In an effort to cut down on emissions, the California Senate recently voted 23-13 to approve a bill that would fine ports that cause truck drivers to wait more than 30 minutes while doing business with terminals in the state. It is one of many trucking-related bills that have drawn consideration in the state.

Under current California law, marine terminals that cause trucks to idle or queue – wait in line – for more than 30 minutes to load or unload can face fines.

Sponsored by Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, the bill would require marine terminals to operate in such a manner that doesn’t cause trucks to wait – and idle – for more than 30 minutes outside terminal gates.

The bill also states that once inside the gates, truckers could not be made to wait more than 30 minutes for a single transaction. Unloading and loading must be completed in 60 minutes.

Lowenthal’s bill starts the clock on the so-called 30-minute “turn time” from the moment a truck enters the first gate or queue at the terminal, and does not stop the clock until that truck leaves the exit gate.

Marine terminals found to be in violation, would face a $250 fine per occurrence. Any attempt by owners or operators of terminals to avoid or circumvent these requirements would result in a $750 fine.

Terminals would be exempted from the proposed rules if the delay is caused by certain specified events.

The bill – SB1829 – has been sent to the Assembly for further consideration.

Another trucking-related effort would give owner-operators whose trucks service ports in California the right to collectively bargain. The Senate approved the bill last month. It has been forwarded to the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

Sponsored by Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Garden Grove, the bill – SB1213 – would extend to port owner-operators the right to organize and to collectively negotiate with port motor carriers regarding such matters as compensation and benefits.

In addition, it would extend to those drivers key benefits that many employees in the state have, such as the ability to withhold their services on a collective basis – in essence, the right to legally strike – and to be free from any coercion by port motor carriers regarding those rights.

A separate bill is intended to aid truckers.

Sponsored by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Carson, the bill would establish a revolving fund loan program to provide funding for truck parking space electrification and anti-idling truck cab technologies.

The measure would finance the installation of electrification facilities that would enable large trucks “to use plug-in electricity to power their in-cab needs rather than using main engine or auxiliary diesel powered units,” Oropeza wrote.

According to a legislative analysis, the bill would also aid compliance with the California Air Resources Board’s heavy-duty vehicle idling emission reduction requirements. It is also consistent with the mandate to reduce particulate emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks.

Oropeza’s bill – AB2647 – won passage in the Assembly before it was forwarded to the Senate.

Another bill that recently passed the Assembly would add California to a national safety compliance database that monitors interstate truckers’ safety compliance.

Sponsored by Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, the measure would allow the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles access to the registration information for out-of-state truckers doing business in the state.

Niello said the goal of the program is that law enforcement would have the same information for interstate carriers as they have for intrastate carriers.

The measure would also stagger registration renewals instead of the current end-of-year registration renewal process.

Niello’s bill – AB2736 – is in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.

While several truck-related bills are on the move, one bill that sought to aid truck retrofits in the state has died.

Sponsored by Assemblywoman Shirley Horton, R-Lemon Grove, the bill would have established a revolving loan pilot program administered by the California Energy Commission until Jan. 1, 2012, to finance emission-reduction kits and optional energy improvements for heavy-duty diesel trucks operating at least 75 percent within the state.

It was intended to help reduce the consumption of diesel fuel in the state, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and save truckers money.

Small businesses with up to five trucks and large businesses with up to 10 trucks would have been eligible to receive funding for the retrofit kits.

According to a legislative analysis on the bill, about 68,000 on-highway Class 8 trucks would have been eligible for the retrofits.

Horton’s bill – AB1901 – remained in the Assembly Appropriations Committee May 26, the deadline to advance to the full chamber.

– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor
keith_goble@landlinemag.com