Ports delay trucking plan

You just knew this was going to happen. The interesting but unorthodox plan to reduce emissions at the ports by getting rid of older, polluting trucks will not be voted on next month, as scheduled. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will extend by 60 days the time to evaluate the plan. That means lots more time for the California Trucking Association and other groups to lobby for keeping the current system. "In the interests of fairness to those who offered their input, we need time to evaluate their suggestions," said Richard Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. "We remain committed to aggressively improving air quality with a Clean Trucks Program, and our aim is to get this right." The proposal is part of the Clean Air Action Plan, which is supposed to reduce diesel truck emissions by as much as 80 percent. But it would also mean that the current truckers – mostly independent owner operators – would have to become employees of a few large trucking companies, and not everyone is wild about that idea. (Business Journal)