Dirty trucks to be barred from LA, Long Beach ports

LOS ANGELES — Older trucks built before 1989 could be banned from entering the Port of Los Angeles, starting Oct. 1, 2008.

The Clean Trucks Program, which will reportedly affect about 16,000 trucks that currently work the port, will eventually be extended to the Port of Long Beach as well.

According to the Long Beach Press Telegram, all other trucks will face increasingly stricter engine emissions regulations from now until Jan. 1, 2012.

The policy was approved last week by the Harbor Commission. It will now go to the Los Angeles City Council for final consideration.

The Long Beach harbor commission is expected to greenlight a similar measure this week.

To ensure compliance, all trucks must be registered with the ports by June 30, 2008, and equipped with an electronic identification tag containing vehicle information, including when it was built or retrofitted, according to the Press Telegram.

Additionally, terminal operators will be required to install equipment capable of reading the electronic tags by Aug. 1, 2008.

Future provisions imposed by the ports could include a possible cargo fee to pay for the program.

— from the Long Beach Press Telegram