A competing set of letters has been delivered to a key Congressman over the fate of harbor trucking - including who should ultimately be made responsible for the new rigs mandated under the ports' Clean Trucks Plan: drivers or the companies that contract them to haul goods to and from the nation's major trade gateways?
A Nov. 4 letter, Congressional Letter.pdf, signed by 23 members of Congress, asked Congressman James Oberstar, D-Minn., who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (which delegates billions for the nation's roadways, highways and trade corridors) to amend federal law classifying port drivers as employees of the firms they rely on for work.
The move is designed to lift the burden of new truck purchase and maintenance off drivers, who are paid by the load, and onto companies.
In response, a coalition of local trucking firm owners sent their own letter to Oberstar on Nov. 9, industry-oberstar.doc, asking him to preserve the status quo, arguing that contract drivers are actually "small businesses" forming the backbone of a vibrant port trucking community.
Current law classifies contract drivers, who comprise about 95 percent of the local port trucker workforce, as "self-employed," giving them no legal standing to collectively push for higher wages, benefits, overtime or work-related reimbursements (though they are able to write off some work-related expenses when filing taxes each year.)
The move to reform the business model into a limited form of regulation is being promoted by the Port of Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, Oakland, Port Everglades and others. Long Beach supports the current system, which took hold in the wake of the deregulatory Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and has been strengthened through legislative action throughout the 80s and 90s.
Reformists note that pushing the costs for new rigs mandated under the ports' Clean Trucks Plan, which bans pre-2007 rigs by 2012, onto drivers exacerbates an already struggling workforce, which studies show averages $12 an hour after expenses for their rigs.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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