Coalition for Responsible Transportation Highlights Private-Sector Clean Truck Deployment Before Congress

Coalition Has Deployed 1,500 Privately Funded Clean Trucks at Southern California Ports Through Partnerships Between Retailers, Trucking Companies and Drivers

WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) testified before the United States House of Representatives today at a hearing titled "Assessing the Implementation and Impacts of the Clean Truck Programs at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach," held by the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

CRT is a national organization of leading importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers who represent the largest and most progressive customers and service providers at our nation's ports.  CRT member companies are committed to responsible stewardship of the environment at our nation's ports and to taking leadership roles within their respective industries in the development of transportation related environmental initiatives.

CRT Executive Director James Jack highlighted the strong support from retailers and their service providers for the Clean Truck Programs that have been implemented at the Ports of LA and Long Beach.  "CRT member companies were among the earliest industry stakeholders to publicly support the clean air goals that were proposed by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach through the phase-out of older, high-polluting trucks," said Jack.

Jack also highlighted the tremendous air quality improvements at Southern California ports that have been achieved through the deployment of clean port trucks by retailers and their service providers.

"CRT estimates that its member companies have deployed approximately 1,500 model-year 2007 emissions compliant trucks into service at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and that CRT member companies are responsible for the deployment of the majority of the trucks using alternative fuels that are currently in service at the Ports," said Jack.

The deployment of clean trucks at the Ports of LA and Long Beach has reduced air pollution from harbor trucks by nearly 80 percent as of January 1, 2010, well ahead of even the most optimistic projections.

Jack also described the CRT "best practice" financial model developed by CRT's members that was instrumental in financing the private-sector deployment of clean trucks in Southern California.  The CRT model provides a framework to get privately financed clean trucks deployed into port service in an economically sustainable manner through partnerships between retailers, trucking companies, and their drivers, which reduces the economic burden on the individual driver by providing them with the financial support they need to afford new, clean trucks.

Jack concluded that the private-sector efforts to deploy clean trucks in Southern California could serve as an example of how to meet clean air goals at ports around the country.  "The most successful path to meeting the ports' clean air goals is to facilitate a partnership between industry stakeholders and the ports, recognizing that industry can provide the ports with insight, experience and expertise on how to reach their goals in the most efficient and cost effective manner," said Jack.  

"By partnering together, ports and their customers can improve the environmental quality of port communities while ensuring that the ports remain an engine for job creation and a thriving economy," Jack concluded.

About the Coalition for Responsible Transportation:

Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) has grown to include leading importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers who represent the largest and most progressive customers and service providers at our nation's ports.  

CRT member companies are committed to driving change that will result in significant improvements in air quality and has been involved in the development and implementation of industry-supported clean truck programs around the country. The private sector members of CRT are investing millions of dollars in the deployment of new, clean equipment in partnership with federal and state governments, and local ports around the country.

CRT's membership is comprised of national shippers including Target, Best Buy, Converse, Dunavant Enterprises, Gap Inc., The Home Depot, HP, JC Penney, Lowe's, Nike, and Wal-Mart Stores; ocean carriers including NYK Group Companies, Hanjin Shipping, and "K" Line America; and drayage providers and equipment manufacturers including California Multimodal, LLC, Container Connection, Expeditors International, The Evans Network, Green Fleet Systems, GSC Logistics, Intermodal Bridge Transport, PDS Trucking, Performance Team, Southern Counties Express, Total Transportation Services, Inc., and Westport.

SOURCE Coalition for Responsible Transportation