neighboring ports coordinate on truck standards and other air quality measures as part of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.
Port officials said that reducing air pollution from trucks is playing a significant role in making the air at the ports cleaner. Since 2005, the ports said overall emissions of diesel particulate matter have dropped 87%, sulfur dioxide is down 97% and nitrogen oxide levels have fallen 56%.
The officials also said they plan to eventually waive the annual PDTR registration fee for zero and near-zero emissions trucks. No date has been set for that policy change, but officials said it is their goal that by 2035 all trucks operating at those facilities will have zero emissions.
