The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Long Beach, CA-based Meritech Leasing have signed the first new union contract between the Teamsters and a port trucking company in more than 20 years.

Although the contract covers only drivers who are operating company equipment, the union said it is working to include owner-operators who work with port trucking companies in future negotiations.

As part of the agreement, Meritech agreed to remain neutral during any future organizational efforts by the Teamsters at other ports across the nation. Meritech is a subsidiary of Seattle-based Carrix Inc., which has operations in ports throughout the country.

Bob Kelly, president of Meritech, said in a news release that the agreement would go a long way toward solving some of the problems facing ports on the West Coast.

“The volume of cargo entering the U.S. is growing by leaps and bounds while insurance, fuel and truck maintenance have gone up and net driver compensation has plummeted,” he said. “Our industry must take decisive steps to stem the growing shortage of truck drivers hauling containers from the ports to rail depots, warehouses and distribution centers. Drivers are leaving faster than the industry can replace them.”

Chuck Mack, director of the Teamsters Port Division, said that this agreement is the first step for the teamsters in reestablishing their presence in the nation’s ports.

“Port drivers on the West Coast now have a contract that guarantees them fair wages, health and pension benefits and a grievance system,” he said.